The Washington herald., 1921-08-14

ny debut in Naples, my native city,
IT the BeIlini Theater in -Traviata-"
After singing for a year in the
Imalrer towns Of Italy. entered
Ipon an engagement at Trieste,
where I met the future Nine.
Amato. and our happy marriage
:ook place when I was %. Sardinia
made my next scene Of operate ac-
iyity, and following that came an
Iperatic adventure in Genoa.
1t was in the first year OF my
marriage that was engaged to sing
It the Politeama Genovese. in &C.
loa. The contract called for a first
payment to me on arrival. Being
Without funds, this proved a pleas
: ng prospect Immediately on fnd-
ng quarters. set out to make col
ection- The impresario was not in
he city. but would return next day.
AL that I got was a notification to
Ittend rehearsal on the following
morning
When morning came found to
ny surprise and CONSERVATION that
! was hoarse To make complica-
ions worse. was entirely without
money. II went to get 1t, I should
iot be able to sing q note; II I could
rot sing ! feared the manager
you'd IRE me without any pay at
Ill
remembered a certain scarfpin
n my possession Mrs Amato went
10 . pawnshop and realized 80 lire
IN It At least had enough to pay
! doctor. Good fortune brought me
% DR.. MasinI. q throat specialist.
70 him told my plight He was to
ne, God bless him. like a father.
Lfter treatment, he suggested that
attend rehearsal, but sing a few
Iars only. For these few bars ne
guaranteed my voice would be per-
Sectly all right He further prom
sed that within a day or two 1
Fould be well.
At least half the burden lifted. 7
! IUrried to rehearsal. what little I
aux came out finely. Still the i'm
resario had not returned. but
managed TO get from his secretary
Iart of the first payment Before
ne curtain went up on the opening
right. insisted on the balance. The
rnpresario. who had at last reached
senoa. promised me should receive
al afteS the second act The Sec
md intermission came, but neither
mpresario nor money. I told the
5age manager = would not go out
o sing until paid Again got
ONE money but not all. and prom
Sc of the balance next day. Trust
ng him. I sang out the opera.
GNot sufneient Funds.-
Next morning we singers went to
ne theater for a rehearsal. To our
lismayed surprise its doors were
ocked- Posted conspicuously was
mis- notice: For lack OF funds the
heater is closed" This was bad
nough for me, but for my COL
| eagues. who were absolutely PEN
bless. II was worse.
In the circumstances the only
hing to do was to prove Myself a
| rood sport. Carefully counting my
esources l paid the little 1 owed at
he pension With the balance 1
Iought third-class tickets back to
GiIan for all my colleagues. The
iheaper train we took did not run
through to Milan. At 1 o'clock we
here alighted. A train for our des-
ination would not leave until
= m. With us were our wives.
also the prima donnas.
The station had a restaurant, an
lI-night affair. Through its open
loors floated savory odors. Being
roung we had splendid appetites.
among those present was a prima
lonna who always Travelled with
Ier parrot in a cage. Our basso
proposed that we cook the bird.
bverhearing him the furious lady
'egan a TRADE as excited as though
Dme one had maligned her voice.
Despair bred an idea in my brain.
sought the owner Of that restau-
ant and proposed that We give q
oncert under his enticing roof. Re-
ponse came that I must be crazy.
,ne crumb of comfort dropped dur
ng the interview: Tortona's station
o2ster was Neapolitan. and he
layed guitar. A bright light
awned on me-
Seeking him out / discovered that
Te had been boys in school together
our dear Naples. Falling into
ach others arms we embraced as
rothers- On hearing my latest
pmewhat trying news he himself
Fought me coffee. Then he d.
Ected that the operatic congrega-
on be RECALLED with all IL wanted.
Singing for supper.
Together we feasted, for the
iendly station master Joined us.
resently he brought out his guitar,
hen began the once disdainfully
Jected concert And how We sang
nr voices carried so far in the
ghts stiffness that Tortona,s VIII
gers. aroused by them, climbed
ut Of bed and thrpnged the sta
on A night that had promised
smally, became Joyous. At train
me We were almost sad to leave
place.
50 much OF glamour came pres-
tly into my life in opera that I
call mainly the humorous side Of
any OF those early experiences.
wing though they may have
emed at the moment. One, how
er, left a sting. 1t was at Lefp-
Germany, in those days of Jour
ying with an Italian opera conn
ny and vainly trying to capture
ep on the hard wooden benches
third-class cars Then re-
we'd 300 marks a month. at that
ne an equivalent Of $3.50. for sing
one and often two performances