Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-05
DEATH OF EMMA ABBOTT
Pathetic End Of Queen of the Lyric
Stage.
Draved tho ritiIess Coid TO Sing n
Cousunptivc,s Requiem and Un-
cOnscIouSIy Snu- Her Own Dirge-
Her sickness and Death.

Miss Emma Abbott. the acknowledged
queen of the lyric stage for a number
of years, was well and favorably
several times. To those who remem-
Der her the following pathetic story
from the pen of Mr. II. c. Stevenson, of
Dallas. Tex. who knew her we'll, will
be of interest:
There was a time, it was not many
years ago. when every city in the South
looked forward with emotions of pleas
IRE to the coming OF Emma Abbott.
Every ndmircr OF grand opera regard
ed it as an epoch of the year. But
aside from her extraordinary talent
and culture, our most aristocratic
ladies loved her for her virtue-her
charity and her gentle disposition-and
when in town she was showered with
Invitations to dine, TO tea and to come
and spend only few moments in the
most palatial homes.
a PREACHER REBUKED.
Her rebuke to the Nashville preacher
Is still remembered and often spoken of
when her name is mentioned. This pure
woman one Sunday morning attended
church in that city. Whether the minis
ter knew she was there, and who she
was has been asserted and denied:
anyhow. in the course OF his sermon
he denounced all women on the stage
as fallen and wanting in chastity. Miss
Abbott at once arose in the audience,
and, after challenging the truth of this
monstrous assertion and SANDER, walk
ed out OF the house.
THE DYING CONSERVATIVE.
1t is. however, not with her life so
ottfth tt-if Ia
to deal. One night in the city of Dem
Yer. Col, located al the foot and in
plain View of the Rocky Mountains,
she was billed to play in Faust" In
the same city II most attractive and
beautiful lS-year-old girl, belonging to
one of the wealthiest families, lay in
the last stages of that fell enemy of
the human race-consumptlon Some
weeks before the arrival of the COM
pany she said TO those around her: "Oh,
/ hope the sun will shine and the
weather will be warm and genial so /
can hear Miss Abbott sing once more.
i think | could then pass away peace
fully and without single regret" But
there came with the queen of the lyric
stage n Northern hurricane-with the
very air charged with icicles which
penetrated the lungs. Some one told
Miss Abbott of the grievous d!sap-
pointment of the dying girl. She went
to the opera house and never sang
more sweetly and as soon as it was over
and the audience dismissed, she called
her carriage and directed 1t to drive to
the beautiful home OF the young lady.
OF course she was at once admitted To
her room, and told her she had come
to crafty her wish.
y NEVER FORGOTTEN SCENE.
The scene which followed was worthy
OF the finest brush ever welded by the
grand old masters. There lay the dying
earth-angle with pallid lips. hectic
cheeks and lustrous eyes and the light
of immortal beauty shining upon her
face. Standing beside her in one of her
richest robes the one she had worn that
night, )sparkling with pearls. rubies
and diamonds, stood the almost divine
mistress of earthly melody.
The first piece rendered was the "Old
FOLKS at Home" and then followed IT
Know That My Redeemer Liveth." The
fin~Ie of this weird scene was
Rock OF Ages. Cleft for Me.
Let Me Hide Myself In Thee
and then Miss Abbott bent over
the frail form and kissed her an eter-
nal farewell. Soon after the spirit pass
ed into the wild winds which rang
through the mountains near by-set sail
for that haven from which the first
homeward bark is yet to be seen-the