The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-16
) the ,wisdom Of reflection. He simply

"a letter characteristic Of your faith
er's child. 1t has not surprised me. II
you ever have need OF It's protectlon'
my roof stands ready to shelter you
Yours, James Mavis."
The letter was so like the writer that
I shuddered even as l read 1t. On, the
severity of orthodox. Christianity! On,
the ungraciousness Of perfunctory
charity! 1 merited worse than l re-
ceived; but those few phrases, penned
with such evident fOrbearance and estl-
mable self-restraint, chastised me with
scorpions. my fathers child!' The
term sank deep.
I signed my contract. l went abroad.
I finished a year of strict discipline
both of mind and body. Latrobe was
furnished with the witchhazel wand of
perspicacity. He discerned many pos
sibilities in me Of which 1 was ignorant,
and turned them to advantage. Among
these discoveries ranked first a strong,
pure soprano voice. This was at once
put under cultivation, and twelve
months did so much for it that it was
considered imperative another years
instruction be granted it. AT the end
of the second year, Latrobe wrote Gree
ley to come over to Paris and hear me,
in order that he should see for himself
how unwise 1t would be to interrupt a
training which promised so brilliantly.
1 remained the third year, and, in the
following October. made my debut in
Paris under Greeleys management.
The opera in which appeared had its
first performance that night. 1t was
daring, unique thing, written special
ly for me by a young Spaniard, who
was slowly dying of consumption in
Nine. Latrobe's pension. lies Papil-
Ions de rEnfer," he had called 1t, and
it was masterpiece of Internal fire
and beauty. The scenery, costumes,
music, the whole atmosphere Of the
composition suggested satanic realms.
One shuddered even while yielding to
the fascination of the music; one re-
coiled even while gazing spell-bound at
the exquisite scenes. 1t was malignant.
diabolic, sinister; but it was also Sc
ductive,. beautiful, ravishing.
The night was one of double triumph.
The production created a profound inn
preston, and called forth unstinted
praise from the critics, to whom the
young composer was unknown, while
I captured the house from the start
and received an ovation which was
more than fatter1ng to stranger and
alien. My success that evening was Of
far greater intrinsic worth than that
earlier sensation I had made in New
York The latter had been merely an
unsustained effort OF nature. which
could have no permanent artistic va,ue;
the former was the result of severe
and sytematic discipline and culture,
which should endure as long as my
powers lasted. I was now indeed an
artist.
I went through the usual course OF
adulation. was showered with flowers,
called before the curtain until / could
no longer see the audience from sheer
optic fatigue; my dressing room even
Il 20 Oh ND
distinction, DESTROYS of felicitating the
darling Of the hour. The horses were,
taken from my carriage, and was
hailed through the streets, to my infinite
terror, by yelling mob of enthusiastic
students.
The next day my lodgings were be-
sieged by callers. Critics Of eminence,
men of letters. musical geniuses, ladies
Of high degree, and journalists unnum-
hered f1ocked thither, either to leave
cards or to request an audience. I was
new to it all then, and conscientiOuSly
sought to fulfill the duties, as we'll as
the pleasures, incident to the social side
Of my profession. I felt it to be in
cumbent upon me to receive such as
asked for an interview, and to give
what assistance I might to those who
desired it. Among these was a man
Who. at first sight, seemed familiar to
me. Yet I knew l had never seen him
before, nor was my inclination to re-
peal our interview a very strong one,
for he did not favorably impress me.
He was a Frenchman of middle age,
extremely shabby in appearance, but Of
a dandified and, if the term may be
was no sign Of beard on his cheeks or
chin, his dark mustache was well
waxed, his cravat tied after the new
est mode, and his linen clean and we'll
Numbered. But his black eyes were set
close together, and were sinister and
furtive in expressions; his face sug
gested dissipation, and the toupet
which he wore to disguise his badness
gave an air Of artifciality to his looks,
which was not redeemed by the obvi-
Gus genuineness of constantly-re-
vealed set of very white and handsome
teeth.
Isidore Coello, the young composer,
was in my salon when this man pre-
sented himself. After the interview,
when the visitor had departed Isidore
said:
"Pepita, attend! The dying have pre-
monitions which come to pass. Do not
assist that fellow; he'll bite the hand
that feeds him. And yet-why warn
you? What will be, will be-"
And so it proved.-The mamie gave
his name as Leon Picot-had come to
OCS liz " oSS lily SOO0 OluCSS Will
Greeley, that the latter might give him
some employment which would permit
of his returning to America with the
company, thus saving him the neces-
sity of paying his own passage. He
stated his case succinctly, but with a
forcefulnesS and an amount of repress-
ed eagerness which made a strong i'm
preston upon me. 1t was so neces-
sary that he should find the means of
reaching America. He was poor; it was
needless to relate how poor. He had
been artiste-rot so great as madame
of course but still artistic. He had had
misfortunes. The good God avert such
from the beautiful head of madame
(here he crossed HIMSELF! In America
competence, if not actual wealth,
awaited him. If madame would but
| use her influence, etc.
It so CHANGED that Greeley was in
search of a prompter. He was so jub1-
liant at my success that he was more
than ready to heed any request I might
make Of him. 1 brought the case or
Picot before his notice, with the result
of securing to the latter the vacant
situation, which he showed himself
amply qualified to fill.
We played a. month in Paris, and then
returned to New York Heralded by a
brilliant transatlantic reputation, my
victory over the great American cos
mopolis was a foregone conclusion. We
opened, as in Paris, with Les Papil-
lons," and Coello, who had accom-
panied US, shared the honors of our
premiere. Poor boy! poor eager, ardent,
aspiring young soul! His genius was
his enemy consuming his life with it's
greedy passion. And how he loved me,
dear lad! have had offers made me of
the love of many men; he never ten
dered me his, knowing full well the
o11e.4o 11o ,n1, i1ofn hot
but no amount of protestation ever so
convinced me of the genuineness of a.