The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1931-01-22
MADAME"
g g
by FANNIE HURST

"a. 1880. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.l

almost as precarious as dealing
in tropical birds of plumage. In
fact, in many ways 1t is more so. 1t
is the human equation, and the human
equation to be reckoned with in a
songster is subtle, sensitive, and all
too intricate. Those who deal in the
precious merchandise of human song
birds need to have patience and far
seeing knowledge of their intricate
mechanism.
The back-stage of an opera COM
pany is as cOlorful, as vocal, as full
of flutterings as bit of tropical for
est.
If you are a song-bird and without
the so-called "artistic temperament"
your press agent is sure to regard you
IS difficult, and the Sunday rotograv-
ure sections will have none of you.
Blessed the diva or the tenor who
can whip up the suds Of good spec
tacular brainstorm out of the slight
est incident. 1t helps UNNECESSARILY
with a public that loves naughtiness
in its idols.
The famous Fraulein Elsa Won Ho-
garth, imported from Vienna, SAILS
burg, Prague, Munich and Berlin at a
fabulous price, was the kind of song
bird to delight the heart Of the press
agent entrusted with her exploitation.
The beautiful Elsa, blond, blue and Of
Brunhilde beauty, could not only sing
like an angel, but could throw fit
of temper like a vixen. Her tempera-
mental exploits were legion. There
were stories abroad about the fierce
ness Of her tempers. the unreasonable
ness of her demands. the impish2a"S
of her whims that had already become
legendary.
The great Elsa Won Hogarth. lyric
soprano of hundreds of triulnphs. an
aEOn;an in her beauty, incompatible
OF voice, was what is known as
"hoIy terror"
The Juror she created in America
was not one that had solely to do
with the glory of her voice. Before
she had been a member of the Inter
national Opera company for week,
stories of her temperamental exploits
were rife about the town. Her press
agents regarded her as too good to
ne true. Every time Won Hogarth
opened her mouth she was good copy.
Newspapers clamored for stories of
her latest exploit, brainstorm, or con-
quest.
The beautiful Elsa, long awaited in
America, shot into public conscious
ness with the colorful explosion Of
sky rocket.
Her every appearance at the opera
was a signal for an ovation. They
stood up and cheered her voice. They
stood up and cheered her beauty.
They stood up and cheered her per-
sonality. They stood up and cheered
her blazing temperament.
One night, because some one in the
audience had coughed during her sec
ond act in the role of Margherita, she
stepped out to the footlights, inter-
rupting the performance, and berated
in no uncertain terms, and a thick
German accent, the restless noises of
an American audience. And the great
TANNED opera house of spectators
loved it, and applauded for more be-
rating, and the following day the
newspapers, not only of America, but
of the world, carried tales of the lat
est temperamental exploit of the diva.
1t was said that Won Hogarth trav-
with CT pantboro TT xuo c.nid
that no cooking, except that of her
own Vienna, was palatable to her.
and two Viennese chefs accompanied
her on all tours. 1t was said that the
only color that was endurable to Won
Hogarth in a dressing room was ca
nary yellow Of a subtle and difficult
tone to achieve. Consequently, there
Travelled in her encourage a painter
whose exclusive Job it was to see that
In each city in which Won Hogarth
appeared her dressing room, properly
tinted, awaited her.
1t had been decades, so they said in
the realm of the opera, since any one
diva had attracted as many "fan let
tiers" (known to an older generation
as "mash notes") as Won Hogarth. 1t
was said, and with truth, that the
songster's mail addressed to the op-
era house was delivered to her in
bucketfuls. At the end of her perform
ance, as she swept from the stage
| door to her car, the spectators stood
rows deep on the sidewalk awaiting
the deep thrill of the sight of her,
| wrapped in furs, followed by maids,
as she darted into the dim perfumed
| interior of her limousine.
1t was further said that Won Ho-
! garth, with her retinue, one that in
| Guided German barOns, Austrian frau
leins, vocal teachers, accompanies,
| secretaries, companion, chefs, chauf-
feurs, masseurs, occupied an entire
wing Of the fifteenth floor of the Ritz
Carlton hotel. The private elevator
up to Madame's fifteenth floor was
said to be tinted In canary yellow and
| the rugs on her floors, the brocades
| that hung on the walls, were of the
same preferred tone.
In an age threatened with the inva-
| sion of the short-haired musician, and
the simple, American-girl prima donna,
the advent of Won Hogarth brought
some of the voluptuous illusion of "the
good old days" back to the opera. It
recalled bygone opera eras, when ador-