The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-28
THEY KISSED TLURlCE GRAU.
ALL THE PRIMA D0NNAs Nv ON
THAT PART or HIS FAREWELL.


dress Presented TO the Retiring d.
rector OF the Opera by the Artists.
Maurice Grau began to celebrate his last
day as an operatic impresario yesterday
at noon. Then he was called to the foyer
on the grand tier Of the opera house.
Waiting to receive him there was group
that nearly. filed the large room. There
were prima donnas and scrubwomen.
tenors and stage hands. directors OF the
Maurice Grau Opera Company and ushers.
Tho prematurely gray hairs OF Max Hirsch
were visible in one corner Of the room.
and the majestic whiskers OF ESouard de
Resxke dominated another.
The prima donnas had selected the occa-
sion as the first display Of spring gowns.
Mime. Sembrich wore a gray walking dress
and large white hat, which she confessed
to Nine Eames had been bought In Chicago.
and had to last until she reached Paris.
Nine. Eames, who had come to the opera
for the first time since her illness, was
dressed entirely in white.
Nine. Gadsd came In dark brown and
ostrich plumes and looking 80 distracted
that somebody asked her what was the
matter. She had just learned that she
was TO sing for Nine. Nordica In Les
Huguenots" and she was trying to remem-
Der where her maid had packed her Vdlen-
tine wig. 1t was the thought that 1t might
already be aboard the steamer that was
giving her 50 much concern.
Nine. Schumann- Heink, in honor OF
the first day of spring. came In low-necked
linen gown.
There were NM. Alvarez, Sa lignac.
Declery and Gilbert Of the French con-
tingent and NM. Antilles. Van Rooy and
Burgstaller OF Wagnerian renown. And
there were MN. di Marehi and Scotti.
To this international gathering. which
greeted him with applause. Mr.. Grau re-
sponded with a series OF Bon jours
and .Guten Tage!' that lasted for several
minutes.
He found himself facing q table covered
with palms and flowers. In the centre
OF the table was the loving cup to be pre-
sented to him. 1t is twenty inches tall
and rests on an ebony foundation. On
this base is a silver cartouche bearing the
words:
and friend. on the occasion Of his withdrawal
from operate management. as token OF
artists and STAN y the S &suros
Grau Opera Company. April 81. 1908.
The loving cup rests on q base composed
of three Rhine naidens. In relief are fig
ures Of Faust and Marguerite, Rigoietio and
sisqfrisd; The figures are eight inches
regard for detail. Appropriate back
grounds have also been provided for these
three figures, which are typical OF French,
Italian and German opera.
In the lower part OF the case holding the
silver loving cup Is drawer In which was
farewell letter signed by all the donors Of
the cup. 1t is illuminated on vellum and
made UP in the fashion OF a fourteenth CEN
fury missal. The initials are in brilliant
colors. decorated with gold, The cover Is
pigskin and decorated with blind tooling.
There are eight silver corner pieces.
Another volume. which completes this
gift, contains eight water color sketches,
e1qSsissy painted s1 BY ~ y nppncGfs
Boheme.- Der Valid. II Flauto Magico,'
and 4Tosca." all of them operas first pro-
duced at the Metropolitan by Mr.. GRAY.
? The speech of presentation was made
Grau that ali the Working stsii Of the
Maurice Grau Opera Company. from the
highest to the lowest, had helped to buy
the souvenir Mr. Grau, with tears in his
eyes, thanked the donors.
. AT the dinner last night he said, "no
feature Of the evening was more delightful
Mr.. Latham read. They were kind enough
10 say that they felt toward me like father,
and although have been engaging some
Of you longer than It might be polite to
mention, i love to think Of you all as my
children. ] only hope you will all try to
be az good to your next director as you
. have been to me and IL possible give him
no more trouble. don't think, moreover,
that any Of the singers should demand
more OF me than l could ever get out of
them. l have never been able TO make a
healthy tenor or prima-donna sing on two
evenings in succession. and as l made a
long speech last night am sure you will
not expect me TO do the same things to-day
When Mr.. Grau ceased to speak that was
the signal for the kissing which accompanies
every operate presentation. Mines. Sem
brich and Eames few forward and occupied
stood on her tiptoes and kissed tho i'm
presario's forehead. Nine. Schumann-
Heink lowered In the offing awaiting her
turn, while Nine. Gadski was so badly
ijoetled in the rush that she retired TO the
background Mr.. Grau saw her retiring
and called out:
@Come here, Nine. Gadski. and you too.
Niue. Reuss-Belce-all Of you come"
Then all marched up to their former
ifnpresario and kissed him.
49, Edward Lautsrbach presented a silver
laurel wreath on behalf Of Mr.. Conried, and
spoke OF his admiration for Mr.. Grau. 1t
was observed that the artists who have
been engaged for next season applauded
enthusiastically, while the others seemed
disposed to snif at every mention Of Mr.
Conrieds name.