The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-24
ANOTHER PATTI FAREWELL.


Washington Post.
Mime. Patti-formerly the Marquise de
Caux, afterward Signora Nicolini, now
Baroness Cederstrom-Mme. Patti, we say,
has given NJ. Maurice Grau to understand
that, If properly approached-in financlai
sense, of course-she may conclude to Visit
America for a twenty-fifth and positively
final farewell tour. The frugal and FAR
seeing Baron Cederstrom has written NJ
Grau TO that effect, inclosing contract
for his signature Naturally, Grau Will
sign. He knows his New York public by
this time-knows that you can't give 'em
gold bricks enough so long as you use the
proper label. Sign the contract? Well, we
should say so. And so will our readers
who know Grau and New York say. when
they read the New York Herald's version
of that document:
Bearing Mr.. Grau's signature, this con-
tract will be taken to Nine. Patti by his
agent who will sail on Saturday next The
document proves that the songstress has
forgotten none of the business acumen for
which she was noted. She agrees she Will
sing in sixty concerts in the principal cities
of the United States, in Canada, in the
City of Mexico, and in Havana, but the
trip is to take no more tnan six months;
One of her first requirements is that Sl0,OOo
shall be deposited with the Rothschlu
Brothers, in London, to bind the contract,
and that, thirty days before her tour be-
gins, $4,000 more is to be placed with the
same firm This is to assure her or pay
ment for at least ten of her concerts. Be
sides the 5000 for each concert, wherever
the receipts of a concert exceed S,5OO, she
is to receive 20 per cent. of the excess:
''She stipulates she shall not be required
to sing in more than ten concerts in one
month-that when she sings three times in
one week, two concerts will suffice for the
next week She is to select her own songs,
musical director. At each concert she is TO
sing one solo, one concerted number and TO
appear in a scene from La Traviata, The
Barber of Seville or Linda di Chamounlx
She agrees she will want no pay for any
concert she may miss by reason of indispo-
sition, and Mr.. Grau is to have his own
physician with her. Transportation is 10
be furnished for her and her suite of six
persons, and there is to be a private car
furnished for her. her husband and their
servants
Here, as will be seen, Nine. Patti pro-
poses to sing in sixty concerts, Mr.. Grau
guaranteeing 5000 for each one of them,
or 100000 in all, with the further proviso
that where the receipts exceed $500 she
is to divide the excess equally with the
impresario. Before the tour begins, how
ever, she is TO receive $4,000 cash down
to secure her against emotional wear ana
tear in the event of some now unforeseen
Mr.. Grau proposes to extract from the
pockets of the great American sucker.
the sum Of, say 100000. Patti is to get
s300, 000-perhaps 900 or 100000 extra
and it is perfectly safe to assume that Mr..
Grau does not intend to emerge from the
enterprise quite penniless. 1t is glorious
opportunity for the leisure classes to part
with their money.
VIII the tour prove successful? We cam
not speak with confidence as to all the
cities named in the itinerary-aS to Chi
cago or New Orleans, for instance, from
which communities have heard loud
screams of anguish within the past few
years Immediately following deal with
New York talent. 1t is our deliberate con-
viction, however, that the foray will prove
highly profitable to its organizers. We
firmly believe that if some sufficiently
intrepid impresario were to land in New
York. wearing a plenty of diamonds and
sporting the right kind of a nose, he could
fill the largest hall in the metropolis at
$40 a seat by offering a song recital by
Mime. Sappho. the famous Lesbian can
tatrice,- with the original harp, made in
Mitylene, and an antiphonal chorus of
Nereds led by Amphitrite herself and the
usual encourage of shells, dolphins. etc. -
We have an abiding faith in the credulity
of the American sucker.
SO has our friend Grau.