New-York tribune., 1907-12-22
LONDON NOTES.
I'et Nights and Other Social
RecredtiOns.

is now commonly known as "Tet.' The
traction of four syllables into single one is
the characteristic tribute which the smart sets
have paid TO an accomplished singer; but she
has other claims upon consideration. She has
suddenly become what is commercially known
as valuable asset for opera in London. The
autumn season dragged until she took possession
Of the stage and charmed audiences with the
freshness of her voice. Music lovers were the
first enthusiasts. and fashionable people who
had been unwilling to have 1t known that they
country houses and pheasant shootings filed
the boxes The receipts at the box office
largely increased, and what had looked like
disappointing balance sheet showed signs of
rapid Improvement. AT the close Of the season
two "Tet" concerts We're arranged and every
seat was taken. Another announced, and
great the rush for seats that fourth
was necessary. In ninety minutes from the
opening of the box Office for the final perform
anoe two thousand seats were sold. Nine. Tst-
razzini will be the favorite at the regular sea-
son during the spring. There will always be a
crowded house on ''Tet" night.
Nine. Tetrazzini Is soprano with rema rkable
purity Of tone and refinement of method. Her
voice is not powerful and in the lower register
may even be described as having ordinary quail
ity: but her high notes marvellously clear
and sweet and her command Of all the re-
sources Of vocalization Is complete. She sings
with simplicity and n,asterful facility and the
effort required for the highest passages is mini
mized by the art that conceals art. She has
the birdlike purity of tone for which Nine.
Melba was famous in her best davs: and she
has also exquisite sensbity which reminds
oldtime music lovers OF the emotional thrills
experienced when Nine. Christine Nilsson used
TO sing in Faust The Magic Flute,
Martha" and ''Mignon.' Without having
beauty of feature or graceful figure, she has
the charm of gracious manner and unaffected
simplicity in giving pleasure to audiences. The
enthusiasm at her closing concerts this week
has been intense and uncomfortable She has
been recalled dozen times after each number
and has been forced to respond to encores even
when she had a. slight cold and there every
reason for saving her voice. She seems destined
to become the favorite interpreter of Verdi and
the oldtime school of opera at Covent Garden.
and to make the Italian nights. far wealth
and fashion concerned, popular the
Wagner nights.
The conversion Of Warwick House into
American home has involved the auctioning off
Of the furniture and ornaments at the Cadogan
ROOMS. in KnightsbI1dge, and the proceedings
have been attended by fashionable audience.
The big sales at Christie's attended by
smart women but they are silent witnesses OF
the competition among dealers. The Countess
of Warwick has been conspicuous and so
eccentric a figure in society that the dispersion
Of her household properties has commanded un-
usual interest and the ordinary manners Of the
saIesroon have bsSn neglected. Well dressed
women in their eagerness to obtain souvenirs
or bargains have interrupted the routine opera
tions Of tho dealers and have become impulsive
and excited bidders, noddtng their heads, BRAN
dishing their eyeglasses and waving their para
soils toward the auctioneer and assisting in run
ming up prices when the bedroom suites and
drawing room ornaments were going off slug
gis1ly With all these signs of vivacity and
personal interest in the SALE 1t is not surprising
that the regular dealers lost their sefpossession
and got into wrangle when one OF the pur-
chases was repudiated after the hammer had
fallen. The prices were fairly high, since as
much as f35 guineas was paid for fifty yards Of
Administer carpet and the for
French satinwood writing table with fnlaid
panels There will be similar sale Of the
Brampton collection Of furniture, silver. pictures
and books next week in settlement OF an estate
subject to double duties In consequence Of the
death of both Lord and Lady Brampton.
Another recreation more exciting but less
reputable than attendance on auction rales is
cases AS the accommodation for spectators Is
restricted smart women can be admitted only
nv favor Of the bench. This makes attendance
q matter Of privilege and social patronage and
trnparts pleasurable excitement TO the court
drama which is ordinarily comedy. With bench
and counsel competing es humorists. There has
haen a. crowded house this week for Atherton
ast Yarde-Buer in Justice Darng's COURT
for sensational disclosures were expected from
a s,,it for breach of promise brought by a ol-
,,o,ced woman of fashion against officer of
the Scots Guards and peers helr' VINO han
,uta6 her and married a popular actress. The
Ease uas settled at the close Of q short session
hv a. prearranged verdict for the lady, with
oos,s but without daniag and the audience
u-ae forced TO content itself with dry speech
<or, Sir Edward Carson. the reading or
,acket of love letters and discreet remarks from
NJ Rufus Isaacs and Mr.. Justice Darling. II
was dull sport, especially as the lawyers
an their hest behavior and the humors OF the
bench were r11thlessly suppressed
Tbe rruce case is a comedy with so many
eccentric characters and SO extraorolhahS
,,o, that IT is considered funnier and more in
,.rastins than the iiveliest play at the theatres
For every session at the police court there Is
a scramble of women of fashion ana the pro-
ceedfnxs are never dull except When the tesli-
,oonv OF witnesses is reread by the clerk ior
eno, ,evisjon and signature. Mr.. Plowden, the
magistrate is noted wit. and stimulated Dy
the presence of society ladies. he tries TO De as
entertaining as possible. Mr. Atherley-Jones
doc. not affect humorous gifts. but his opponent
Mr. Ayory, has bypIay unceasing in variety as
he cross s-exarnines the witnesses with all the arr
~ . resourcefuI lawyer. The witnesses them
selves provide the bulk Of the sport 1or ehes
.,e mainly men and women in their dotage re-
h.orsnp what they saw and heard over Iorty