The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-02-05

WnlCn overlook Et0lka GerStGr, Whllo
still in the hoydoy Of her short lived,
but resplendcnt, popularity. DO you
not rcmembor tho controversy that
ragged at tho time as to tho causes Of
that lamentable collapse? Those
best competent, perhaps, to decide
tho question were Of opinion that
Gerster had given hor glory for tho
j)b Of motherhood.
Of all tho many tales Of famous
singers who have como to grief none
has moro interest than the strange
story of our American soprano Marie
van Tandt.
"La Fauvotte," rs they called her,
had risen with envablo rapitlity in
the French operatic armament, Patti
and Nilsson had stood sponsors for
her at the Opera Comique. Drlibes,
then almost as popular in Paris as
Gounod and Massenet, had composed
his "Lakme" for her.
One evening Ola Fauvette," Tie
spoilot darling of the boulevard, W; S
billed to appear for the first time in
'Le Barber" All Paris, in tho
exclusive and theatrical sense Of the
words, had assembled at the Opera
Comique and 1t was confidently cx-
pected that next morning the news
paper chroniqueurs would have one
moro victory to add to tho young
American, Gnunod was among the
distinguished Frenchmen Gin front"
When Marie van Zandt made her
entrance she was slightly flushed.
Presently tho house noticed other
abnormalities in her appearance.
Something seemed wrong with tho
diva's wig. Her walk, her look, her
voice, her smile, all seemed koculiar.
The audience Uttered, sneerrd, and
then-as suspicion gradually dawned
on them that her favorite might have
been dining too well-brokt INTO
wild boots and j"ers. Tho curtain
fell on ono Of tho most cruel scenes
ever witnessed in theatre; and
Gounod acting let us hope, impul-
sively) as the interpreter of outraged
public sentiment, dragged a French
singer, who happened to be in the
audience, on to the stage, to replace
tho American "Rosina."
The true cause of LA Fauvette's"
singular conduct may never have
been published. That singer who
had been treated like an adopted
child of France should have delib-
erately meditated dlsrespect to a
Partisan audience was, on the face of
things, incredible. Yet that and
much more sense]ess calumuy was
printed about her at the time-possi-
bly,, and indeed, probably, at the
instigation Of her rivals.
Had she not been foreigner an
apology and few trills might have
wiped out the diva's presumed
offence, together with the recollection
Of her extraordinary break down. As
it was, months elapsed before NJ.
Cervalho thought it prudent or advis
able to announce another appearance
of his American star.
When he at length advertised a
revival of "Lakme" aud the rentree
of the unlucky artist at his house.
Paris had Mysteries. Would NJ.
Carvalho dare to defy his fellow
citizens by allowing an American
who had insulted le grand nation on
the stage to Aout them second time ?
Nay, then, Paris would teach both
manager and singer.
Cn the night tix-d for the "Lakme"
performance the Opera Comique was
crowded from floor to ceiling Every
other man in the parterre aud gal.
lerles had brought II key or whistle
with him. And when Van Zandt
WAS seen bonding hor head az though
mutely appealing to tho chivaIry and
mercy of her audience the storm
arose. Th" savagery of her foes.
h I'VE ver, put the sing"I on h m title.
She WAS in splendid voice that night
and, after the first shock, she sang so
faultlessly that she won not only tho
sympathies, but also tho applause of
the vast majority in the theatre.
Meanwhile 10000 rowdies, among
them several hundred students from
the Latin qnartor, were laying siege
to the building shouting exercrnttons
ut the insolent foreigner and charg.
ing frenziedly at the Municipal
Guards, who barred tho entrances.
Had tbav ont hold of tho n,or;,on