The times., 1898-12-04
PRESS AGENTS ROUND TABLE.

They about the Rialto are telling good
story on Signor Agostini, leading tenor
with the Royal Italian Opera Company.
Some ten months ago the vocalist arrived
in New York from sunny Italy with an
exalted opinion of his new home-gather-
ed from a cursory glance at the statue
of the Goddess of Liberty in the harbor-
and very modest smattering of the Eng
lish language. Upon landing in Gotham he
claimed his baggage, had it sent TO
nearby hotel, and then sauntered very
leisurely uptown, bent upon seeing the
sights in whatever direction his fancy
might lead him. For some two hours the
vocalist wandered about aimlessly, wrap
ped up in the scenes presented, and then
he noticed that he had strayed into what
was apparently one of the toughest and
toughest quartres of the city. Great tene-
ments loomed UP on each side of him,
crying children filled the streets and dirt
predominated everywhere. To add to his
troubles the sun had set and it was grow
ing dark. Somewhat afraid of being rob-
bed or murdered by the strengthening
fellows he passed constantly, the signor
spent a bad half hour in wondering
whether not he could make himself
understood should he ask his way. FL
naly he determined to risk It and, after
a close scrutiny of those who seemed
least likely TO be desperados or brigands.
he stopped a pedestrian and, using his
very best English, queried regarding the
best route to Broadway.
The man listened to him gravely and
then shook his head and started to walk
on. Signor Agostini halted the fellow
again and repeated his question, even
while determining that Americans We're
not possessed of exceedingly good man
ners. This time the fellow accompanied
the head gesture with another which
plainly signified that he did not compre-
hend before turning aside
The singer understood at last and grew
desperate. His English must be wore
than he imagined, he said to himself,
and there was little prospect OF eves
reaching his hotel. Finally he male over
lures to second passer-by and asked
the way again. This chap repeated the
operations of his predecessor and left
the signor alone to his misery. The effort
was shortly remade and with the same
effect. Finally, however, fourth trial
was effected and good results attained.
Upon hearing the signor's question his
vis-a-vis replied, as the others had done,
that he did not understandable in pe--
the Italian quarter inadvertently and his
questions had been let alone, not because
the speaker did not talk a foreign Ian
guage well but for the simple reason that
those whom he accosted knew only his
own. The idea of a man being unable to
make what he said known among his
own countrymen struck the artist as be-
Ing laughable one and so IL is from his
own lips that the story comes.
Madame Modjeska came near 10 ing
warm admirer during her recent engage
ment at the Fifth Avenue, and the how
of the happening was this: 1t seems that
the powerful moral of her "Magca'' at
tracted to its performances many reli-
gious people, and all Of these were deeply
struck alike by the character and The
portrayer. Accordingly. letters COM
menced TO come in thick and fast-so
many. in fact, that the actress gave up
trying to even reply with thanks to the
congratulations of her impromptu friends
One of the epistles. however, was so en-
thusiastic in its praise and so scholarly
IN Its appreciation that Modjeska was
only pleased at an appeal for photo
graph made at the bottom and determin-
co to send one. A package of portraits
mad just arrived and she hastily opened
II and Forwarded one of the enclosures to
ner well-wtshsr-a native Of Elizabeth, N.