Evening journal., 1910-09-13
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Romance of Grand
Opera

by "Holland."

Patti Gerster, Campanini. Del /
Puente, Albani Nordica, Minnie /
Hauck-these We're a few of the great
operate singers that were introduced
TO the American public by the most
famous impresario of his day-the
late Colonel J. II. Mapleson, who /
brought Italian opera TO Now York in
1877 and for a number of years there
after was the chief figure in the pro-
duction Of grand opera in the new
world.
When Colonel Mapleson. who re-
mained an Englishman TO the day OF
his death. in 1901, made his last busi
ness trip 10 this side | renewed my
acquaintance with him. and in the
course of our conversation l mention
cd the name OF Cavalazzi. The coli
onel smiled reminiscently.
do You remember the time when
the New York newspapers printed a
story to the effect that | had been dis
covered enthusiastically kissing q
very handsome young woman in the
public waiting room of a railway sta
ton? Well. IL was a true story, and
some of tho papers gave considerable
space 20 Il. But ! have often won
dered how much greater space they
would have given the incident had
they known the romance back of IL.
/ Will tell you of that-and, Incl
dentally. you will be able to get some
idea of the worries that constantly
beset a grand opera impresario
"As you may recall, ] brought over
here as my premiere danseuse Mile.
Cavalazzi, who was at the head of her
profession aud a young woman en-
dowed with unusual charm of person
and character. Her debut in New
York was an operate event; she
achieved a remarkable triumph and
speedily became one Of the most pop
ular members of my company. shar-
ing the honors with my prima donnas.
"Of course so attractive young
woman soon had host of admirers
in her train, but her dignity and cir
cumspect manner kept them at dis
tance, a fact that pleased me might
lily, for ! was anxious to keep her In
my company and feared that she
might marry and retire from the stage.
Indeed I was so eager TO achieve my
purpose of keeping her heart free that
| overlooked an impending catas-
trophe that was close at hand. My
son Charles, who was associated with
me I'm business, had fallen a victim
to the charms OF the beautiful Italian
and Mile Cavalazzi returned his af-
fection.
Il was as blind as the traditional
bat to tho situation. The first ink
ling / had of It was the newspaper
announcement that my son had eloped
with the fascinating dancer. It real
ly wasn't much of an elopment-they
ferried across the river to Hoboken
one afternoon and we're married.
could scarcely credit the amazing
news. couldn't understand how they
had managed to conduct their court
ship. for my son couldn't speak "A
word Of Italian and my new daughter
in-law knew no English.
well, ] wasn't pleased--for busi-
ness reasons exclusively. ! knew
that Charlie couldn't have found "A
more charming wife on the round
earth. but / feared that Cavalazzi
married would not be so acceptable
to the American public as Cavalazzi
single. II seemed 10 me that Il might
give my rivals a chance to say:
'Mapleson is booming Cavalazzi be-
cause she is his daughter-in-law' It
made me grumpy and I cancelled nv
contract with the dancer and declined
to conduct further business or per-
sonal relations with her as Mrs.
Charles Mapleson. My wife, who was
very fond of our new daughter and
awfully pleased over the match, de-
clared that I was foolish, but was
obstinate and refused to be per-
suaded.
For two or three seasons after this
] tried to get along without Cavalaz-
II, though ! did not succeed in salts
factorily filling her place in my COM
pany, and l knew / never should
Then, to add to my worry in this