The Inter Ocean from Chicago, Illinois • Page 42

THE nss3 A RAM PLANT The gjr and gaudy chrysanthemum has taken possession ot Chicago. Last week it played the leading part in a show at Lincoln park, and beginning next Tuesday It will make Its annual bow to the public under the auspices of the Horticultural Society of Cbi-eago and the Chrysanthemum Society of America. One thing is particularly noticeable about the "mums' of the oresent season. They are smaller than usual. Society folk are beginning to prefer them that way.

The modern aristocratic chrysanthemum ought sot to be as large as a man's fist. In fact. It is becoming so small that it now Is frequently used instead of a carnation. say that this static of affairs is ntirely due to the Americanization of the Chrysanthemum. In China and Japan the THE Pletro Mascagnl will not be In Chicago this week.

Less than three months ago he swore by all the gods that hover in and around his own sunny Italy that he would never come. And he will not, although for a time it looked a though he would. The Boston trouble, bowerer, has settled it, and he will return at once to Italy. The young Italian has added considerable Interesting data to his biography since he arrived In this country. A month ago he landed as widely and wildly a heralded celebrity as ever slid down a gang plank.

the bay he had been met by a eteamer loaded with members of tfie Mascagnl society, bent on showing him that Little Italy could do the honors when the occasion warranted. In the center ot the shouting countrymen was a military band playing Mascagnl music. with an occasional blast ot "See, the conquering- Hero Comes." Heading the brigade was a score or more of newspaper men, ready to ask the distinguished guest what be thought of America, as viewed from Quarantine. A half hour later he was thrust Into the arms of the friends he did not know, bustled into a carriage, and driven in state up Broad-v it was more than the voung musician expected; as great a reception as had been accorded many men better known in the world. He bowed and blushed and smoothed bis unruly hair, and was thoroughly amiable la every way.

But the next morning! Then the trouble began. Being a man who felt that he had a reputation at stake in this country, he Immediately set to work. He attended a rehearsal of his company at the Metropolitan fThera he- found that the music for his unknown operss, which be had shipped several weeks before, in order that at) amencma-rccruiicu vhvihi familiar with It, bad arrived but a few days before his own steamer. He sat In the parquet of the big. gloomy auditorium and listened to "Cavallerla Rustlcana" for five minutes." Thea he said thing la Italian which needed no interpreter, so expressive were they.

Passed Cs th Bsma-fcettt. Forgetting completely that he was to attend a banquet that day at 1. he -Jumped Into the orchestra pit. took charge of the baton, and never let go of that wand of authority until late that night. When they told htm that a messenger had come from the banquet hall to say that the sphaghetti was getting old and the wine wa about gone, he simply sent back word that he couldn't help it he bad work to do, and work came before everything.

The next day it was the same thing. The most Influential Italians In America were waiting to meet him at the Savoy. He was at the Metropolitan, cracking his baton around a though it was a whip stock, and supplying the report of the lash by a tew observation on the way things were going on on the stage. At in the evening he was drawn away to fn.a,. Viaii rrl.a athla hnt.l h.

mrmm aotiiiedthat his friends had been waiting for severs hoars in the dining-room of the Savoy. He went there, thanked the gentlemen tor their consideration, and then back to the opera-houfce and to bis work. His capacity for labor, as well as his ear-. neatness, won New York so thoroughly that la spite of a fight which developed with the anion musicians, and the consequent ragged-Bess of the orchestra, the first-night audience was of capacity proportions and the young conductor was cheered again and again When he decided that he had rather see in advance sales refunded than produce "Iris," one of his favorites, the way It bad' been rehearsed, New York applauded him. He became an Idol but not of the usual sort.

"He had proved that genius Is but the capacity for hard work, as some wise person bas said, and he was admired for It. Hi Career la Italy. Mascagnl' career In his own country Is Interesting and reasonably well known. Tet It Is so romantic that it well bear repetition, especially when eloquently told, as it was by one admirer on his arrival in New York. "From Li Tor no to New York, from poverty to wealth, front obscurity to renown, from nothingness to genius, from oblivion to the applause of eountless millions.

Is a long step," says this admirer. "Pletro Mascagnl took It in a single night, for next morning be awoke to find himself famous. The critics abused him, he crushed them; the Wagner-Jans railed at him; be could not alienee their wailing cries, but be whipped them with acorpions. "At seven and twenty he Astonished the of it to Ia a be GAY AND rtex OWKED BT 6. T.1STHOST.

