The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1909-02-22
THREAT Of JAIL
INDUCED CALvE
TO SING IN CUBA
Great Diva Didn't Feel Like
1t, but There's a Queer
Law in Havana.
EXCUSES AREN'T VALID.
Ordeal of Steering Prima
Donna Too Much for
Manager.
EXCUSES AREN'T VALID.

Nine. Emma Calve and her manager.
John Cort, have had differences, and
now the famous singer is padding her
own canoe" On Feb. Is, after her third
concert I'm Havana. each agreed To sever
their contract. Shortly thereafter Il. V.
Glroux, Mr.. COrt's representative, who
accompanied the prima donna. babe
Calve cheerful ad!eu and returned to
the quieter atmosphere of his, offices In
the Knickerbocker Building. Mr.. Gil
rouX's nerves arc still in a hair trigger
state, and the sound OF a woman's voice
pitched above the conversational tone
causes him to start In alarm.
las far as l knOw-I mean that my
best Information is" said Mr.. Giroux
to-day, that Calye is stopping In St,
Augustine, at the Hotel Alcazar, and
that she will give concert there on
March |.
NO" continued Mr.. Glroux, with u
sigh of relief which filled the room. I'VE
have nothing more to do with Nine.
Calve. our contract with her terminated
Sp - iph hSh NOV IL iipptItu. " ell
1t just terminated on that date-expired.
stopped or whatever other word one
might be pleased to use.
sAny trouble? Well, YOU should know
that great singers are always trouble
some: any manager will tell you that.
How? Well. they don't want to sing
when everybody else wants them to, and
when the managers contract with the
theatre requires that they should. But
what do prma donnas care about con.
tracts?"
John Cort had managed Calve for
three years. The present concert tour,
when arranged, included the Havana
appearances, Nine. Calve did not seem
to be particularly interested in the
Cuban engagement and pleaded inds-
position. Then came on n series OF con-
ferences between the singer and Mr.,
Giroux, which may account for the lat.
ter's nerve fatigue.
There Is a law in Havana that Is In
some respects peculiar and, to Nine.
Calve. singularly unpleasant and UNI
professional" II was created TO pre-
vent incendiaries from burning down
opera houses, theatres and other places
OF amusement when, In fits OF great
disappointment. their hot blood became
hotter
Jail for Disappointing.
This law says that should manager
advertise any artist to appear at n
place OF amusement on a certain day or
night. and the artist fail to appear and
thereby disappoint the audience. the
manager and the artist may both be
placed under arrest and lodged in Jail,
They got Nine. Calve over to Ha-
vsna. and there the real trouble arose.
She didn't want to sings she wanted to
go back to the States at once. She
shut herself up and .cfused to see any
body. She had Achilles In his tent
beaten a mile.
Then the law was looked up, and when
the great Calve could be induced TO read
It with understanding she surrendered.
but under prOtest-under the most vio-
lent and unrcnitting protest II vas
said to be the r.0st nerveracking ex-
perience that ever timid manager un-
derment,
The audiences that head her knee
nothing about all this. Not In years ha 4
the great Calve sung In better voice.
She captured them all. and at each OF
the three concerts the results were
gratifying
BUT Mr. GIrcux came north al once,
and now Nine. Calve Is her own mana.
ger and vii! sing when she likes