The San Francisco call., 1897-10-26
TELLS THE
{ SAD STORY
OF MISERY
MiSfortuneS of Estrella
BeIinfante Are Duly
Related.
DYING FROM SLOW
STARVATION.
Appeals 10 Her Husband, Who
SQuandered Her Fortune,
Made in Vain,
MANAGERS REFUSED TO
EMPLOY HER.
P5tiful Experiences OF the Noted
< ContraIto, Which Led Up TO
the Desire to Die.
Appeals 10 Her Husband, Who
SQuandered Her Fortune,
Made in Vain.
MANAGERS REFUSED TO
EMPLOY HER.
P5uful Experience Of the Noted
Contraito, Which Led Up TO
the Desire to Die.
SPECIAL Dispatch to THE CALL

NEW YORK, Oct. 25.-Ab bout a year
and half ago the noted con tralto, Estrella
BeHnfaute, and Willis Edminster were
united n marriage at st. Paurs Episcopal
Church, San Fran cisco. They had been
living for a short time after their arrival
from the Orient at the Grand Hotel. but
after marriage went 10 the Savoy. After
a few weeks in San Francisco, during
which the singer became we'll known,
they left for the East. Edminster seems
since then to have gained possession OF
SIS 0C0 of his wife money and squandered
1t with theatrical company.
The opera-singer was to-day visited by
scores OF people who had read the story of
her slow starvation. She improved some,
but is still very weak. Mrs. Giannini of
San Francisco, now here. has been caring
for her baby. Mrs. BeIinfante talked
feebIy while lying in mass OF pillows.
Il couldn't beg" she said; sit was too
awful. And 1 couldn't steal. l was des-
perate. l had given up to die, and death
would have been a mos: welcome relief.
l went to Boston a week ago to see Mr.
Higginsou, manager of the Boston SYM
phony Orchestra, to secure an engagement
with him. Ughn' and she gave little
shudder, The horrid man! He wouldn't
even see me. He thought l wanted to
beg Foolishly | wro,e him a note, telling
him my serious strait. l and Giannini
(GIannini is her ompanist) came back
TO New York. went 10 GiannIni's house
10 see my haby-the poor little thingP'
Here she almost wept He said he hadn't
z cent left to buy the baby milk with. l took
Gny fur cape out and pawned it for $l5. l
gave $40 10 Mrs, Giannini. Then l went
over 10 the drug store and bought some
morphine. l had resolved if 1t came to
the worst to end it in that way"
The following letters to her husband.
which were found tightly clasped 10 her
bosom when she was di covered by her
maid and which evidently had been writ
ten Just before she left Darlington, hold a
tragedy in their lines:
Lear WtIfs-I have returned from Boston.
There Is no news from you-no letter, tele-
gram, no anything. What am l to think? The
world looks very dark me, dear one but l
cannot believe you would cruelty desert me
There is some dreadful mistake. / am sorry I
opened my heart in writing to Mr. Higginson
l ought to have known In tnis dread fui
money making America poverty is the worst
crime. Mr.. Higginson, no doubt, thought /
meant 10 beg-1, who would not ask for
crust except for the child. To interest him in
the advancement of my career l told him of
my helpless condition and instead of soften
ing him it turned his mean soul to stone.
The last year has been terribly hard one for
me and II did not bear up very bravely you
must forgive. You did not realize what an
effort 1t was to put aside my own ambition III
order to give you my capita l have been
artIstically starved. Not helping hand has
been held out TO me in my career
The TACT that would not my blindness
as q means of advertise has practically
helped TO ruin me. 1t is hard to see lust
enough to read or write within an lnch OF nv
eyes, yet not TO be able to move around or
walk across stage. Still 1t has been lie
and am glad ! did not consent. hone God
VIII send help 10 me soon or else death. I do
not believe for an instant you have personally
abandoned me. In my Case ! should love you /
the same. or course even If You did il would !
only be for time to better our fortunes Please
let auntie have my little girl 1 have nothing
more 10 add except ] trust you in nv heart
ana love and bless you. | Will suffer as long
"a, l can before putting an end to my life |
A'en now l am hungry, for have eaten noth-
IN. Tor forty hours. Your very dear devoted
wife, FsTRFITA
Added to the note was the following:
Darling: 1 VIII try to take nv own life. If
munger IS not too painful ! have not the |
rig ght TO destroy b by, besides there is still a
dollar or two for her, and perhaps if l sold my
cioak-my fur one, 1 mean-I can feed her
until something is heard from you Besides. |
who would have the abyto d e Of huDgerq she
Is al GlanninIs, and there is enough milk for
TWO Gays. ! am packing Y things to go
now. The boxes must remain here: also tRe
pictures, for have nowhere TO take them /
leave everything 10 you sad baby d. MOI
u rget those things AT the American Exchange
vince, because you know my wishes Thev
are in your name II not desire you to hav.
them anyhow. There is no letter from auntie
! cannot ca ble for she is too old to have
sudden shock. / wrote her a fortnight ago
telling her everything.
Then she added:
DARLING Husband: Oh, Willis am so FRIGHT
ened! Why DID YOU not write to me? Nav
o ms 81 n unf tn hos
from those who TOO Door 10 help me I
hope you and baby will be happy som. day
without me, II should be taken from Won I
viii try to be brave.
Mr.. Edminister is playing at present in
Chicago in melodrama entitled Straight
From The Heart" the piece in which ne
has squandered his wife's fortune. The
irony OF the thing is this young woman,
who, starving to death in u land of
plenty. made her debut in Washington at
the Executive Mansion by Mrs. McKin-
ley's invitation in Nav last, when she
sang Daddy" especially for the Presi-
Dental herald OF prosperity The press,
OF course, very generally spoke Of her fine
voice with enthusiasm. At that time it
was believed that Mrs. Belinfan;e had
scored a triumph.
There are wealthy men and women in
New York" she said, who knew my ab-
solute need, yet they would not help me-
SI(have n 10 kindness in Americs. bur
N pm the good Gianinni and the Hoodlings.
1Nmy own Italy no one could starve.
fNhe Secretary OF Foreign Affairs of
my country recommended me especially
TO the Italian EN- bassador. Iappeased TO
him, saying | should starve, and had my
little girl with me. No notice was taken
OF it. | bad letters to Colonel higginson
. the Boston Symphony Society from
Ralph Waldo Emerson s daughter. What
10 ore could | need? Yet what did it avail
Did | suffer? Were you ever hungry?
Oh, it was awful. The pains. Why,
dreamed one night that eagles were tear
ing out my vitas with their claws. In