Some Chrysanthemums That WHl Be Exhibited tously-headed flower has been permitted tor yean to grow just as It pleased. But when the Caucasian met the chrysanthemum benevolent assimilation followed. The story of the chrysanthemum begins la the Tery long ago. The flower waa held a valued prisoner la the gardens of the palaces China and Japan. It waa reared behind walls without gates, save on the sides through which the royal families strolled.

Years and years ago some blooms were stolen and taken into the West the West as was then known. A Greek took the flowers and tacked to the yellow straggler a name. To him the yellow, golden hue waa "chry sos," and the fact that it was a bloom led him add aod haying christened the Oriental beauty in his own way, the other scientists who came along found It had a name, and thought the name all right. It may hare had some name, that the poets of ancient TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF PIETRO MASCAGNI IN AMERICA. 'St RANCESCO NAVARRlMlv Iff ArlTOIilO.

world. Himself, too, for It was his hunger for bread rather, than bis hop ot renowa that compelled him to compete la the tournament instituted by Sonsagno. One thousand lire, that was all, $200. Riches to the famished music teacher, riches to the world. a dull period the music publisher offered prise for a one-act opera.

Mascagnl, hearing of the offer by accident, in dire stress for money, entered the list, wrote hi score, submitted It, had no hope of Its acceptance, starved in silence with his young wife, thea a bride, peasants both. "Fate, always bitter to the baker soa, gave him its final buffet her. The stipulations called for a one-act piece. Try as he might, Mascagnl could aot condense Verge's story Into a single seen. The curtain had to lowered between the two halves ot the argument.

Despairing, the youthful musi INTUIT OCHK, GORGE times might hare Immortalised, to the quaint people who first cultivated the flower in the royal gardens, but It never escaped the guards it It bad. and the Oriental flower has gone on tor centuries with the Greek name attached to 1U The chrysanthemum Is first mentioned la floral lore of England as tar back as when It was Introduced by Chinese traders and nurtured by the famous horticulturist; Miller of Chelsea. The flower, however, did not thrive in its transported channels, and died, leaving bo traces, and fifty years later waa reintroduced Into tho British islands from the channels of Franco. The beautiful chrysanthemum soon Inveigled Its seed into stock that filled the hulls of trading ships early In the past century, and earns that way to America. Soon It thrust lis haughty head above the quieter buds of the old-faanlooed garden tht bloomed In stately elegance In the days when Madison was President.

Maria Fa rnlt It' vsBawAnBSBssBBaasaaaBBmmanwsanassm IVIascagni and the Members of cian tried subterfuge. He attempted to carry the story la direct continuity while the curtain was dowa by borrowing a phrase from th opening scene. Introducing a violin and organ cantilena with some notes on the harp. Merely a acheme to persuade Sonsagno that the opera was In one instead of two acts. And so the famous Intermezso was written In the hope to hide the fault of Its composer.

The manuscript was aent Co the publisher, hope deferred, growing sick aad dying. For his music lessons Mascagnl received two lire an hour, in our money 40 cents, the wage of a 'longshoreman. Pupil were few la hi little village of Carignola. Pietr Mascagnl. listening long, hearing nothing from Milan, abandoned hope, forgot his mean, betook himself to teaching with ardor and managed to earn 10 lire a day.

"On morning a letter from ffonzagao. SUNDAY A GROUP. OF POM POMS. TUOWER CUX.TXVATTCD XT fa Chicago This Week, Showing Bunches of Pom Poms, Society's Reigning Fai. The English and the French bad endeav ored to cultivate the plant as aa outdoor species, which may be the reason why the flower never flourished with the great success that It acquired In this country.

The soU of America. Is particularly adapted to the production of chrysanthemums, and It easily stands first, among the nations in Its successful growth of the flower. The first show of chrysanthemums was held In 1836. It was held by the people ot Norwich, the English had cultivated the flower for eight years, and had succeeded la. producing very small flowers la great variety, that were not as handsome as the poorest of the American chrysanthemums ot today.

This show spread the fame of the coming floral queen, and in succeeding year chrysanthemum societies sprang up oa all sides. A man named Salter was the first one to put faith in the great future of the chrysanthemum. His collection at the time ITRO -si PaOU PitTRO il III ammmw" a v- saw- BsaBPvssBBssssBBaaaaBsaaaaaBBasaasaaiaaB bbisbs His Troupe Who Have Abandoned Their American JTour. Tour work, "Cavallerla Rustlcana," has won the prize. Come to Milan.

