Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-27

| netti at Bologna, where business went from
bad to worse. Finally, one rainy day, the
good natured Forli abandoned hope, and we
| were told we might take walk. | could
scrape together only enough money for my
railroad fare to Leghorn, and, packing my
few belongings, returned home from my first
adventure like whipped dog.
Joyful News from Naples
SUMNER and fall passed in idleness and
~ detection, and then came the joyful news
that Forli had reorganzed his company for
season at the Teatro del Fondo in Naples
and wanted me for director | rushed to
Naples, accepted his beggarly terms with
gratitude, and was in the seventh heaven of
delight at finding myself addressed as
Maestro on every side.
The life of an opera conductor in Naples
is never without excitement. | recall one
Sunday afternoon when we were giving the
little opera "Satanella." The theater was
full as an egg and noisy as a Neapolitan
theater always is. The No Encore" rule is
a sure incentive to riot there; but | was
trying to save the company, as we were due
for another performance at night. For
sometime | STAYED off any interruption; but
after one number the cries of "BiS!' shook
the house. l remained firm, despite the
bowling and kissing, until there was a sound
of ripping furniture in the gallery and large
object sailed out into space and was deScr1b-
ing nice sharp curve that would have ended
exactly on the back of my head. lodged
just in time to bow to the audience and
yield to its pleasure.
Forli's season ended disastrously; but
Sconamiglio Immediately reorganized the
| company and engaged me as director at an
advance of salary. | received seven lire
Zone dollar and forty cents) a day. The lit
tie company was excellent. and we enjoyed
both financial and artistic success. | was
very proud and happy, especially when the
proprietor of the Politeama of Genoa came
| to Naples and engaged us for ninety per-
| formances. including the carnival season
of 1885.
After Genoa, the company took to the
road, going first to Alexandria. thence to
Modena. from there to Ancona, and finally
wound up at Ascot, where fete incidental
to the Inauguration of a street railway was
in progress. We had one good audience
there, and no more. Much as | regretted
the dissolution of the company, | was not
altogether sorry our wanderings were done
The excitement and hardships of travel were
bad enough; but worse was the expense of
living on the road. With my meager income
was always out of pocket, and when we
were in Ascoli l was without penny.
Saved from Starvation
IF there is Providence the world over for
drinkers, surely there is in Italy a special
Providence for musicians. | found SYM
pathetic friends in Ascot, who saved me
from downright starvation, and when /
played for them what l had already written
of my opera 'Ratcliff," their kindness was
increased and l was proffered help SO that
might push the opera to completion. | had
| finished the overture at Ancona, and now
threw myself into the work with fervor.
Within few days had completed and in
strumented the intermezzo and the entire
fourth act
My patrons, however. were far from pros
porous, and what little help they generously
gave was not enough to keep me from ex-
periencing the pangs of unsatisfed appetite.
tried to obliterate the consciousness of an
empty stomach by feverish devotion to
work The physical pangs of hunger might
have endured; but the mental effects over
came me. l began to "see things as you
say, and found myself in the same predica-
ment as my hero Ratcliff, who. you may
recall. had two phantoms always before him.
All the time | was writing letters for help,
here, there, everywhere. not remembering
the moment letter was posted whittier it
was sent or to whom had addressed it.