The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-31
SCHNEIDER To BE A NUN.
THE ONCE FAMOUS SINGER TO ENTER
a CONTENT IN FRANCE.

1t Has Been Twcuty-fOur Years since She
Sang In Public Dresses of II Prirn Donna
A Noted Paris Benntys strange Life
Early DAYS OF the Countess CastiGiione.
Ilortensc Schneider the famous woman who
created most Of the OGcnbach heroincs, is now
in convent al Toulouse about to take the veil
and hcsitatng only over the final preparations
for this important step. She is no, certain that
the life is entirely suited to her and IL at
present only boardcr among the nuns
with whom she will in all probability assoc
ciatc permanently. 1t is said that she now
hcsitatcs only between purely religious order
and one given 90 active charity. Her whcrc-
abouts were discovered only the other day when
1t decided to nsk her to attend tho first per
Torrance Of the revived ala Belle Helene" in
Paris 1t was promised that she would be rc-
ccivcd like real grand duchess. But she rs-
fused. Her convent life was too absorbing aud
shc could not be dragged back 20 the Paris sho
has seen SO rarely in rcccn; years l, was Schnei-
der who first created Theses famous Ofcubach
hcrOnca II in 1861 that she created tho
title role in ia Belle Helene" and II was three
years later that she was heard In IA Grando
Duchess" She sang first in three other operas
by OGcnbach aud they arc inscpnrably connected
with her name. II was especially TO her powers
that much Of the original success Of ia Belle
Helene" and IA Grandc Duchcssc" was duo
She retired from the stage in 1875 and her hus-
band. an Italian count t,DL her 20 his own coun-
Try in which his family had position. She soon
tired Of that,and leaving her husband and new
home behind her went hack TO live in France.
more attending. zenlously 90 her garden Shs
tired Of that after her heG'ih was broken and
Then her thoughts turned 10 religion and she
Is now about TO take the final steps Of her entry
% ycn ns SG G is w than
side of France in which she appeared.
There is a force Of drcssmakcrs at the Metro
politan Opera House who arc usually occupied
In attending TO the costumes owned by the manage
mcnt There are, Of cours", hundreds Of these
and they mus, be kept In good order, occasionally
ircshcnc1 up with new ribbons or made Ct some
chorstcr whose anatomical pcculiaTiicS nro proof
against the variety Of measurements which tho
wardrobe supplies. The costumes for the less
important principal singers Of the company arc
| also the property Of the management and they
must BE- kept in good order and frequently manu-
featured at very short notice This year tho Dress
makers at the opera have found more work than
usual on their hands, Tor they hnvn been compelled
to devote moro attention than usual 90 the princi-
pals Between the necessity for alterations and
the making Of new costumes, the prima donnas
have this year required a. much attention as tho
choristcrs Nine Scmhrich, who returned with
new dresses for nearly every role, t;ird this year
a new Paris drcssmaEcr, who is famous all over
costumes worn last year by Victor Maurcl and
Albert Snlcza The costume ordered for Rasin1
was promptly returned. The French idea Of a
spanish girl was that she must look like O'cro
or la Cavali,r. So Nine, Scmhrich dressed in
this costume, looked II she Y, ing To dance
iHndancO aud ling Spanish songs Ia the aCcum-
par,im"ni # cas'ancts Another gown was mads
aud shI {" TINS country. ]; was beautiful to hook
al and was fautlrs| IN last Monday night at tho
Mctrup nan o'fa House But it had gone
through lah"rio,'9 treatment from the hot.s t-rSs-
makers before u was put into that Cnnditiur.
| Mile Calvc had experience tina; was even
| more disc"u7acir:-. Sic lad y new set Of CO
tunes from famous French drcssmakcr 20 Ia
worn in fi"roGiadc." They arrived in this
! country after she did. On her return from tho
is an impul'ivr, v man and this ono yirw II them
maEcr cmp!oycd by Tho c"mnanv Vas Vas GIii
; in he Is now AZ work IN n st tu hr worn IN Tho
, production II Massrnr's .pp'ra cnl NIL" Calvs
Is quit c"T'aip III ,a'S WI b moT, ecagIiiul ,Han
! and 81 l,adN mad" that she was not able H. wear
| them. MIN; ScmtriCh IS wondering how many
! To hc HANDED over - ih' I"'7op luru's scari-
! stresses. she is not lil;,ly - =" embarrassed
In III" lt'ss!ni and Mo2arIS "rc-H" These r..cs
| have PLAYED such an mo rant rart IN hcr re-
! gestures - ihT kind cnd nrad' as many mcro
| AZ hone. Tho" "uul! !" much more rumcr"us
rwav t., young Ginc'rs This year she has also
! Thought hnrh rn'i;.g new costumes fr Ia Ira
IL ID a. IL
| torSinGcr.' Mime. Eam"S has now costumes
Ut i''"u Mln', 1"'" ~, E,' Fiji ,,"h ~ NV
! tiful new role II Glnv Z. ssau,r in the chamber
! sr'nr Her drap'rrs in the last ret w,r' also
.'1p',", S WI ne NJ. nv EmwhS '.a
! than a wear acp Julian 81. " designs m,st
| Of tn beautiful and unconv"r'doua Costumes
| that Nine. Eamrs wears and then hands th"m
| over To- the Paris cuStHmcr~ 'ur execution Nine.
| Nur!ica wore a jet gown that swept The stage
| behind her when she sang Donna AprG 1ne
| other night NJ the opera. Sh" has increased
! nU'iccahly in wcigh' and she sparkling ira!n
| followed her like a shiny snake.
| -n
| Many Americans know by SIGHT tho gloomy
! co,,.r on M. pI,,,yyrrI,r,. 4, i-h ~, -, ,,,,r
! -. A.. - -, 80 80, '.''''
years u'c 'ouH' - 'S>HEh'"' HirF'u on mo
strange existence which in itg isolation was not
! to b. called a lif, The Iar.., houses about IN,
! - -. II , 49,, -,
square arr all oil th'n gloomy ani iotbddIhg
| in appearance and non" Of tn" travellers who
turned from "a ii -Lt uf tn, a .ltp,n Vcrl,r,, .,
-, ,'. .,' ~ w
| VA "'' "'h''Hi'hS WIZ - ~ " '"1" nave ''ah''d