Omaha daily bee., 1905-07-16

SS with the information that she
was resting at her villa In Italy. All of
which brought to mind an interesting ac-
count which / had from my friends, Mr..
and Mrs. Walter Hale, regarding visit
which they paid to the great prima donna
at her summer home The Hales are most
talented and delightful people. Last year
Mr.. Hale played with Crane in Business
is Business" Omaha people will remember
his fine work with Otis Skinner and Ada
Rehan during their Shakesperian revival
here a year ago. Mrs. Hale (Louise Clos
ser) made her great hit" as "Prossy," the
typewriter, with Arnold Daily in Candida"
Not content with making a success in the
theatrical field. these people turn their at
tention in the summer TO writing and
sketching. mainly for Harpers. Last year
they were ambling around Italy, doing up
Marion Crawford's Rome" and "Gabriele
d'Annunzio and his work" Incidentally
Mrs. Hale nearly ripped her golf skirt of
trying to climb over the wall that sur
rounds Duse's villa. This in the end proved
quite unnecessary, as D'Annunzio had the
keys to her gate, and cheerfully took the
Hales through.
I would like to tell about D'Annunzio's
abode in an old medieval chapel, rehabiii-
tated, just outside Of Florence; his exotic
personality that showed itself at every
turn, his passion for green (the degenerate
color) and the wonderful sizzling drink
which he mixed for Mrs. Hale in the midst
of a luxury that was barbaric. But this is
a musical column, and 1 must return TO
Madame Eames and her famous husband,
whom the Hales in their wanderings met.
and from whom they received the much
appreciated invitation TO visit them in their
Italian home. In the Apennines, not far
distant from Vallombrosa, stands the pic
turesque villa of the Storys. II IL Madame
Eames resting place after her labors OF
the winter. A request to share with her
the Informal country life is a great honor.
on this occasion fortune seemed TO smile
Victor Harris was OF the group also, which
deep I'm the consciousness OF the party, sup
piled the fact that nothing was lacking II
Madame should In a moment OF eXuberance
decide 10 sing. OF course no guest would
dream Of fracturing all the rules OF primu
donna hospitality by asking her. After
three or four days OF rambling over the
hills, driving and quietly enjoying the
heavenly beauties OF Nature, there came Q
moonlight night. IL wove it's spell over
the whole party. Madame Eames gave the
magic signal 20 Mr.. Harris and an hour oi
music room. with the pale moon shedding
It's magic radiance which is never equaleS
in the concert room. No sordid arrange
ments" marred the spirit OF the night. In
spiration held high carnival and romancl
threw her cloak OF stars over the listeners
%
The Hales felt as II their sojourn in tn
Italian hills had been rich with many hap
penings. Mr.. Hale took some Fascinating
pictures OF Madame Eames In her shor
skirt and walking hat. They looked cd,
20 me, for ! always picture her as tn
sanity Elizabeth, or at any rate In SOM
stately character. trailing clouds o
glory" TO behold her IN the the garment
Of the summer wayfarer Was9 almost
shock.
We IN Omaha are 20 hear Madame Fame
IN concert next winter. To me she Il al
ways lovely, her voice is beautiful but
never could seem 20 discover a great soul
was in Paris the night that she mad
! her debut in Romeo and Juliet" az th
Grand Opera. All the world knows OF he
pluck In choosing this particular place. /
IL not one where young, untried singers ap
pear, but Sybil sanderson, the orohid-liks
sweet-voiced Californian, had by her in
huence secured the Opera ComiQue for hel
own fret appearance. Emma Eames de
termined not 20 put on her debut, did I
most bold and unprecedented thing. sh,
engaged the Grand Opera house and set al