The National tribune., 1906-12-13

The Metropolitan Opera House OF
New York City was filled to its utmost
seating and standing capacity on We'd
nesday evening last, when Enrico
Caruso. the Italian tenor, who has been
before the public lately. on account of
his arrest for disorderly conduct in
Central Park. made his first appear
ance since that occurrance in La
Boheme." It was noticed that there
! were more Italians than usual in the
galleries, but with that exception it was
the usual New York audience, with the
stockholders boxes all occupied. the
glitter of precious gems and the display
of gorgeous costumes everywhere visi-
BILE. All were on the qui vive as to the
great tenor'S reception. and each face
showed the intense excitement of the
occasion. When Caruso appeared,
however, looking pale and nervous. the
plause, and "Vive Caruso," 'sVive
| Italo" came from his friends and
| countrymen in the galleries. The
tenor walked to the front and center
of the stage, when the demonstrations
of friendliness and sympathy were in
creased. the widest excitement pre-
vailing. Caruso bowed low his ac-
knowledgment, but the scene was too
much for his emotional Southern tenn
4
hide his tears, using a white handker-
chief freely. He soon pulled himself
together, and tho his first notes We're
somewhat husky, his voice speedily
cleared and he sang the role with un-
usual verve, and with that wonderful
purity of tone which marks him as the
great artist. There We're few Misses
when he first appeared, but they We're
socn drowned in the noise of the clap
7 /, . rI,z
| galleries. He was called before the
curtain seven times at the end of the
first act. Much of the enthusiasm was
a tribute to Caruso's art, pure and SIM
pie. and in no way a demonstration of
sympathy for him in his recent adven-
ture.
Little Count Boni seems to be afford
| ing much amusement for all the world.
| The reports of his attempts to earn an
| honest living are almost pathetically
| funny. It is said that he, who himself
paid fabulous sums for having his own
speeches and articles written, applied
for the position of parliamentary Sec
retary TO a political opponent. An
other and rather more probable story is
that he receives a certain commission
from the tailors. jewelers., etc. for the
advertisement of their goods Boni
always was a most tasty dresser" and
/ the envy in this respect of the gilded
youth of gay Paree." Everyone is
laughing over the offer made him by
the New York restaurant proprietor,
Martin, and the indignant little Counts
subsequent challenge to a duel. The
latest story is that Lew Fields, the
atrical manager of New York has been
approached Indirectly by a well-known
vaudeville promoter of Paris with ref
erence 10 Boni's appearance on the
American stage to the tune of $4,000
| week for 40 weeks. Mr. Fields. while
willing to engage the French Count for
fair salary, was not inclined to think
him worth this amount.
We are told that Whitelaw Reid, our
EmhassadOr to England, is thinking of
renting Blenheim Palace from the Duke
of Marlborough who has since the
separation from his wife discharged the
army of servants and closed the place.
The Reds are very hospitable and en-
tertain largely, and have found Wrest
Park rather too small for their pur-
poses.
James J. Hill, the noted railroad
builder and President of the Great
Northern Railroad, has turned over to
the road his great ore lands, among
which is the Mahoney iron mine, one
of the richest of the lot. 1t is said
that within 10 years the Great North-
ern's gross revenues from this proper
ty will be $6.000.0G0 Why Mr.. Hill
did this is not a question easy to an
swer.
The first official statement of the for
tune of the late Russell Sage places il
between $60,OOO.000 and $100,0o0,O00