New-York tribune., 1922-03-26
By ri. E. krehbiel


y. are beholden to tho musical es-
..,;,t Of "The Herald" for the hint
"a. A chapter on tho New York career
:, the poet who wrote the lbretto of
.-.s. fan Tutte' might not be inap-
.-onriate at this time, wiien American
o,,rsxoers are having the frst oppor-
unity ever offered them to hear Mo-
.,t'. opera. The essayist spoke some
VIA. fippantly, as If the subject were
,e.re.ly worth HIS attention, but it is
:. interesting as it is timely. Loren
.,pa Ponte not only lived out the last
.s;rd Of his long life in or near New
York. but was also an active figure in
.hs early history of Italian opera in
,be ci,v and one Of the earliest pro-
moters OF the study of italian litcra-
ture in the United States. He was also
one of the ancestors of persons of re-
ancment ard influence who arc we'll
known in the community, and it may
not be an exaggeration to say tha
some Of that influence is yet incarn, g
n one Of the directors of the Me,.>,u
poltan Opera Company. It is possible
that this writer's interest in him is
ntde larger than that of most review
.rs, for the reason that he had a great
deal to do with uncovering Da Ponte's
history and that ever and anon in the
course of the last thirty-fve wears
there have reached him letters con-
eerning one feature or another Of his
revelations. Only few weeks ago he
was called on TO answer inquiries about
| inc career of descendant, who
was sn editor in New Orleans, and
died twenty or more years ago. He
was D;rari Da P2ate, a grandson.
sho bore the name of the maternal
Side Of the family. branch that had
saken up residence in the South.
Descendants of Da Ponte
In New York
h New York Da Ponies descendants
pre- the children and grandchildren OF
Ebert Ellery Anderson, whose mother
fas Da Ponte's daughter, and whose
aiher, Dr. Henry James Anderson. was
professor Of mathematics and astron-
ir'y in Columbia College from 1925
mt 1S43. From September, 1926, to
November, 1929, Da Ponte was romi-
PLY professor of Italian literature at
piumbia College (Which was then sit
eted in Park Place, near Broadway,
tough without salary and withou.
uplls as he remarks in a semi i-humor-
us, semi pathetic vein, in his "Mem-
ars'), and the friend who secured his
ppoIHtment and incidentally helped
nm to sell considerable number of
faiian books TO the college library
where his portrait in oils may still
h seem was Clement Clarke Moore,
@o is more wildly remembered as the
ssthor of "'Twas the Night Before
Christmas" than as the pioneer He
1icw photographer. Among his other
bends were the Livingstons, Giulian
: Ncrplanck, DR.. Macneven, DR.. J. W
rancis (who attended him in his last
aness), Samuel Ward, II. T. Tucker
san (who published an interesting
rticle about him in "Putnam's Maga-
ine"), and the Laight family. One of
he daughters of this old New York
amily, Miss Fanny Laight, who after
YARD became Mrs. Cottenet and the
mother of the late Mrs. William C.
was among the most
talented and admired of his pupils. and
TO her in his eighticth year he ad-
ofessed a poem in acknowledgment of
gift Of swcctmeats which she had
sent him on New Years Day, 1929. This
Feem among others, was still pre-
SerVed in the album Of Mrs. Schcrmer-
norn, who, at our request. sent it to
Professor Marchesan, Of the Univer-
'ity Of Treviso, Italy, when hc was pre-
paFlng biography of his predecessor
IN tho chair of rhetoric, thirty-two
Years ago. Here is an attempt at a
translatont:
HE OLD YOUTH TO HIS ANGELIC
FRIEND
N'oher far my gracious Fanny.
p1s pls my sft than golden treasure,
orshEe mo balm for bruises many,
:. brings me OF new life a rneasurs.
"a ,l,xt