PATTI'S EARLY CAREER.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 2147, 17 November 1885, Page 2

PATTI'S EARLY CAREER.

When Adelina Patti was a child slid often siit on the lap of Mme. Lauza, who now lives in Third Avenue, New York, "She is her mother's image," said Mme. Lauza to a reporter the other day, " and has many of her ways, The diva was born at Madrid, and is 42 years' old this summer. I knew the whole family intimately when they came to reside at Milan. Mine. Bareli, the mother of the great singer, had been married before, and had four children, two of whom are still living. Her relations with her first liusband were said to be very unhappy, but that was before I know tlioin. The little woman was of a very intense nature, all fire and flame, yet not without her • gentler moods, when she was very charming and lavable. As a child Adelina was extremely like Hie mother, could give way to sudden bursts of passion, which were as quickly over, though .not apparently regretted, and then she would become most affectionate and show a sweetness of disposition which it is a joy to.mo yet to remember." Who was her first teacher ? " That child was born to sing, and sho could not have made her life different had she tried. She needed few lessons, singing as'natural as a nightingale between the pauses of ...the wind. Her half-brother, E. Bareli, who, I think, is still livinp in Philadelphia, gave her a few lessons she needed, it was a light and pleasant task for both teacher and pupil. Musical knowledge seemed to come to her without any effort of her own, and like a bird she did herwork unbidden. When she was seven years old we came to America about the same time, and renewed our acquaintance iu this city. 1 did sewing, and was sometimes engaged by Mme. Bareli to fix over her dresses and make new ones for the children— Carlotta, Amalia, Adelina, and another that died very young. Adelina made her first appearance on any stage when she was eight years of age, and it was in New York. I cannot recall where she sang, but I know it was at a concert. That was thirty-four .years ago. Well, her mother wanted me to make the dress which she was to wear, and I did. It was of white silk, very pretty, with a few trimmings, and set off her round little figuro well. I shall never forget the day I took it to her and she tried it on. Nothing would please her, and bhe dress was especially bad and I was the hatefullest old thing in the world. She cried with vexation, the sweet little rebel, because it did not fit her as she thought, and was what is called ' poky,' We tried to convince her that it was lovely, and couldn't be made better, ltwasnouse. She tore it off, flung it on the floor, and jumped on it with childish anger that was laughable. But she had to wear it all the samp. She sang in it and made a hit. The price of that dress was £7 2s. 1 called .with the bill,i couple of times, but was not paid. I have that bill yet, though it is thirty-four years since I gave up trying to collect it. Patti has forgotten about the dress her mother ordered, and it will never be paid for. The memory that 1 mado it for such a singer is enough for me." AncUfmc. Lauza excused herself with an amiable smile, and went cheerfully into her cosy little kitchen to get dinner for her daughter, who" came bounding in from school.