The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-02
PASSING OF THE HARDING.
~yr WOMAN VINO RoUsRD TEE an
aFR OF HER SISTERS IN PARIS.

J.v.,. Have Just Been oid-venGennoe OF
women OF PositioH-wnSs OF Audiences
The snlo of her jewels in Paris the other day
AGAIN brought into prominence Mile. Jeanne
Harding. who during her brief career on the
operatlo stage has frequently been confused
with Jane nading in the newspapers Of this
country and England. Ono Of tho foremost
American magazines made the same mistake in
a series Of articles about Paris. and her admirers
here wore astonishcd to road that Jane Hading
had been peltodN with fish and vegetables on tho
occasion OF her appearance as Phrvre In Paris.
For IL was under such discouraging circum-
stances that MIG. Harding $ operatio career was
begun.
Somewhat moro than four years ago she was
announced to appear at the Opera Comique In
saint.saens's opera "Phryne." Of which Sibyl
Henderson had created the leading part In
Paris. Now Milo. Harding as an opera singer
was n novelty in p ris. That section OF the
public which is well informed concerning Ger.
tain phases OF boulevard life was very familiar
with the sight of her rather bizarre beauty. her
luxurious dresses and her carriages. Part
Of 1t knew also that she had o
voice. But mono Of It had ever expected
that she would got on the stage Of one Of the
theatres subsidized by the French Government.
30 the announcement that Harding was to sing
at tho Opera Comique in an opera by Saint
saens created great astonishment. Tho general
tendency was to look upon the matter as q joke.
and 1t was with the expectation Of epjoyinga
good laugh that the greater part Of that Paris
world which knew her well awaited her debut.
But other and moro serious feelings had been
aroused by tho news Of her appearance. The
critics might smile and tho boulevards might
regard the incident as merely amusing; but
there were some women in Paris who chose to
look at tho matter In q different light. They
wero not acquaintances of Mile. Harding's.
Indeed. they moved In a very different world.
Probably most OF them had seen her only In tho
Bots do Boulogne as she rolled along. in q GER
tain sense the queen Of q class, or ct all events
one Of the queens. These women might know
Mile. Harding only from her gowns, her jewels.
and her equipages. But they had husbands.
brothers, and fathers who had known her bet
ter. 80 the news of her debut was no laughing
matter to them. 1t was tho 1rst opportunity
they had ever had to show what their feelings
were toward the Harding. These feelings were.
moreover, not Of a kind that made the projected
debut seem an occasion for merriment.
The preparations for her first appearance went
on. The boulevards lauRhingly referred to tho
approaching incident, and there was evidently
the matter. which was having its influence in a
rived. The house was crowded with spectators
who had come to see how this woman
o. Tho pa nfs fife we s%ineP &C. r !" SeS phase Fa q
wholly different direction. Tho selection. Of
Phryne AS the character IN which to make her
which recognized the appropriateness of the
character. 1t was not supposed that the per
t on the %crlt Tad' f%a % u so q the dSss sp ssstSSs a;f but so
soon as Harding appeared on the stage It was
to be the order Of the evening.
From the boxes and the stalls there came q
shower Of vegetables and fish which foil on the
length, dead cats and fruit long ripened dc.
was dressed in a Greek costume that showed
her beauty OF in its best estate, and that fact
Ssso' Wer ee i lesnins Out " Of tReir boxes esi in " the in.
tensity of .t thei, s delight in the singers S.s
herself to overcome difficulties which the usual
d6butante does not encounter, though the veg
she had expected. It's Violence did indeed gain
some sympathy for her; The performance after
greetings that Mile. Harding received was SO
disconcerting. The opera wasfnished. and sub
evidently, satisfied with having done SO.
hltSTsa n Close eaF Such 70 Z Ds 81 flaseI pfac IL ifs
settled, ali Chance Of her success in Paris. After.
towns and then returned to. The Bots dc
Boulogne. her diamonds and her equipages.
The other day in Paris her Jewels, as well as all
avenged. Nine. Jane Hading, for from having
just now on the top wave of prosperity. She is
one of the most popular actresses in Paris and
The episode which attended Harding's dis
astrous debut was highly typical OF soms Gle,
Of PERSONAL q nIf feeling hrs: c onHi 10 ha irs" occurred Gun thepe
shows how childlike the Parisians can be at
times. Similar demonstrations have been known
IN Paris before and are, indeed, not infrequent.
But they, are rarely the result OF any such feel
ing as that which was vented on the unfortu-
tent and the thought that she had paid liberally
SSiGmiqSs might nave led the spectators to Q
cheated out Of what they have paid for that Paris
have been that feeling Which led them to drive
out Of Paris a woman who was supposedly
tickets in order TO hear her sing well. She was
not in a condition to do 1t. Therefore she had
usual point Of view. and 1t hi Is Very clearly shown i
by u story which al American tells OF q per.
formance OF Louis Reyer's opera "Sigurd" at
the Opera.
The audience was in its place and the con-
ductor took his seat. Then the spectators set
But it was not played. After a short prelude
the curtain rose and the opera began: There
."FOuperturei" "rOuperturei" began to DO
heard. The chorus continued to sing the music,
and the murmurs in the audience grew louder
every moment. The chorus came TO an end. and
one OF the soloists began TO sing. Then 1t became
clear tina! every. second man in the house was
on the stage was inuudiblc. Seeing its advantage,
the audience began to shout louder. When
the chorus began to sing again 1t was drowned
In the roars for the overture. In the midst of
the confusion a man in a dress suit stepped on
the stage from the wings. He was one of the
directors OF the opera house.
THE opera" he began, is, as you know. a
very long one. With the permission of the com.
poser, who agrees with me that the work might
to advantage be made somewhat shorter. l have
tonight Omitted"
"L'Ouucrture p "rOupertureg p can't In q
unanimous roar from the audience.
Again the director tried TO resume his speech.
But suddenly another man n evening dress
appeared. HI was the other director. He spoke
a few hurried words TO his partner and both
picked up his baton and "Sigurd" WAS begun
from Tho first note Of the overture. The audi.
ence was then apparently satisfied. IL bad not
been robbed of anything that 1t had paid for.
1t mattered nothing that there WAS a constant
buzz of conversation throughout the playing of