The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1908-03-15


tsenth year abe had Joined the company
q the Royal 0psfe House, where she Hai
destined 70 spend some Of the most brilliant
With 70 early a beginning It was natural
that her age should be misstated later.
At the age OF 20 she was In the habit OF
hearing herself referred 10 as an old woman,
One anecdote she always told with amuse-
ment, although the incident itself was OF
the kind that annoyed her in reality.
Once she was singing Frau Rluih in Niko-
lai's The Merry Wives Of Windsor at
Hanover. She heard one ohioer cay 70 en-.
other The Luoea Is wonderful when one
considers that she ia already over 90 As
a matter Of fact she had just passed her
twenty-seventh birthday.
But the tendency OF the public 10 make
every singer as old a. possible kept her 90
much annoyed that Hhe at one time sent
her birth certificate 10 a we'll known Jour-
nalst TO establish the exact year In which
she was born. II was extremely disagree-
able 10 her 70 be told that she still sang
vel, still looked we'll and 'still' had 20
much temperament. when there was no
reason why she should not have. She re-
tired earlier than she might have for this
reason.
Although Lucca was never one Of the
great mlstreeses Of song she had a profound
conviction as 10 the value OF study and fire.
quently deplored It's decay. After her first
professional visit to London she vent TO
Manuel Garcia, and until 1890 spent a GER
tain number OF weeks with him every
spring, II was her belief that IL was neces-
tary for q singer 10 90 every year TO an
instructor.
There will be no more great singers OF
the kind that made q real art Of song, she
aid aIha Italians kawE kaa1ANtl Nf1inaa
but have no taste or knowledge about
singing. The French have taste and . GER
tain knowledge OF method, but the voices
are mediocre.
There is no need Of artistic singing
to-day. What IL the value Of a oantilena,
for instance, in modern oompositionsf
Everything Is declamatory, cut up and
explosive.
Il was never Of the opinion that wag-
ner wa 90 injurious to the voice. IL was
his imitators who have done 30 much to
Irene without feeling that Wagner injured
me. II Is different TO hear Wagner to-day
shouted and barked by men and women
with three notes in their threats. That 10
enough TO make q singer nowadays
One Of the few pupils that Pauline Luoca
ever sent to this country was Mira Heller,
a young Pole for whom Jean de Reszks
obtained an engagement at the Metro
politan Opera House. IL was only for
ak years that she attempted TO teach.
She found too little talent and too little
patien oe, and although in many oasee
she even supplied pupils with food and
clothes they were not grateful enough
to appreciate II.
Pauline Lucca during her years at the
Berlin Opera House married a Pruesian
oficer, Baron vop RAhden, from whom
she was subsequently, divorced. Her wit
ness at the wedding was Bismarck, with
whom abe was for years on intimate terms.
The Imperial Chancellor was devoted TO
music In the privacy Of his home and used
20 delight 10 listen 10 Lucas singing, e.
pecialiy Of Schumann's 'Trookene Blu
men,
Once when she dined with Bismarck
after the Austrian Prussian war, there
we're only twelve guests, but they we're the
most distinguished in the country. So
fascinated was the company by Bismarck's
talk that it was 2 O'Clock before anybody
thought Of leaving the table, although the
dinner had begun at 5 in the afternoon.
During her years at the Berlin Opera
House she was the particular pet OF the old
Emperor William as well as Of the public,
On one occasion she drew parto Of her salary
In advance and ~ compelled 10 pay Il
OUT lulltuldltlys CHb NOulu HdNb btoh
poor for some time had not the Emperor
sent n Of his functionaries 10 her with a
second advance.
Il thought the child might need money
was the explanation Of his act.
Lucca often said that but for the En-
peror's kindness and protection when she
went as a young singer 10 Berlin she would
have been compelled 10 leave the opera
house by the Vaccinations Of her enemies.
That she wa not afraid 70 play jokes with
him 10 shown by this incident:
On the way from her dressing room 10 the
stage one night she encountered the En-
peror. who was just entering the royal boz:
HI held out his hand, which abe reached
down and kissed.
But that is not right, Pauline, he said,
1T is much more proper for me TO kiss your
hand Thereupon he bent 10 kiss the
young singers hand.
The next week she knew that he was In
the theatre and likely TO com to the stage.
So she put a black spot on the back OF her
hand. She was waving II about when the
Emperor approached her.
what is the matter with your hsnd1' Re
asked. Have you struck it?'
Nothing at all lie the matter with II. she
answered, except the honor you showed
me. See, ] have not washed II on yet and
she showed him the spot. i am too much
honored TO wash my hand any more
sAh. that will never do. Pauline he
answered. There is no honor In the world
that should interfere with washing ones
hands every day