davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
HORSE KNEW BUSINESS.
Would Distribute Telegraph Poles,
Necer Making a Mistake.

when hrSt became acquainted with Ben ne was
assisting II the erection OF some telegraph poles
along a railroad. and he was working as Intel
ligently any Of the men
There was a certain independence about the ami
NAL that rendered him trustworthy 10 remarkable
degree. Ben knew what expected Of him as
soon as his breakfast finished well as any
man in the gang-better than some OF them His
first duty was to walk bridge across the
river which separated him from his field Of labor.
This he did unattended. although the bridge was
a rude affair. consisting OF sleepers some distance
arart
His orders from his master were brief. and sell
dom required repetition "All ready Ben Go on
his stall, rub his gently against his master
shoulder End then take up his line OF arsh short
distance from the stable Ben usually stopped a
moment. as II cons tba t seeper as II TO test
strength. and finding it all right he would then
in the habit of watching him noticed that while
he used his forefeet with the same confidence as
when he was on level ground, he felt his way more
cautiously with his hndfeet. never putting them
The sight Of the horse walking the bridge
In the morning and again at night always wit
once across the bridge Ben's work tori the day
was fairly begun. He understood perfectly that
walk Iesurely UP through a gang OF men until he
Working hours Then he would back round. and
wait patiently five. ten fifteen minutes. II neces-
sary for long pole with chain attachment to be
This pole knew to be carried 10 GER
tain hole and left there and he also knew that the
next pole he carried 70 be left hole just
beyond When he reached his destination ne would
back round. and leave the pole almost at the edge
Of the hole. where IL to be set stand until
some one came 10 unhitch the chain and throw II
up his back. go for another pole. wait for IL
TO be htched on, and start on again without a
word being spoken. All day the horse podded back
and forth never making the mistake OF leav
ing two poles at the same hole
Ben knew just well as any OF the men when
the noon bell rang. Then. instead OF keeping
his work he could walk off in the direction Of the
restaurant where ne dined. which was shed
near by and here he would stand until his ratiOns
we're dealt out TO him. His water he always went
for himself taxing a long draft from a huge tub
an q pump on a neighboring corner
Everybody in the vicinity knew and loved the
horse. and spoke to him as one addresses com
towing pat varied the monotony of his daily round
OF duties And when the time for Ben to
leave for other fields OF labor. there feeling
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
HIS HOPES NEVER REALIZED.

Mr.. Fry's hopes. far as the Academy of MUSIC
is concerned. never realized, and after half
century his words echoing wherever writers in
dulge in discussion of ways and means for pro-
noting American music. Yet without schools con-
nected with opera houses American singers have
made their mark not only at home. but In the
lyric theatres of Italy. France Germany and Eng
land. Names like Clara Louise Kellogg. Annie
Louise Cary Minnie Hauk. Alwina Valera
Emma Nevada. Lillian Nordica, Adelaide Phillips,
Emma Albani and Josephine Yorke connected
less intimately with the history OF the
Academy Music. but they do not exhaust the
list. To them must be added those Of Charles
Adams. Suzanne Adams. David Bspham. Robert
Blass, William Candidus, Emma Eames. Signor
Foil Geraldine Farrar Julia Gaylord. Helen
Hastreiter. Eliza Heusler (the daughter or Bos-
ton shoemaker who became the morganatc VIE
of Dom Fernando of Portugal. Louise Homer
Emma Juch. Pauline rAllemande. Marie 1Atta'
Isabella Mccullough, Frederick c. Packard, jules
Perkins. Signor Perugini. Mathde Phillips Susan
Strong Minnie Tracy. Jennie Van Zandt. Emma
Abbott, Julia Wheatley. Virginia Whiting (Signera
Iorini. Edyth Walker, Marian Weed and half d
dozen more singers now attracting attention IN
London and Germany.
Max Maretzek was the first lessee OF the Acad-
envy of Music bat the company that opened IT on
October 2 1854. that engaged by J. H. Hackett
20 support Grisi and Mario. which had appeared
at Castle Garden two months before. MaretzeK
sublet 10 Hackett, who thought that the briiancy
of his stars and the new house justified him in
advancing the price of seats to 81 He had a rude
awakening. for the audience the first night was
neither large brilliant It numbered not more
than 100. and the second night the prices came
down the popular scale. with 81 so the stand
ard. By the middle Of December. though the
stockholders had been obliged 10 10 the res
Of Hackett, the collapse of the opening enter
prise announced, and Hackett took Grisi and
Mario to Boston for brief season. and then came
back for three four performances at the Metro
politan Theatre
The lest performance took place on February 20,
: 1858 Though many excellent singers had been
heard in New York between the coming of Nalibran
and that of Grisi and Mario. the three months Of
their sojourn In America have since remained
memorable. For generation afterward all tenors
measured by Mario's standard. Grisi created
a less enduring impression. because the audiences
that heard her within the space of few years
permitted also TO hear such singers as Jenny Lind,
Henrietta Sontag and Marietta Alboni-three names
that still Respondent in operatc annals. There
does not to be any reason for questioning the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
ROMANCES MARIO'S SPECIALITY.

