The sun., 1909-01-21
MARY GARDEN QUITS OSCAR
BECAUSE CAVALIER rs BILLED
IN "THAIS"-CAN'T, SAYS HE.


"Prims Donna Hun" and TAX wln
FIX II. He Beiieves-wanted 10 Help
Miss Garden-IIe's Got Other ssIomes
Yesterday mornings rapers contained
the announcement that Mile. Lima Cav
alieri would sing the role of Thais at Oscar
Hammerstein's Manhattan Opera House
on Saturday night OF next week. and last
night Mr.. Hammerstein received this
letter from Miss Mary Garden.
My DEAR Mn. HAMMEnsrsN, on Mon
day afternoon. when you told me you were
to engage Nine. Cavalierl to sing TAaIs.
| said to you that the day this announce
ment was advertised In the newspapers
would leave the Manhattan Opera Houss
This morning the published announcements
appeared and accordingly I hereby send
you my resignation, MARY GARDEN.
January 20, 1909.
This latest addition 10 his list Of troubles
as an impresario Mr.. Hamnestein re-
ceived with coolness, struggling his
shoulders and giving it as his belief that
it was but another instance Of sprima
donna huff." Then he began at the be-
ginning Of the Cavalieri incident on Sun
day afternoon and told all about IT,
In the first place Mr.. Hsmmerstsin
wanted it understood that he had only
the highest regard for his soprano Who
with her rendering Of several French
operas has done 30 much for his opera
house. And it was too bad that a mis-
understanding Of this kind had arisen
between such old friends as himself and
Miss Garden He believed, however.
that conference with Miss Garden and
Miss Cavalieri could be held within day
or two and that everything, could be ar
ranged to every one's satisfaction.
On Sunday aftern oon. Mr., Hammer
stein said. while he and Mr.. .Campanini and
their assistants were laying out the plans
for the coming weeks in both opera
houses the Mania ttan and Mr.. Hammer
STEMS Philadelphia house--it was made
evident that the many performances Of
French opera together with the fifteen
performances of -Salome,' which Miss
Garden now is rehearsing. were going to
prove more than any woman possibly
could stand
Not only do Mr.. Hammerstein's con-
tracts with the owners Of these operas
demand that just so many performances
be given in season. but the French
operas have been popular with the Man
haitian audiences and are proving popular
in Philadelphia as we'll, Therefore, MIR.
Hammerstein said. the wisest way out
seemed to be to get some one to take part
Of the load from Miss Gardens shoulders.
Miss Cavalieri was in town and shs
had sung the title role Of -Thais' in Paris.
In fact Miss Cavalieri and Mr.. Chaliapins
were rehearsing the opera from the
piano score in Paris at the time Mr.. Ham
merstein secured the rights for this
country. and it was said at the time
that the two artists were preparing to
sing in the opera at the Metropolitan.
But. as Mr.. Hammerstein says. the only
oversight Of the management OF the
was the neglect to secure
performing rights.
Miss Cavalier was suggested TO Mr..
Hammerstein as a possible means Of re-
lieving Miss Garden. The telephone was
used and Miss Cavalieri. who was about
to sail for Europe. said she would be right
down. A little later she drove up to ths
door Of the Manhattan in cab and Mr.
asked her il he could secure
her services for few performances
She said he could
He told her she was engaged FOR dH
performances. and hinted that thsy
probably would be four appearances In
That's one in "Tosca." and ons In
Faust Miss Cavalier is announced
to sing in Faust in Philadelphia week
from tonight. These details. howevsr.
were not made definite. and she might be
called upon to do Tkais all six times.
No contract was drawn up. but Mr.
gave the soprano a men,
orandum Of the engagement and she
went away
On Monday afternoon Miss Garden
went to tho opera house for rehearsai
and Mr.. Hammerstein told her what he
had done. Il expected she would bs
very glad,' Mr.. Hsmmerstein said,ss
.ouch Of sadness in his voice. sfor abe
mas been very tired for three weeks past,
md as everybody knows the strain Of
'Salome' is enough to break
down anybody ......
Instead of telling Mr.. Hammerstein
now glad she was. however. Miss Gardsn.
according to the impresario. dew into
/ rage and said many unkind things.
which we're better left unsaid. She
vas excited Mr.. Hammerstein puts It.
so left her-I didn't try to talk any more
With her then Miss Garden completed
Ter rehearsal
The news that Miss Garden was pat
,ut about it reached Miss Cavaleri fon
donday night and she wrote TO Mr.. Ham.
nerstein that she did not want TO sing
he role IL Miss Garden preferred 70 sing
t herself. Then came the letter from
diss Garden to the impresario. ~
At Miss Gardens house. IS East Fifty
ixth street. her sister. Miss Agnes Garden.
aid last night that the soprano had gone
ut Of town and would not be back until
his afternoon. She had left no inklinR Of
that she would do. the sister said.
Mr. Hammerstein says that Miss Garden
ant resign. His contract with her has
our years to run after this season. He
Expresses great confidence that every
hing can be adjusted to the satisfaction
{ all concerned: but. although expressly
any intention to threaten the
rima donna. he adds that the incident
nm Sn no wiaa altar tha t,lana for ths