The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-08

taken, except, perhaps they We're being
carefully preserved; but when it came to
threats and warnings. such for instance,
as not to use the hotel life or to beware
Of the quality of the food, Nine. Melba
became SO unnerved that it was found
necessary TO acquaint the project at Mil
Ian with the details Of the diabolical
scheme. The writer's ululufdrious con-
nections became here Of some avail, and
the threat of the camorra was soon I'M
skeined. traced 10 its source and incapaci-
tated for furtherharrn But enough hav-
&C had been wrought already; and on the
very eve of the debut the assembled wise
acres OF the Cafe B;fi had TO be told in
downright anger that they were q pack
Of fools. for in another twenty-four hours
they would be one and all al Me.ba's feet.
grateful for nod OF recognition.
At last the eventful evening came. The
house was packed in every nook and cor
ner, but the impression was one Of being
amongst multitude OF people with weap-
ons loaded and ready to fire. There is
always an atmosphere Of violence and ex-
cess on all first nights al Italian theaters.
but nowhere so much. perhaps. as at the
Scala. On this occasion the subscribers.
so as to mafk well their use Of disap-
prevail by anticipation, had turned their
backs TO the stage, exchanging quite aud
ible comments as the initial scenes Of
Lucia were in progress.
A change OF scenery. harp solo. and
there stood divine Nellie facing some
two thousand odd unfriends. What mo-
ment OF agony IL must have been to step
forward midst oppressive silence inter
rupted now and then by kissing sounds
But hardly were the few notes OF .-Ancor
non giunse" heard than there was vote
face of all recalcitrant backs Eyes lii
up in admiring expectation, the audience
breathed freely, and every one settled
more comfortably in his seat for the even
ings treat.
1t must be said, in justice to the audi
ence of the Scala. that the degree Of its
exaction is on a par with the high stan
dard of its knowledge and taste. An in
feriOr singer may pass muster or be toll
Grated, it is true. but no amount Of
camorra can interfere with the apprecia-
ton of merit; and the homage is so spOn-
td4.GDuS anu 0l-lN Il sal Aildt II DiOtct4S
perforce fromthes anne source OF refined
musical education. Thus at the mere
sound of Melbas voice, the very souvenir
of all intrigues vanished; land, before she
had done with the first recitative, the
Milanese understood there was in store
for them what they had not heard yet
II / say that Madame Melba probably
never sung better in her life, and that the
Grafton after the mad scene" equalled in
Verdi on the venerable master appear
ance at the premiere og Flagstaff"
shall have said all thereremai ms TO be
added. 1t is almost needless to say that
the Milanese press extolIed the incompar-
able sOngstress. and how complete was
the tribute of admiration. Nor is it, per-
haps, necessary TO mention the crowds
that came TO worship at the shine OF ''di-
vine Nellie, and how privileged thought
themselves those who obtained the favor
OF an introduction But il is wei TO reg
lister here that with Il full knowledge Of
all that had happened before the debut in
order to Illustrate its results. and with.
every title of evidence in her possess on
Melba forgave malice and i'll will: the
goldenvoic has heart of gold.-M De
Nevers in the Kansas City Star.