Such satisfaction as can come 20 one from seeing
renowned artist was mine In 1872; but I can
scarcely say that I heard Mario. With Annie
Louise Cary he sang first in graceful little duet
Per valli, per boschi.' by Blangini ('Dear old
Mario had 10 warm up in a duet before he would
trust himself in solo," said the admired contralto
many years afterward), and later attempted Bee
thovens Adelaide" Romances MarIo's spe-
cialty, and Beethoven's divine song ought TO have
been ideal selection for him, but Il was quite
beyond his powers and / do now know whether
TO be glad or sorry that heard him attempt IT, II
is always unfortunate when great singers who have
gone into a decay are tempted again sing. To
the generation who knew them in their prime they
bring double measure of dsappointment-grie
for the passing away of the which once gave
pleasure and regret that the younger generation
should carry down TO pOsterity a false impression
of the singers voice and style Who shall measure
the heart burnngs left by Madame PATHS last visit
10 america when she sold herself TO trumpery
balladist and. affecting the appearance and manner
which had been hers quarter OF century before
Tried 10 make new generation believe that IL
listening 10 the vocalist whom veterans maintained
was the last one entitled TO be called Ia Diva
Of Annie Louis Cary whose American career be-
gan during the Strakosch regime the Academy
or Music ana ended with her marriage to Charles
Monson Raymond. when she still in the very
plentude OF her powers Many a time within the
iirst few years after her retirement have 1 seen
her surrounded by young women and old as she
was. leaving the Academy of Music or the Metro
politan opera House, and heard their pleading
voices: oh. Miss Cary, aren't you going TO
sing for us again?" and Please, Miss Cary, won't
white now, but her face is kindly and
she has glided mperceptibIy into knowledge
the art Of growing old gracefully. Her home is
Norwalk, Conn, and her summers. unless devoted
to the pursuit of health for her husband in Eu-
rope are spent at Scarsborough Beach in her ma
tive Maine Before the I'll health of Mr.. Raymond
began TO ensross her attention she was matinee
without twinge of regret envy she observed
the sgs tTiS S s of others in newer art than
vorftaD and a vocally opuient Amneris
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
4 LITERARY CURIOSITY.
italian Shoes 4ttifude of Some
TOscard Local Grand Opera.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In H. F. ks Chapters % opera which
annesred in TODAY Tribune he says: Nine. Gem
brich is the best singer have Of Nerdi's music
%o,- beinr \ correspondent of Milan paper.
would be much obliged to you if you VIII kindly
make out in next Sundays Tribune list or the
oneras by Verdi that Nine. Sembrich sings or has
been singing in New York or elsewhere Your
revelation is precious for me mat IKE 10 80
TO the bottom OF H.
Speaking Of Carlotta and Adeina Patti you az
firm that they received in New York their muslcai
training DO you their vocal training; II
SO please let know the names Of their American
vocal instructors. this also oeirg very interesting
and astonishing news that I Will not fail TO COM
muucate to my paper.
You seem TO entertain rather peculiar idea
about "tremoo." According to ire opinion or
Iarnperti a vocal teacher at least good as those
Americans who instructed Pa..l is not 10 be con-
founded with that viorsto' without which a
voice sounds Hfeess and resembles TO the whistle
OF a miniature locomotive, and which can not ne
avoided specially in ultra powerful voices Italian
prlrna donnas who have round full eQualized and
vibrant voices are sought and highly appreciated
I'm all first class playhouses- Italian prmadonnas
afflicted with tremoo could never sing before a
latin audience without running the danger OF being
hurled under a mountain OF skins OF bananas and
oranges You affirm that Italian primadonnas OF
the today are. most afflicted with 'tremolo' This
IS also an interesting news Pleas" however %
cornnlete II making out a list of the italian prima
donnas whom YOU have heard In New York within
these last ten years and who authorize YOU spit
out such sentences. far | know these prima-
donnas are De Macchi. Russ, and Bonnsegna With
the exception OF the last one who is good singer
the other two are quoted in Italy as very common
artists I know that at that time you and your
colleagues printed that Signora De Mach! was
reputed as IaIy's greatest Lucrece. but the truth
is that the Italians who believed so and were try
ing to make you believe were only two: Maestro
y-gna who had proposed the singer and had got
the commission. and Signora De MaCchfs brother
who is a vocal teacher in New York!
Believe me. dear Sir II your absolute ignorance
Of foreign languages would not prevent you to get
the news about operate artists directly from the
source reading the Reviews OF Paris. Milan. Flor
euce Madrid, Lisbon. Saint Petersburg, BUDAPEST
etc YOU would not be vctimIzed often by the
blurr and effrontery of the two New York impre
sarios who greatly rely upon your cross ignorance
They do not succeed-notw understanding the greatest
efforts made for years-to secure such conductors
as Toscanini and Mugnone? (of course you neither
know that they of this world) we'll; they
fully conce their failure and assure you that Sig
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
PASTE JEWELS.

