The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-01
WHEN NoRDIoA SANG FOR GEAR.
He Was AssassinRted "a Few Hours
Later and Her Trunks Were
Searched

Later anu her trunks were
Searched.
Nine. Nordica in Youths Companion.
! l sang two seasons in St Petersburg.
and on a certain occasion had the honor
of a command 20 sing before the Emperor
at the Winter Palace, when Massini and
| Sembrich also were to sing, Times were
very periious in those days, owing to the
activity of the nihiists, and danger seemed
everywhere to threaten. Their threats were
dreadful, and painful anxiety pervaded
every heart.
One day when 1 was sitting at luncheon
with my mother in the hotel, there was a
terrific explosion in the street just outside.
Every one rushed to the door When il
was learned that the explosion had not
| been an attempt on the Cars life, but
was due TO leakage of gas, the relief
apparent IN the faces of all eviuced the
| tense state of public feeling
On may imagine that in times like those
public safety demanded that the move
ments of the Gar be kept secret, and 50.
as 10 nv singing at the palace, we were
merely given to understand by the imDe-
rial chamberlain that on some unstate
evening during a stated week we should
appear before his majesty. Hence it was
requisite for us to be dressed each night
at 10 o'clock in readiness for the summons
Finally the word came, and we were
driven swiftly to the palace. From the en-
trance we were escorted by officers Of the
household up to grand staircase and
through the long corridors to the concert
room, the walls on either hand being Iined
with soldiers, shoulder 10 shoulder
must confess that the tremble of anxiety
which / felt at the significance OF this
display came from a dread that / nniebt
at any moment be blown up.
The evening was, however, one Of ueace-
full, ceremonious magnihcence. AT fba
close Of the concert the Car spoke per
sonally to the artists addressing each in
his native language. With me he held
a few moments conversation in English
and knowing that l was young Amari-
can girl just starting on my career. was
so kind as TO give me commentator and
encouragement and to express his wishes
for my success.
on the following morning each of us re-
ceived some article of jewelry as a token
of mis- majesty's appreciation, this being
by the way, the invarable form in which
royalty bestows emolument on occasions
of this character My gift was a gold
bracelet ornamented with large cats
eye set in diamonds.
on the afternoon of that very dav
within a few hours of the time that | had
seen the Car strong and well, he was
murdered by a nihilist bomb. His assas-
snaton, not considering its more serious
political aspects, had far-reaching effears
For instance, my mother and ! had in
tended to leave st. Petersburg on the dav
after ] had sung, and our trunks were al
ready at the station, but stringent orders
were issued that no one was to leave the
city. Then every stranger within the gates
was subjected to the most rigid inquiry.
My trunks a the station were broken open
and everything in them turned inside out.
What the police could have expected to
find ! do not know, but they went so far
as to rip open the sleeves of most of my
dresses, and TO cut out the lining in the
crown of several of my hats
As every one was served alike, / con-
cluded that the police intended nothing
personal but / was greatly relieved when
the suspense was over and | was at last
free to depart, with my entire wardrobe
in a state of chaos.