The San Francisco call., 1904-12-25

ana peace Of mind when she ventures
abroad had been forwarded tc the HO-
tel del Monte, Monterey. instead Of to
the Hotel ST. Francis. san Francisco
and as the blunder was apologetically
revealed TO the cantatrice I awaited 4
temper break that would have been
'psrdonable on the part Of any woman
similarly situated. But il did not come.
The strong Teutonic features never re-
laNed the smile they wore when the tale
OF misfortune was commenced, and the
only comment was one Of quizzical
wonder
TO Monterrey" she said serenely
But were not going 10 Monterey. How
strange the trunks should go there.
I'm sorry they did not come here, be-
cause I must Go Christmas shopping
this afternoon with my little daughter.
But maybe I have something here that
VIII 90 TO wear"
A deepening Of the smile dismissed
the subject, and I remembered re-
mark anent the Gadski temperament
uttered by AIr. Maurice Grau when he
was here three years ago and sorely
harassed by the capriciOusness Of some
Of his song birds. Calve was sulking al
Pasadena, Sibyl Sanderson lay sick al
the Palace, Eames was threatened with
q sore throat. and the inpresario saw
money returned at the Grand Opera
house box Office.
."Ah." he said. If they all were like
Gadski-she's the reliable" And the
remainder Of that memorable season
bore out his opinion Of the entire
aviary there were only two of the
prima donne-Gadsh and Sembrich-
who did not cancel one or more appear
snces, convey disappointment TO tbs
public and corresponding pecuniary loss
TO their manager. Gadski sang oftener
than any Of her sister artists.
Since then she has lost none Of the
big. wholesome personality that illumed
the stage and endeared her to all whom
she met in a social way. That the
friendships then formed have endured
was indicated by her frequent inquiries
about persons and the many greetings
conveyed 10 her by mail and telephone
and handshake. The center table OF
her apartment at the St. Francis was a
litter Of letters locally posted and visit
INK EdLlE ana ADAd LLlDuAEc- ~ DLlEAl
was our interview interrupted by the
tinkling Of the telephone bell that she
almost showed annoyance.
Ny husband. Mr. Tauscher, isn't
here yet-won't arrive till Christmas
night she explained, so inquiries for
him are referred 10 me by the hote
people How is he? Well, he's the
busiest man in this country. The
Government al Washington has finally
adopted the big guns he represents"
It is Gadskis first extensive concert
tour and she has found il more agree
able than she anticipated. Her con
tract 10 sing opera for Conried called
for three years servitude, but at the
end Of the first twelvemonth he inaug-
= urated his now famous retrenchmeni
policy and she would not submit TO the
proposed salary reduction. Therefore
the covenant was Of his breaking.
An offer 10 appear in sixty concerts
en tour promised greater pecuniary
compensation than Mr.. Conried's re-
duced rate would have afforded me,
she said. and here I am with sixteer
Of the sixty behind me. But the series
threatens 10 be almost doubled. for ter
OF the sixteen have resulted in return
engag agements. When We started out
thought Of the brief stays in each place
and the almost constant travelling, but
now I actually prefer the concert plat
form TO the operatic stage, despite the
drawbacks TO ease-finding that
feared
II being my turn 10 say something
I lamely asked If the having Of ar
audience all to oneself, instead Of di-
viding its possession with other artists
did not make Up TO a great extent. il
not entirely, for one-night stands and
attendant discomforts.
Il hope I am not SO selfish as to de-
rive satisfaction from that source.
was her response, and the accompany
ing eye-twinkle made me yearn for in.
slant opportunity 70 indulge in self
kicking. "Of course, I would much
rather sing alone than be associated
with q poor tenor or any other defec-
tive artist or artists, but the preference
is IN consideration for the audience as
well as myself You see, when there is
weak spot in an operate cast il af-
ficts the public by impairing the work
Of the other principals. It discourages
them-makes them feel that the per
formance is faulty-and some Of them
may allow the hopelessness Of trying
70 make the performance creditable to
lead them into carelessness. Now that
feeling has never hampered me. The
weaker the cast the more earnestly
have striven to redeem the perform
ance-to give the public its moneys
worth and help the man who pays the
salaries. A conscientious artist could
not, believe, make the public conven-
After q moments reflection she
voUchsafed a theory, and il was log
ical.
'Schumann-H -Heink got close TO th'
S--