A we'll known illustrator who visited New CrisaA
grew most enthusiastic with references TO th'
quaint beauty Of the old town Il noticed e
markedly decorative effect If street near 'h'
French Market said he to friend The se'
ond and third story windows OF a certain nous'
were hung with pale yellow bamboo CURTAINS 49,
These were perfectly plain and all OF the ssha -
shade vet YOU can form no idea how they set on
the old place. They simply glorined ft' ~
The friend. New Orleans man, was puz1leo- -.
don't recall the house Point IL out 20 me ms
ney we're IN that vicinity -
L lay or two later the friends were "a!Aint :,
the locality referred 20. when suddenly the -.
from the North uttered an exclamation -,,-.
a, ,sr, bs cried '"The house Of the bamboo cur
tains, II must contain colony Of artists.
His friend smiled grimly- That isn't oan9oS
he cxnlafned You're enthusing over spasnsss
factory They hang the stun out there 70 ors'
Youths Companion.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08

have refused come here. il you ask the , two
irapresaros they wiIl rather than confess If ths
Conductors tell you that they neither know tn s
and even say snat tney b bss proved very
useful as you are unable to control their state
Being a reader of The Tribune L kindly recon-
mend you again to let me know by the paper .ne
LIST Of italian primadonnas of today WnoHl you
have heard. and also the list of Verdls operas
that Nine fs1n spgi as m %e do not
mean mean De Macchi and Russ: and when We say
and ffF Better than Rigeietto and Travias Yours
s sncerely: GIULO BALDASSARINL
This letter is printed (with apologies to the
artists whose names are used in IL and the
people of New York; as a literary curiosity and
an illustration of the attitude Of portion OF the
italian population of the city toward our oper-
attic institutions and of the spirit and inteilt-
gence Of some of those who purvey information
concerning American affairs for the delectation
of European communities. 1t differs little from
some of the letters which have been written TO
German newspapers concerning the German
performances here. No one at all familiar by
personal observation with the musical condi-
tions of New York and the principal cities
abroad will need to have the foolishness. dis
honesty and malicious intent Of such screeds
pointed out The writer of the letter is not at
all DESTROYS to have his questions answered IL
he were he would have clothed them in as
courteous a tone as he, with his Imperfect
knowledge of the English language, could COM
mand His obvious purpose was 10 nave d
fling at two of his countrywomen VINO nave
sung in New York's opera houses. TO insult the
managers newspaper writer's and. people vi
New York and to parade himself as the chah
MON of those prima donnas and conductors Oh
ItaIv who according to him. cannot ne per-
s11aded to accept American engagements AS
for the conductors whom he mentions. ne might
have read their names in The Tribune on several
occasions when the question OF changes at tho
directors desk at the Metropolitan opera House
was discussed II the Italian journalist 'aS-
s,1ming that he is one) knows so little or the NE
history of Mime. Patti his question HUI
Gates he would do we'll TO read some elemental
musical biography. AS for the rest, the views
OF the writer Of Chapters of Opera on the
subject of the vocal wabble and Italian singers
are based on personal observations. not OF ten
but thirty years, not in New York alone but IN
European capitals we'll To an intelligent
mind there can have been no ambiguity in the
statements made in the article in question
touching Mime. Sembrich. Verdis music and the
tremolo: they require neither explanation nor
defenCe.-Ed.1
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
ADELINA PATHS DEBUT.

