The evening world., 1913-11-22
"Nine Big Beasts Listened At
tentively and Applauded
as ! Sang"

|
press agent pea-green with envy-Mad-
anne Emmy Destinn. Just before sailing
for New York. gave 4 solo performance
to nine large. attentive. ndghborly
Berlin lions. Tho biggest. Goliah. lay
on the piano. six inches from Madame's
elbow. She was alone In the cage with
the nine. save for their trainer. also
. woman. who served as accompanied
to the singer. Diana OF the OPERA"
a. they named her long ago. has as
sursdly proved her title.
And the gusto. the chuclciing delight
with which she describes her most re-
mArkable performance! With shining.
slos-black eyes, wrinkllnE nose and up
per lip. flexible voice and fingers. she
'dramatizes Destinn and the lionA Ono
can only listen and watch. and wonder
why Emmy Destlnn was ever called
phlegrnatic. HILARIOUS" 10 the adjec-
tive that Ats her when she talks about
Lion boarding.
| "You weren't afraid?" Il was sug-
gested. to start her.
vigorous shake Of her head, with
IL wreathed braids. black aud heavy
a. an Indian squaw'A Then . vocal
and pantomi: ic explosion.
THE GIG FEE DIsPELs ALL NER.
voUsNEss.
'Ths photo dim people come TO me
and say. We want you to sing to the
lions Just for a moment / am the
least. tho tiniest bit nervous. But II
docs not last. oh, not that long"-with
an expressive gesture Of thumb and
forshnger. Il smile and say. why
notf' When hear how much money
/ am to receive for the one little song
I know there 10 no why not
''The day comes and they take me to
the cage. q real cage with iron bars
but almost a. big as = room. I wear a
beautiful evening gown. what one would
wear at concert. must have respect
for my audience. which awaits me 90
patiently!
They open the cage door and the
trainer and l enter. l look hard. like
this"-the black eyes turned upon the
reporter with an Empress of Russia
, glare. The lions. nine Of them. look
: back. They put their heads on one
/. side; they walk up and down: they
wrinkle their forehoads; they make
!, noises in their throats." Nine. Destinn
, gave most laughable imitation OF the
I facial twitchings OF curious cat. fol-
. lowed BY an assorted selection Of little
n and loud growls.
But 0oliah was the best!" Madame
! cried. In q burst OF enthusiasm. He was
y the biggest and no leaped ON the plano
and stretched himself out as close e
n me as he could get when / began &c
a sing. ! gave them an aria from
Mignon.' which takes about five min
utes. They listened SO nicely. ant
sometimes they spplauded softly. Wher
i had finished my big Goliah bent hi,
head to one side and with my fingers
70 ticklsd him under the ear. lie purred!
j. ibid you ever hear lion purr?'
n Nine. Destinn paused to ask.
u The reporter had to say NO"
!. PRiMA DONNA Is A GOOD VEN
3. TRiLo0u!sr.
~ Bend over your ear" she command
4. ed. and. obeying. the reporter heard
y nasal breathing exactly like the harsh
ened purr Of q cat. A moment later l
!. was swallowed In delighted giggle, a
the writer appeared properly amazed a
the unexpected ventrloau!s,ic exhihi
ton. The spirit OF Puck twinkled In tn
/ prtma donnas dark gaze.
Then her mood changed "Of cours
one blow from a big paw would hav
been the end" she admitted seriousl,
though with no visible shudder. Nv
/" were two women alone with nine an
mails. That poor trainer VITO played N
accompaniment had been with the lion
hundreds Of times and knew them S
we'll know she had not a grain
fear for herself. But every minute thu
- she sat at the plano she trembled a
over-!or me"
Nine. Destipn didn't tremble
"a. proudly INTERRUPTED q friend OF Il
a prima donna. There wasn't a au!v
IN. in her voice all the time she was sin
"a. Ing"
"a. Nine. De~tinn shrugged her shouide
IN indifferent admission.
inc Animals never hurt tho person wi
ing 10 a. once sympathetic and nrm," .
Yea declared. You lus, eye them dow
old It's just another example Of the pow
nts Of mind over matter.
,ut II have always been fond Of all al
no mails. but cats are my favor!tea I ha
lts . lovely one aew. pure white. w!th bl