Joyl But bow to get there. Mascagnl and his wife had been living from band to mouth, with never a lire saved up for a rainy day or a dsy of such unexpected sunshine. It Is the wsy of Italians. But what is hardship to Latin youth? Packing some food into a bag over his shoulder Pletro kissed hi wife and leaped lustily along the long road to Milan, munching hi brown bread, drinking from wayside springs, happy. Arrived at Bonis gno's publishing house be cried to the porter: "Tin Mascagnl.

'What of said the porter. do not know Mascagnl. 'I won the prize said th composer. "Your growled the porter. Yoo are nothing but a HOVEirUEn 9, 1502.

of the first English societies numbered 400 varieties, but he found that the blooms did aot prosper under the chill winds and fogs ot England, so be packed up bis plants and started a plaoe not far from the palace ot Versailles. He became a great distributer, and was only outranked by a man from the Island ot Guernsey. Thirty-five years ago Philadelphia was la the lead la chrysanthemums the world over. It held a show at that time, which was of International Interest. The tendency then was to grow vast numbers of flowers oa bushes aa big aa underbrush, the American pioneers of the plant boasting that It was possible to get J.

000 blossoms oa a chrysanthemum ahrub that measured fifteen feet la circumference. That was a long time sgo, and the fashion has returned to this pompon variety today, and the Improvement is ao great as to be almost incredible. --rIt ha been impossible to keep faithful tab MaCAOMI- ScttlAVAiZh "Mascagnl. persisting, waa finally carried before the publisher. 'But we do not know said Sonsagno.

'I cannot give the prize until yon prove your That I can do said Pietr and he sang 'Reglna "-Enough! cried Sonzagno. 1 embrace you." kissed the young composer on both cheeks, handed htm a check for a thousand lire, gave htm a bath, a suit ot clothes, and a dinner. The little opera was produced la the Theater Costsnzl. Rome, on May 17, 1890. It created a sensation.

The audiences wanted to tear Mascagnl to pieces In their Joy. Italy went wild over th music Germany accepted it with enthusiasm. Paris was enraptured with it. Calve came Into fame as Its Santuzsa, The Wagnerian raged and the classicists imagined vain things, but Cs ft. A on the development of.

the chrysanthemum for the past "fourteen years. It bas been in high favor all of this time, and never for aa Instant has the effort to further Its development ceased. The growing of the chrysanthemum bas proved profitable ot late years, and a number of great growers have dene quite as weU with their little collection of new plants as breeders of fin stock with their herds ot promising colts. It Is known that an Eastern man paid $5,000 for the first set of the type which showed the hairy Ctals, and that he more than got his money ek. Originally the chrysanthemum was a seedling; but crossing made It Impossible to raise like blooms from the seeds ot any plant.

The after the perfect type was reached, was through sprouting. The points of the stalks were cutoff as soon as they obtained a small growth and put la sand, with a slow, steady beat from be VlRQLIO 5LULATTI- Mascagnl went forth conquering and to conquer. At Xt bis was the most celebrated name in Europe. Next year hi work Invaded America." Is Hot Beeoatrla. Some of th stories written about Mascagnl, It Is declared, nave brought Slg-nora Mascagnl to tear.

She Is an alert, active, and dignified woman, with a fine figure, clear complexion, light-brown hair, and black eyes. When asked how her husband paased his time at Pesaro, where they live; what were his habits, recreations, tastes, and the like, she replied: "He works at his music and finds all bis pleasure at home. Hi greatest recreation Is plsying with the children. He Is on himself when' so engaged. He loves to buy some new toy for them, and explain how n.

t'. a ssi mill Bsavoyssaywswssmeassaa v' r. A i ti JotPMINE. DtL PaRTOvJ 1 KB8. f.

B. KIKBALLk neath. Ia a few days the sprouts took roof and new sprouts were ready to bo cut treat the parent plant. The scene that a greenhouse of bloosnlaa chrysanthemums presents Is one of regal splendor. In the larger flowers only oaf' bloom to a plant is obtained, and the great' stalks, rising seven and eight feet abofc the soil, and hundreds and hundreds of thesf In.

long, straight rows, with the crown ol perfect, haughty, glowing floral magnificence) above, form an Imposing sight. Th chrys-; anthemum bloom but once, and it always blooms during the season, whether the stalls was sprouted a month before the season waa reached, or whether the stalk has been growing and gaining height for ten Many new varieties of the chrysanthemum, will he shown this week In the Sculpture half of the Art Institute. Among them will bo new varieties of the pompon and of the largo ostrich bloom. It work. He has no diversions except thai company of friends at our home and a rim of Bcopone.

very like your casiao; or play Ing billiards. We often have tea or flfreea friends ia ot aa evening. After they have gone, at 11 or Slgnor Msscagni works at his musical composition. He never does anything at this during the day. butt prefers these hours, when ho is secure front Interruption.

