A TRAGEDY IN REAL LIFE.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 1964, 21 April 1875, Page 3

A TRAGEDY IN REAL LIFE.

Eeaders of the Ilerald will remember that a short time since we announced that after Madame States' decease, her husband, Signer Orlandini, became insane, illa^had-tobe confined in a lunatic asylum. News has recently arrived which gives a resume of this brilliant siinger's career, and its sad end. ■ Madame Agatha States was of a very good American family, and, early developing musical abilities, wa<i tutored by a great master. She then xeturned to the United States, and made a successful debut. She married a Mr Win. States, but unfortunately the -.union proved a miserable one, the husband giving way— as many actresses' husbands do—to drink and dissipation. She separated from him,, and formed a small but brilliant opera troupe, which met with g;r*at success on the Pacific Slope. In Saa Francisco she was a great favourite, the Fr'iscans being great supporters of native talent. After a while Madame States resolved to take her troupe to Australm. They came hither and were comparatively successful. They could not be.otherwise, including as they did the prima doniaa, and Siguors Orlandini, Cecchi, and Susini, with Signor Biscaccianti as manager, and Signor G-iorza as pianist. Madame States had >-' only one fault in the eyes of the Victorian public—a too free use of an acqunei shake tremolo. After a season in Australia the troupe broke up, and Madame Slates and Signor Orlandini went back to their home—San Francisco. On arrival in the golden city of America, Madame States at once began proceedings to obtain a divorce from Jxer husband, Mr William States. The application was not opposed, and after a time the decree «f matrimonial dissolution was granted. Madame States was then married to Sienor Orlandini, and after some performances departed for the great centre of America—New York—with recuper-

ated powers. Life seemed to present a brighter prospect to her; she was rid of the trammels of a worthless husband, and, her miud free from anxiety, she could give more attention to her art. In the great city of New York she could fairly test her powers, and, if successful, pass on to widex fields. But a very different fate was in store for her. , From the moment the pair set a foot on New York pier misfortunes marked i them for their own. After passing through several troubles they lost nearly I all their money in one way or the other, | and, to crown all, Signor Orlandini was | at last laid low with fever. His dis- j tracted wife had, even in the hour of her j affliction, to leave her loved one's bedside i and seek the wherewithal to exist, and to j minister to his comfort. With this view she accepted an engagement at a city some distance from New York, and started to fulfil it. On the steamer the poor lady caught a cold, and, when she arrived at her destination, her voice was gone. Heartbroken and desolate, Madame Agatha States returned to New York. She entered the house where her husband lay ill, and took to her bed never to rise again. The succession of blows which had fallen upon her proved too heavy to bear. In this position her. mother, a very aged lady, was telegraphed for, and, on receipt of the news, at once posted to New Yorki She was passionately fond of her daughter. But, speedy as is the train, death was swifter, and a few minutes before her mother's step sounded on the stairs, the gifted songstress was no more. The old lady walked into the room where her daughter was lying dead, gave one shriek of agony when she saw the corpse, and fell to the floor, dead! . Under the one roof mother and daughter lay dead, and the husband, whose brain could not stand the strain, was a raving lunatic. Such was the end of this beautiful woman and great singer. A more tragical termination to life could not be imagined even by the sensation novelist. But the above story is not in the slightest degree exaggerated. The source of our information is reliable. Few will read the account of poor Agatha States' untimely end, amid such sad surroundings, without regret. Those: who remember her ? bright and sparkling on the stage, radiant with smiles, filling theatres with glorious music, will contrast the glitter with which she is associated in their mind with the last and terrible scenes of her life," and drop a tear to the; memory of one of the most unfortunate of opera singers, tragic as has been the fate of so many of the famous songstresses of the world. —Melbourne Herald.