The Washington herald., 1912-08-25
Capalieri TO Tour
america This Fall
Is Not Going to Retire from Stage to Devote
Her Life to Her Son, WhoIs is Years Old.

Rome. Aug 4-Lina Cavalieri, the
famous opera prima donna. in an inter-
view to-day denied all the stories that
she is on the eve Of leaving the stage
in order to devote her whole time to her
son, who is in a military academy. Her
presence in Rome during the hottest
month of the year set lyric circles gos-
slipping about her future plans. The
d.va's old friends maintained that none
but the greatest motives could have in
duced her to rave the heat of the "Eter-
nal City, when Caruso. Scott, and the
rest ii her confreers Of international re-
pzte are enjoying the cool breezes Of the
mountains and sea resorts Of Italy.
This assertion received added credence
by the fact that Cavalieri has led quiet
life. not being at home to anybody ex-
cept her lawyer. Deputy Nasciantonio.
and her physicians. She has spent her
time In the company of her son. a man
ly youth of about sixteen. with whom
she has been seen riding and dining In
out-of-the-way inns.
Purpose of Visit secret.
"But / have made an exception for
you owing to our New York connections.
she said. alluding to The Herald corre-
spondent. but don't give me away. and
above all don't tell your friends Of the
press that you have seen me. 1t Is one
Of my secrets which / will disclose to
you only on condition that you will not
print II. II you really think that people
care to know what 1 am doing you can
say that I am getting ready for my
tour OF North America"
| Under Oscar Hammerstein's manage
/ ment?" she WIS asked.
Never" hastily replied Cavalieri "Al-
though Mr.. Hammerstein and i have
patched up old differences and are now
| the best of friends
| by the way. I have finally discovered
| the secret of getting Mr.. Hammerstein TO
be courteous and kind to his singers
Never salute. speak to. or notice him un-
| less he notices or greets you first. l
! tried this novel way of treating him In
London during last season, and It worked
| admirably Mr.. Hammerstein even
\ beggeS me to sing for another month In
his new opera house. but ! refused. This
| refusal deepened still further our friend
ship.
| Tour Begins In October.
MY new impresario is Friedlsnder. a
San Francisco man. My tour will begin
some time in October, and will last four
months. Besides me there will be Signor
Muratoro a new tenor. with fine voice.
'wiI this be your final tour" was the
next question.
| NO; cannot as yet afford to leave the
stage. but il will be soon. l am getting
fonder and fonder OF new role and some
day will play it
! What do you mean? A new role in
a new opera"
| Cavalier thought for a moment. and
then. marking every word, said:
| No; my role will be that of fond
/ and affectionate mother. i did not want
to tell you. but here it is. In few
years my boy will graduate from the
academy and enter the army and l think
my duty will be to build him home
wherever he may be-"
MascaEni Not to Blame.
Then the conversation developed on
ether subjects. Speaking of the Mascagni
escapade. Cavaleri said the composer
had simply been goaded into doing some
thing of the kind. and her sympathies
were all for Mascagni. With regard to
the report that Caruso is going TO marry
S:gnorita Valesquez, daughter of the late
proprietor of the great Buenos Ayres
daily Cavalieri said:
Perhaps he will. but for me, ! will
not believe it till I am told the wedding
has taken place. Marriage seems TO be
a kind of epidemic ailment with Ca
russo. 1t seizes him at the beginning of
summer and leaves him In the fall when
he gets back TO the stage"
Cavalieri also denied the report that
she WIS contemplating a second matri-
monial venture. This rumor was another
consequence of the quiet. retired life the
diva is now leading. 1t has for Ions
time been known here that Cavalieri
lad severed all relations with Prince Dol
scrouski. who was responsible for all
the trouble between the prima donna and
Sheriff Bob Chandler.