L was under the Co-consuship Of Maretzek ana
Cllmann that AdeIina Patti made her operate
debut at the Academy Of Music The date was No
vemher a, 1889 the opera Lucia Ill Lammermoor.
Twenty-Five years later Patti again the priula
donna Of the Academy though Mapeson was now
tbs manager It the second year OF the rivalry
between the Academy and the Metropolitan Opera
House and Colonel Mapleson conceived the idea
OF proiiting by the anniversary Al first il
planned that Lucia should De given. with Bri-
PATHS debut; but TWO months before the time
tho tenor died Instead, Martha" was performed,
I'm a manner wholly commonplace IN all respects
EXCEPT as 10 the tltular role In which Mime. Patti
appeared. a matter of course. There was only
a little perfunctory applause. but Colonel Mapeson
had resolved that the scene should be enacted. of
which we have often read. in which the devotees
Of the prim. ,ouua unhitch the horses from her
carriage and themselves drag u. with wild reJolc-
inEs through the streets To max" sure Of such
spontaneous ovation in staid New York vas a ques-
ton which Mapleson solved by hiring nifty Or more
Italians tChoristers. probably from the familiar
haunts in Third avenue, and providing them with
torches to follow the carriage. which was pro
sacaliy dragged along to- its destination at the
windsor Hotel. As demonstration u was thu
most pitiful affair that have ever witnessed. In
fact. II seemed to such humiliation OF the
great artist that the next opera nlKht l suS-
geSted to nv colleague Of The Times" newspaper
that something adequate and appropriate 10 so IN
teresting an anniversary be arranged. He agreed,
and within a fortnight or so a banquet was given
in Nine PATHS honor at the Hotel Brunswick
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08

Fifty years ago the centre Of operate ACTIVITY
had shifted the Academy of Music at 14th street
end Irving Place. and there il remained until the
Metropolitan Opera House built From the
opening of the Academy in 1854 TO the opening CT
the Metropolitan 1888 the former had no rival
as an establishment, though the rivalry between
managers and singers was the liveest that New
York has ever during the first decade OF the
time For twenty years Burton's Theatre revived
its early traditions and housed an opera troupe
st Intervals and NIbo's Theatre and Castle Gar
den were open TO every manager who wished 10
experiment with the costly enterprise Englsh
companies came and went and new competitive
element. which became more dangerous than
that which several times crushed the italian eX-
otto entered in the shape Of German opera, which.
though it sought modest home in the lesser
theatres of the Bowery and lower Broadway.
coon achieved recognition at the fashionable
Academy. The eagerness Of the rivalry in the
Italian field alone is indicated by the fact that
the Academy had five different managers in
the first three Of its history. and that
thereafter, until the coming Of Colonel Mapleson
in 1873. it almost a rule that there should be
q change of management every season. Maretzek
alternately manager and competitor and
again, and the bitterest rivals of season
would be found associated with each other the next
Already in the first season the stockholders had
TO step in and assume some of the risks of man
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08
A PRELIMINARY RECEPTION.