Every day he goes to the conservatory of Pesaro. ot which he 1 director, and remains two or three hours." Mascagnl Is a great smoker, getting awaw with fourteen or fifteen Tuscans a day; A Tuscan Is a villainously strong cigar, aot ot the thin, rat-tall kind with a straw la the end. which many Italians smoke. Ho thoughtfully brought 1.000 ot these with him to America, which should last him two or three months. There Is one type of Italian not generally known la America.

The simple, ingenuous, domestic cleaa-moraled. and Industrious one. Mascagnl is a specimen ot this worthier class, and Signora Mascagnl i an admirabl wife for him. Mascagnl wa bora at Leghorn, while Signora Mascagnl is a native ot Parma. She is little musical, aa fast a accomplishment goes, as aa Italian can be, but she Is very fond of the melodious productions of Pletro Mascagnl.

Soasethla; A beat HI Opera. Naturally much interest In Mascagnl visit her centers about his unknown operas. Ot these, "Iris. the story ot a pathetic little maid of Chrysanthemum land, ia likely to prove the most interesting. It waa first produced at the Costanxi theater, Rome, la 1S98.

aad th story is as follows: The first act open before the house of Iris, a beautiful young girl, who lives with her blind father ia the country. When the curtain rises It is early morning, and the house ia still closed. Gradually th sun rises, of which advantage Is taken for a beautiful hymn to the God of Morn: signs of life appear; Iris comes eut into the garden and recounts to her father a dream. She is thus seen by the brilliant and worldly Osaka, who conceives a violent passion for her. Young girls pass on their way to wash la the stream; they sing as they go, while the men march oft to their work; and finally Osaka- and a companion, Kyoto, saunter In, disguised aa strolling players carrying a marionette theater, and accompanied by three' women masked as Beauty, Death, and the Vampire.

Iris, attracted by the spectacle, leaves her father for a moment, is at once seized and carried off. The crowd melts sway and th tiled man. left alone, calls for his daughter, whom he misses. A paper is found at his side. It Informs him that Iris has been taken to a too-famous tea house.

The scene closes with the old man's sorrow and despair. In the second act Iris is in th midst of luxury and vice, in the most brilliant teahouse ot the city. As yet she has in no way understood her position or surroundings. Osaka kisses her, whereupon she bursts Into tears, and call out with sobs for her horn. Osaka begin to be bored, and order Kyoto to aend her to her father.

He leares th house and Kyoto disobey him, and has her shown to the public. She. Innocent. Is amused thereby. Among the curious onlookers Is Osaka, who feel his nasslon revive.

He ia Approaching her when Iris hear her father' voice calling her name, and, receiving no answer, cursing ber. She runs toward htm; he strikes her and covers her with mud. then the truth comes home to her; she rushes to th raised balcony and throws herself out of a window. Sysaboliss la Third Aet. She la found at th beginning ot the third act, apparently dead.

This act la largely symbolic Iris lies dying at th bottom ot th abyss behind th Yashlwara. Her wandering mind 1 tortured by a thousand fearful images and thoughts. -The darkness weighs dreadfully on her, and she Imagines sh hear th voice of the three egotist. Oeaka. Kyoto, and her own old father, wbos selfish passions have In on short day torn her Jxom her happy home and her quiet gar den, ana wno nave otignted and killed th Innocent life which was hers such a few hours age Bit: her suffering does not last for long.

Th glorious sun Is slowly rising, and the sgonlzlng thoughts which prey upon her melt away with the darkness and the mists. The dark chasm and the frowning cliffs slow ly disappear, and la their plaee Iris sees a wonderful country ot flowers and beauty-Paradise, la reality, at lastl Alt sens ot paia and suffering leave her. and so. aa th splendid sun rises above the beautiful mountains and aheds Ita warming lixht over th smiling country that surrounds her. her pure soul passes away, and the poor body falls dead among th Sowers.

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