The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-27
Patti and NicoIina.

With Nicolini's death a week ago there
was removed from the scene one of the
figures in the greatest stage romance OF
this century. The romantic relations be-
tween him and Adellna Patti extended
over period of more than twenty years
First publicly made known through
passionate scene in Gounod's Romeo
and Juliet" il has only Just ended with
that Romeo's death, with Patti, his VIE,
at his side. Adelina Patti had been Tor
ten years married 10 the Marquis de
CaUx when Nicoiini came into her NE
From that time until his death their rela-
tons were of the most devoted charac-
ter Whatever each could do 70 make
the other happy seems to have been done.
There IS no more romantic story in fic-
ton than that OF Adelina Patti and Ern-
este Nicolini.
That it lasted to the very end-till death
cut the lovers knot which bound them
together-was shown in PATHS devotion
to Nicoini during his Illness. He was
stricken at Craig-y-Nos, PATHS castle
among the Welsh Highlands, early last
summer. Until the end came she was his
constant and devoted attendant, leaving
him only when professional engag ements
which could not be cancelled called her
away, and then returning to him at the
earliest possible moment.
Thus, carly last summer, when she had
to sing at Albert Hall, London, she had
a special train in waiting TO bear her
quickly back to his bedside Nicolini
stretched listlessly upon his couch, hardly
ever took his eyes from her, and when
it was necessary for her TO move ABOUT
the room in attending to his wants mis-
gaze would follow her. Patti had always
been accustomed to entertain lavishly du-
ring the summer, but last summer All IN
yitations were cancelled and all DIVER
sions interdicted in order that she might
devote herself uninterruptedly to nm All
the medical skill that money couio pur-
chase was lavisheG upon him; she had
as manv as eleven doctors in consultation.
Patti was at the height of her brilliant
career when she met Nicohni. As the
wife of the Mar,;uis de CauX, her mar
rio ea to whom had been one of the pet
undertakings of the Empress Eugene,
she held a brilliant social position Whhe
she was unhappy With her husband on
account of differences in age and tempera-
meat. that is nothing more than has fal-
len to the lot of many less famous than
| she. To leave him for an opera tenor re-
ouired certain sacrifices of position and
influence, which, however, she old no.
hesitate to make.
At first there were guarded whispers
| in private circles in regard TO her rela-
lions with the tenor, but an occurrence
| during a performance of Gounod Ko-
meo and Juliet caused the scandal 10
become public property, and it was pass
| ed from tongue to tongue.
At that performance it was noticed that
| in the balcony scene Nicolini kissed Patti
| no less than twenty-one times, or, as a
ioia Of stated
| fifteen times more than the libretto called
| for 1t is not exaggeration to say that
| from that day until his death Nicohni
! continued the same ardent Romeo and
| Juliet
AS a rule, where there Is trouble be-
tween a famous stage character and her
! husband, especially when he is merely
| ''prima donna's husband" the public Is
| ant to sympathize with the woman. bu'
| in PATHS case it was different. OWING
] to the Marquis de Caux's social position
and the influence he was able to bring &c
/ bear, she was obliged to endure much
! obloGuy. Moreover she was not only mar
! ried herself. but NieOlini also had WIG
! and children. The papers referred to him
| as ''the gentleman who now travels ABOUT
! with Nine. Patti" and certain practical
! iokers got out mock invitations to her al
| legged coming wedding with the teIiot' ~
| St. Petersburg there was a scene between
her and the Marquis, and the women OF
! the higher social circles showed their dis
| approval of her action by either leaving
! their boxes or drawing the curtains Ther
she appeared upon the stage.
Although all this occurred in the mid
die seventies divorce proceedings begur
between her and the Marquis de CauS
were not concluded until late in 1884
! Judgment was rendered in favor of the
Marquis, "inasmuch as the scandal which
caused the separation between HUSBAND
| and wife was sill maintained.