The times., 1899-03-05
new ANECDOTES OF
ADELINA PATTI
The Singer Talks of Her First
Husband.
Her Famous Yankee Parrot Now
in Wales.
Unpublishcd Stories of PATHS Pa
rcnta&c. Youth. aud Experiences
With Royal Friends.

amusing anecdotes and episodes OF the di
full days at length.
Il believe l sang in my cradle" she de-
clares, and was the most weird and preco-
cious baby ever known.
When only two or three months old l
had a troublesome way of sending UP a
long wild cry, directly my mother sat
down to dinner. Every Establishment was
tried in vain to soothe me. until the happy
thought struck my mother of letting me
drink out of her glass of claret. That was
all wanted and regularly every day at the
same hour l cried for my claret until l
got it.
LAS / grew older, my one joy was to go
behind the scenes at the opera when my
parents were singing. The artists used
to bring me cakes and maccaroni, and
peeping through a hole in the scenery, l
enjoyed myself nightly. watching the per-
formance. My musical ear was so keen
that one night when a famous artist had
performed her long show piece l toddled
up to her and said in my little Yankee way
Just you listen to me right away. Try
10 trill as | do! You trill at fiat.
''Of course, TO me my parents seemed the
best and greatest people in the wide world
And l doubt, indeed, whether any woman
| have since met ever came UP to my
mother for beauty of person and upright
ness of character. She was excessively
pious, and never missed attending early
mass. Attracted by her grace and beauty,
q member of the congregation used TO fol-
low her SO persistently every morning on
the way to church that my mother became
annoyed. One day she turned upon him
suddenly, with her purse in her hand.
Here, poor man. she said in plying
tone, this must be what you want; take all
| have And she was never followed again.
The great Adelina cherishes with unceas-
ing love and duty the memory of her par
ents, and will often tell how her mother.
in the pride of her heart. would join the
crowd waiting nightly at the stage door
to see La Somnambula. cloaked and bon
neted, step into her carriage. Mia hgiia!
Mia Adelina" would the fond mother eN-
claim vastly enjoying the surprise and Gu
riosity of the crowd about her.
Patti has naturally met every European
sovereign. The old German Emperor was
her greatest favorite. When naive girl,
singing at Hamburg. the Emperor sent her
a message requesting her to walk With
him early in the morning while he drank
the waters Certainly not" was her re-
ply to the bearer. Il get up early for no
king in Europe"
The last time before his death that she
saw the Emperor, he sent TO ask her to
visit him in his opera box, apologizing for
being too unwell to come behind the
scenes, and when she appeared he playful
ly thanked her for the condescenson. "Oh.
now, sire she replied. with tears in her
eyes, Il would run anywhere TO see you.''
The Emperor Alexander II, of Russia.
honored Patti by peculiar distinction, OF
which nc one but the celebrated Bosio
could boast. He bestowed upon her large
gold medal set in briliiants. and requested
her TO wear it on the ribbon belonging To
the order of St. Andrew. He also appoint
ed her his court singer in ordinary. The
Duchess of Edinburgh has known Patti
since her childhood. a few years ago they
met at a Rothschud reunion. Looking
down at bracelet on the diva's arm, the
Duchess recognized it as a present OF her
father's-the Russian Emperor. Those
were happy days when you sang in St Pc
tersburg," she exclaimed. adding regret
fully, Tout passe. tout casse, tout lasse. "
The Prince and Princess OF Wales have
always shown Patti a great kindness, most
cordially appreciated by her. The Princess
she considers the prettiest woman IN eng
land. When Marquise de CauX dining at
Marlborough House, Patti caused much
CONSERVATION among the guests, and
amusement to the Prince, BY cxclaiming in
her impulsive way, as she slipped her cof-
fee "Oh, sire Que votre cafe est degou-
tant."
The occasion of the first meeting between
Patti and the divine Sarah is related by
the woman who was close companion OF
Patti at the time. Immediately on our
arrival in Paris" she says "Adelina was
besought by several journalists to coop
crate in benefit TO be given in aid of the
obscure actress, Sarah Bernhardt, who had
lost all her small possessions in a fire The
Marquis of Caux did not at first like the
idea of his wife singing for an actress of
no renown, but at last he gave his consent.
On the 5th of November. 1863, Adelna
Patti sang at the Odeon Theatre for the
benefit of Sarah Bernhardt. After the con-
cert the latter, clad in a dark wooden
gown. timidly approached the great singer
and offered her a small bouquet. and, be
ing too shy to utter a word of thanks.
she kissed her hand. Who would have
guessed that so insignificant a girl would
develop into the famous Sarah Bernhardt
OF today. and astonish the world by her
triumphs and her quarrels?"
This same woman tells of the unique pro-
posal of the Marquis of CauX. This noble
gentleman had been following the diva
about for many months in opposition to
his mothers wishes and meeting with but
little encouragement from Adelinas fam
lily. They were living at the time in the
Champs Elysees. The Marquis came daily
to the house, and at last succeeded in Sc
curing the good will of PATHS father. and
her brother-in in-law, Strakosch. "One even
ing" she says, 'it was after the perform
ance of the 'Traviata the MARQUIS re-
mained with US when all the rest had left
Adelina's dressing room. AS he always
retailed minutely the gossip of the town
Adelina turned to him with a smile and
said: Now. Marquis, what news? What
do they talk OF in Paris The latest news.
was his reply. IS that we are engaged
This was rather startling, but Adelina' s
features lighted up with a charming ex-
preston. Smiling she turned to the Mar
quis, And why not? ! hope you do not
object?'
at first somewhat embarrassed. and
then with joyful agitation. the Marquis
stammered ont: oh no! Certainly not:
| should be the happiest of mortals if it
were true,'
with lovely blush, Adelina put out
her hand TO the Marquis who was almost
beside himself with joy and said 1t
would make me happy. too,
THE Marquis pressed the proffered hand
to his lips. and, intoxicated with delight.
he claSped Adelina in his arms and then
rushed silently away
Patti has always been very fond of par
rots. and the last time She was in New
York she was informed that there was a
marvelously clever Polly" for sale, OF
which she ought to become the proud pos
sessor. Now Patti was quite willing to pay
the enormous price of $50 10 add Jumbo
TO her already valuable collection of wise
and witty birds. No sooner did Jumbo
come into her poSSGs sSion than not one
world would he utter. Months went by, but
still he remained mute. One day. however.
he took a violent cold and on the prima
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