The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-02
Paris Special to the N. Y. Evening Post

N THIN a 1eW udys SluNeiii' way NpJ1 sang in the fiftiess before Patti " was: Marie sasse who took her place at the Paris opera in the SIX ties: Dancia who was great Vloiihise before either of them, and had been Grand Prix de Rome with Gounoa' anu Mime Crosnier who accompanied ha oba, in her prehistoric American tour, to live m as the Paris duenna of Sarah Bernhardt's days-have for last uiiie orawn the publics attention by dying. Their glory had not even a phonograph to perpetuste it; but each had place III the starry sky worth a passing opserVa- tion.
 Cruvelli was of course stage name Italanized from plain German Cru"eh' Fashions had changed since the thlr.ies' when Victoria Noeb pleased the fafis public by ltra-Germanizing herself Into Rosine Stoltz. Romanticism hao then made every one a pilgrim or the hhihe' like Longfellow's queer name Hyperlon.
 On November day of gray mist wreathing trees whose yellow leaves were falling, I visited the abandoned house which Rosine Stoltz built with the gold earned as an opera star. She had nothing of the romantic spirit From billiard room to bed chamber all was classic Greek as the mid-nineteenth century con ceived it. The wall hangings where nymphs shvered and fell amputated In long pieces from the damp walls were enough to make one wonder if the star shone happily on Godoy, Prince of Peace, whom she married.
 Her house is in the same noble park as the architectural folly of one Of the founders of the great Paris shop of the Louvre, where you can buy everything except perhaps an opera singer for wife. He too aspired to music, and built the three stories of his house around an audience room forming the giant core of the building from top to bottom and this. too, is now empty, while all, that failed as palaces of suc- cessful art and trade is for sale to some rich American who never comes.
 Sophie Cruvelli began with success where Grisi left off, having failed as Elvira in verdrs "Ernani." She was plump Westphalian beauty with a cor responding voice, dominating her au- dience by sheer superior force Of physique So Daniel Webster domineered over his political party, where smaller man with thinner voice would have been jeered. It was a critical period for the Paris opera. The director Nestor Roquepan-the archetypal boulevarder who invented the word "Parisine'' for that subtle poison which, once imbibed draws every one back to Paris-caught Time by the forelock and engaged the new singer for s20,OO0 year. It was figure unheard of till then, and seldom since in Paris. This alone was enough to make Cruvelli's career short and full of jealous opposition.
 Meyerbeer was the reigning composer, and she was the right star for his son. critics. She began as Valentine in "The TIuguenots" The Paris opera has not yet lost in the worlds tradition it's repu- tation won by her colossal triumph. Critics turned to her with the tide but only for time. and the star was soon glad to auench her envied spendors in a prosalc marriage, which made her Count ess viser. As such she has been known for half century by visitors to Nice. She sang sometimes for charity, but not
 
 she was 55, and 20 years after her re- tirement, she showed her conversion from Meyerbeer to Wagner by paying for an entire first representation of "Lohen- grin in France herself singing the part O. Elsa.
 Meyerbeer was in despair at losing his interpreter, but soon consoled him. self with Marie Sasse, who appeared in 1860 as Alice in Robert le Diable." Parsians, who for their operas sake had been frightened by Cruvelli's turn ing her back on their criticisms and cliques. were glad to find a creditable successor. Marie Sasse had begun hum- bly enough at the great Cafes-chan- tants of the Champs Elysees; but she was amiable personally, and not so regardless of Paris dignity as La Cru velli. She won and held favor until her voice failed her after the war. In the worst days of the bloody year" the crowd recognized her as she passed along the boulevard, and she stood up in her carriage and sang the Mar seillaise, to their maddening acclaim. The same adventure happened to vic- tor Capoul at the Bourse.
 For more than 30 years before her death Marie Sasse lived on her old reputation by teaching singing to oth- CTS. Many American girls passed through her classes and perpetuated in our western world the showy hemi- demi- -quavers which marked tile high art of singing in the time of her triumph. For that matter. Meyerbeer still holds his own at the Paris opera. while Gounod's "Faust"-understand- able in the text. without philosophy or allegory, but with story thrilling the commonest pulses of humanity, and with music which all can remember. and which can never be made the prop erty of an esoteric clique-goes on end lessly in its thousands of representa- tions as the national masterpiece.
 Cruvelli married money and title.