The preliminary reception was held IN one or tf1e
rooms adjoining the banquet hall and there a
scene was enacted which brought into reilef a
trait Of character which was extremely useful TO
the colonel in the difficult task of managing his
wilfuI and capricious prima donna. Nine Patti
received her hosts seated upon dlVan. Sne looheu
radiant and was wholly at ease alltI dVIle ,S -
peep into the hall to that the lght would nol
be prejudicial to her compressor d o az re- her
the hand which she extended with $780,
smile muttered the pretty compliment "hiCn ~
had rehearSed and fell back to make room IoI TIC
newt conner The room was pretty nearly nun:
when the colonel appeared in the glory o OF No
no R the IaneI of his coat Not a glance did he
give to right left. but with the grace OF prac
tised cOurtier he sailed across the room Sdhh o "!
his knees before the diva and raised her manu- W
his Inns Such a smile rewarded him! score
of breasts bulged with envy and score or
brains framed the thought: 'Cohtouhd IT, WHY
didn't I think of doing that? III. ,ta
Tho dinner passed off without 4 mtch, Nlhe-
Patti managing by a hundred pretty coque.lleS ~
convince nearly every one OF het LhIctsc Iii, liz
ten hosts that he had received at least one slnlle
that more gracious than rhGse Gre BaV
Wi,Iam Stenwav DR.. Leopold Damrosch. "lhdll
Winter and others. but. Colonel Marieson ntId
carried the palm: by his courtllness al te
ZION Max Maretzek made himself the most enVied
of men at the dinner Quite Infor1lialIy ne We
asked to say something after the set progral
La5 haen diSnosed of. Where the other speakers
had brought forward their eleeanuE luIntu V ia
torica tributes the grizzled Old manager tou
e1,est Amongst other things he illustrate now
early the divine Adena had fallen into the eo ways
of urina donna by refusing 10 sing AT ouhcel
in TTipler Hall unless he. who was managing IIis
concert would first go out and buy her pouiu
T;ded sic would give him kiss in return. In pos
session Of her box she kept both OF tI,t Iiad
the meeting adjourned PATTI bore stralght DOW"
on her old manager and said: .
Max If gave you a kiss for a bof Oh c'l'uS
then md I'll sbs siT did you one 'o' '0'''S II F. X
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08

to risk some of his gains by his manager 1t was
but a brief interlude. however ClIhlStll, w ls
activities in America extended over quarter OF
century lived to manage some OF the artsts W VINO
career like that of NIaretzek. fel! IN the period
when 'Rarn11nnisu was It's zenith and Jl!manil
Vas itterlv unconscionable the methods to which
he resorted for the purpose of exploiting his art
lists II was under his operate consushlp that the
" r. ,rne Piccolomui came to New IOrk-an artist
of insignificant calibre, lovely to look upon ana
ia scfnatiny as an actress in Soubrette parts \
Columhine'' said Chorley about her when she 81.
over an enr0n with pockets to trick the Panta-
loon of the piece 10 Outrun the HARLEQUIN ana 20
on fov her oy,-r, saucy confidence the occasion %
her success-wth those before the footiights ana
the orchestra" But this was not all Never da
any Young lady whose private claims 10 modest
respect were so great hers are known TO ne
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08

George F. Bristow, both of whom had composed
operas found worthy OF performance Mr.. Fry's
*LeonOre'' was performed at the Academy
March e. 1858, with Mime. Lagrange in the prln-
cipai role. but the already a dozen years
old and IL is not likely that the composers state
OF health you'd have permitted him to undertake
tIle writing Of new opera IL he had been so
disposed Mr.. Bristows rip Van Wrinkle" which
had a production in New York ia the year of Ole
Bulls announcement. may, Cor all that / know TO
the contrary. have been written for the prize The
scheme % uniting training school for singers WIN
opera house was not heard OF again, so far as
j recall, until MIR. Conried became director of
the Metropolitan Opera House II has much 10
commend IL and might be made 4 power for artis-
&c good with operate establishment on a really
pubc-spiritec. artistic and unselfsh basis it is
its in1rence is apt 10 be pernicious morally as well
as srtisticaly. How seriously Mr. Fry took the
proposed educational feature Of the institution f.
Indicated by article the opera house
-ahicti he published in Tho Tribune in the course
Of which he said:
The expense Of maintaining opera house so
1ortbrco al nome &iu be at most than
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-09-08

rrotes+atfons with which It begun and Tor It's
Lro,,i+v For the famous Norwegian violinist II
WAS a JTtopan dream with speedy ana Fude
awakening After he had retired the Lagrange
t-o,,pe came from downtown and completed tho
season with the help of the stockholders ana Ma
re+zek the e1stwhe impresarto and lessee Decahle
49, oorductor For four years. 1855, 1856, 1857 and
1e5S the Academy saw Maretzek, Strakosch ana
T-un,ann alternately installed impresarlos' ana
,ben for a year there no opera at the mouse,
H. three men at the head OF as many dlneie en-
cnnnanies seeking their fortunes outside OF Ite
metropolis. With Ullmann ThalbeTg was asa n1I1a
I'd for a space. the great pianist having colLe
70 America to make money under the maIagel S5
~ JIImann and probably having been persuaoeu