Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-05-15
How Caruso coils Up."

An ex-super relates in Harper's weekly:
Back OF the throne we waited with palpl-
tating hearts for our debut" in opera
Our attention was attracted by the en-
trance of the great Caruso, accompanied
by his valet carrying a towel, a glass of
water and an atomizer. Then he began to
''oil up" He "honked" the rubber bulb on
the atomizer and sprayed his throat and
nose repeatedly. Then "E--eh," he snorted.
"Ah-ah, e-e," as he tried his voice. After
this a gargle. His attendant gave him a
small phal, which he tucked away in his
bosom. Surely, we thought, he must be
ready now; but no-one more gargle and
then dipping his fingers into the glass OF
water he moistened his nostrls.
Now, gentlemen. ready" "One-two-
three" commanded the stage director, and
we boosted Radame's chair with the prek
cious load on to our shoulders.
Jim looked at me and l looked at Jim.
IT was appalingly heavy and we two were
getting all the weight: some of the other
"supes" were either understood or were
duclSing under the burden. but we sailed
forth. shaking and trembling in our knees
,Caruso pounded on the floor OF the chair
with his staff and we halted. The king then
rose on his throne and sang a few words
we brought the hero down slowly; one
two-three. Again lifting the pnoderous,
but now empty chair TO our shoulders, We
marched offstage Then, grabbing Anon
asro CScotU by the arms, we re-entered
restraining him in his rush on to the
stage
AS often as / have heard Caruso in Aida,
] have never failed to see him "oil up"
Even while the act is in progress, and ne
turns in despair after having Amnerls
thrust upon him as a wife, the tenor, In
raising his hands TO his head, takes from
his bosom the little phial and swallows its
contents surreptitously-so far as the audi
ence is concerned, though In full sight OF
the ballet and the "supers." Then, turn
ing again he is Radames, singing as fer
ventIy as ever. Sometimes, while standing
thus. he made us laugh with his funny
faces Of mock despair,
Gladstone as Prime Minister.
In the course Of a description of the
monuments Of Westminster Abbey before
the London Geographical society, Lord
Eversey pointed out that he not only Sc
Iected the BeacOnfIeld site In the sacred
edfice but he wrote the epitaph. 1t read:
Erected by Parliament I'm memory %
Lord Beaconsfeld twice prime minister
lie remembered at the time that I'm one
speech Lord Beaconsfleld had made he re-.
ferred with great pride TO his having beeSN
twice prime minister. When he showed
the inscription TO Mr., Gladstone the latter
said: Twice prime minister; that's no
great distinction" He Lord Eversley) had
looked up the names OF several who had
been twice prime minister and one had
been prime minister three times. That was
Lord Derby. BY way OF finishing the CON
vtrsation with Mr. Gladstone-it was dur
ing his second ministry-he said 10 the
prime minister: Il hope you will beat
Lord Derbys record" Mr. Gladstone
quickly retorted: That's an imposslbillty;
this Is my last ministry. A man must 10
mad to think l shall ever be prin lpinis-
ter after this ministry is over" MI. Gad-
stone, however was prime minister twice
after that ---',.. '---y-v- V1suV