The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-28
NINE. PATHS EARLY LIFE
BORN IN MADRID AND SANG TO HER
DOLLS WHEN SIN YEARS OLD.
Reared in New York, Where She Made
She Has Preserved Her Voice.
New York World.

was married on Jan. p to Baron Ceder-
strom The groom is twenty-nine years old
and Patti is fifty-siX This is her third
marriage. To the Worlds London cor
respondent the great singer said the
other day: Il was never so happy in my
life"
Her eyes. as bright as young girls
beamed with youthful enthusiasm. Her
clear olive complexion had the transparent
bloom of perfect health. Her movements
were as sprighty, spontaneous and joyous
as any young brides. A visitor at PATHS
home recently says that she sang half the
day-so inconquerable is the spirit of youth
in this woman who has lived happily,
busily. contentedly, healthily, quite accord
ing to nature in this troubled world.
Following is PATHS own story of her
early life She is still the only person who
has ever received 5000 a performance for
personal services. The Baron de Ceder-
strom, whom she is about to marry, is a
Swede, an athlete. a generous. good-natured
fellow, who seems to be prouder of his bride
even than the aristocratic Marquis of Caux
was of the same woman thirty years ago,
and that is saying a good deal.
Let me see! The first thing 1 remember
doing saying my prayers at night, and
in all the years that have interviewed since
those days-or rather nights-of my early
memories / have never missed saying my
prayers before going to bed.
Madrid was my birthplace, and my
mother was q well-known singer. Catherine
Cheisa, who at fifteen years of age married
her teacher, M. Barilli. Her second mar
riage was with my father, Salvatore Patti,
member of one of the first families in
Catania, Sicily.
It has enormously and constantly been
stated that my father was professional
| singer by tradition and environment. As
a matter of fact his connection with the
profession of music was quite accidental;
the possession of a very beautiful voice
drew him, through the persuasion of his
| friends to the stage. with which, however,
no other member of his family had had any
association In this respect his case was
much the same as that of 1iario.
And now l can't think of anything else
| there really is nothing to tell never
| went to school. but was taught at home, as
| my mother had very particular views on
this matter, so [ cannot entertain you with
any of the usually interesting schooday
| "reminiscences. As a little child I Travelled
a great deal in America with my father and
mother, and the glamour of their profess
| Slonal life easily fascinated me.
| At six years of age, during their absence.
| j one day decked myself out in one of nv
| Htotuef stage dresses, ana having ranged
all my dolls on row of chairs in front of
me, sang and danced with all my heart, as
though | were capable of winning and the
dolls capable of showing a full measure Of
appreciation. In the midst of this scene nv
mother entered with Sontag and Alboni and
the latter was so impressed by my voice
mat she then told my mother should one
Gay become great singer, and thereupon
offered to undertake the training of nv
voice, but my parents would not allow me
out of their care until several wears later
brought Hyhn
made my first appearance when ] was
seven years of age ] sang because / had
q pretty good voice. l suppose, and so
nave Kept on singing. My family got into
difflculties-artists were not then paid so
Wen as now-and | determined to come to
tnelr rescue. An odd resolution for a little
chlId, but / carried it through, and had the
satisfaction of being acknowledged as a real
tower Of strength by my father and mother
In these early days of my career I would
never consent to go on the stage without
doll, and this eXaction on my part led
to all sorts of strange predicaments. If
from the stage or platform | noticed any
children in front. / invariably stepped for
ward and invited them to come and play
with me in the interval. Rather an embar-
rassment for the managers. but yet every
thing seemed to go capitally
DID NOT WORK HARD.
! remember at this very time hearing
Crisi and Mario in opera in New York. and
! was profoundly impressed by their sing
ing. After the performance | hurried be-
/ hind the scenes, and encountering Grsi,
| mutely held out for her acceptance few
simple flowers, which, in the exuberance
Of my childish enthusiasm, regarded as an
eloquent token Of my admiration The great
singer never noticed the modest Offering,
and pushing me rather brusquely aside
! said, as she passed to her room: Get out
of the way child. get out of the way!" The
tears rushed to my ewes and NV heart
thFOblP0 with the main of
turned and half mechanically offered the
same flowers to Mario. who was following.
He took them graciOuSly and fastened them
in his breast. Then taking in the situa-
ton. he lifted me in his arms and my tears
sped quickly as, kissing me, he said: Il shall
keep these flowers always. always in men,
DRY of you!'' Naturally, l thought Mario
the best of all great people, and still love
his memory, because of that little incident
in the long, long ago.
From seven until twelve years of age ]
sang regularly. Then my voice changed a
childhood was very busy one, and l had
abundant energy and perseverance. / went
to Mexico, Cuba. Porto Rico and other out
side places, and studied FRENCH, English.
German, Italian and Spanish, all of which
spoke equally well at a very early age. while
! could converse fairly in Russian and Por-
tuguese. My gift of memory was, and is,
remarkable, so that after all perhaps l did
not work very hard. don't like the word
NV first admirer M. Jose de Rios. de-
clared himself in 1850. at Porto Rico
where at the age of twelve ] was giving
concerts. / was sitting on the balcony
waiting for my turn to sing when this TALL
handsome young fellow first came under
my notice I don't know why he should
have found any attraction in me. for 1 was
plain little girl with sallow skin, two
black plaits hanging down my back, and
eyes that in uncanny way seemed much
too big for my face. He most kind
to me, and in those DAYS. when we had lit
tie of the worlds goods. his consideration
made a great impression on me. l had
nv this time lost mother. and when
NJ De Rios asked my father for my
hand / had little idea of even the mean
ing Of marriage. On account of my
tender years his offer naturally met with
a refusal. For five years / lost sight of
him and then, when I was seventeen. he
came to Bath. where l was giving a con-
cert one evening. and renewed his suit in
self.
NV real debut was made at the Academy
of Music New York when ! was fifteen.
Two years later I made my first appear
ance in England at Covent Garden. the
opera being La SOnnambula." ] need not
now say how ii went; most people know
that. But perhaps most do not stop to
think that ever since then-et me see it,
an awfully long time to remember. thirty
seven years. have never once missed
season in London. and nearly always i'm
opera; but on the few occasions when ]
have not sung in opera I have never failed
with nv concerts. Quite a record. is il
before l think the English have always
shown the greatest sympathy and kindness.
erd vet it appears to me that nothing could
eXccl the OVatiOrs accorded to me in Brus-
sells, Paris. Berlin. Moscow, New York ST.
Petersburg. Naples. Milan and Vienna