The Detroit times., 1908-10-31
COUNTESS CASSINI
TO MAKE DEBUT
As A SINGER
ONE OF FOUR SENSATIONS IN
WHICH THE FRENCH CAPITAL
TAKES EXCITED iNTEREsT-A
TERRIBLE PLAY ANOTHER.

PARIS, Oct. 3l.-There are four
sensations TO the credit and discredit
of Paris. Two Of these are artistic
debuts, and one OF these debuts Is to
be that Of the brilliant Countess Cas-
SIM. whose career. social and diplo-
matte. In Washington once gave peo-
pie something TO talk about. She Is
still young. still beautiful and full OF
temperament and charm. Under the
teachings OF Jean de Reszke she has
range and quality. and equally i'm
portant Is the fact that she is born
actress.
The Countess Cassini will not APP
pear under her own name and bad in
tended to keep her identity hidden.
but decided last night that she would
be discovered some day or other. Any
way, her social position in Paris is
one of the best, and her name figures
in the lists of all the important func-
tons OF the Russian embassy.
Speaking OF another OF his pupils.
Mrs. Charles Dana Gibson. who left
for New York this year. De Reszke
said the world lost one of its great
est artists when she sacrificed pub
lie when she sacrificed a public ca
reer to domesticity. Two other pupils
upon whom he counts are Americans.
Miss Eleanor Senoyer. very young
girl from Chicago, who has q power
full dramatic soprano, and Siegel. OF
Chattanooga, Tenn, whom De Reszke
proclaims the most wonderful Ham
let the world has ever known.
Peggy Gillespie az Cleopatra.
The second debutante Is Mile Peg
gy Gillespie, who once upon a time
was Mrs. George McLelland, OF Pitts
burg. Heretofore she has been known
only as a winsome dancer and bright
mimic. but Miss Gillespie. feels that
she has sighted Shakespeare, so she
Is to appear as the Serpent OF the
Nile In Antony and Cleopatra AS she
weighs only 80 pounds, she will give
the world a new idea Of that violent
heroine OF old Egypt
The performance will take place IN
the holiday week, and probably at the
TheateF- des-Arts,- where Charles
Frohman's company has just closed a
successful run. She has already plac-
ed an order with English agents for
competent Shakespearian company.
No seats will be sold. but the Eng
lish and American colonies will be
invited to attend as guests Of the
young Pittsbnrg artist.
Sentiment and a Horror.
The third Partisan sensation Ii
F4scher's, In the Rue d'Austin. II Ia
| only cafe, but Fischer writes, com.
poses and sings his own songs. They
are reeking, sentimental songs and
all Paris goes to hear them. because
this year II IS the fashion in Paris to
be sentimental. In small, dingy
room. Fischer and ga woman assistant
sing, while at small tables ali the peo.
| pie who are really smart sit drinking
bad champagne while they split their
gloves with applause.
The fourth sensation Is a new play
at the Grand Guignol II Is a 40-min.
ute shudder. and will go round the
world "A la Salpetriere" Is the title
this being the famous hospital where
Charcot and De Rochas and other
/ lights of science started their hyp
motto experiments on hysterical WON
en-.
The realism Of this little two-act
play Is horrible. Against a back
ground OF rollicking medical students
nurses. brutal attendants and synical
doctors Is played out the drama OF the
unhappy, hysterical girl who is the
plaything II these coldly calm expert
mentors, and the tragedy is one tina,
wrings your heart when you see 1t
But 1t Is not the kind OF thing to put
under the sea on the cable wires. Be
sure OF this, however:
Within the next few months yor
will hear more OF this terrible play
from Paris than Of the divided Paris
ian gowns