"Patti farewell"--Query

[Robert Kelly]

refers to the many positively-last farewell concert performances given by
the famous soprano Adelina Patti

RK

On Sat, 1 Jan 2000, Gerald Cohen wrote:

>    I found a strange expression in a baseball column of the _ San Francisco
> Bulletin_ (April 2, 1913, p.19, col. 5):  "This is not Patti farewell." It
> is spoken by a retired umpire ("indicator man") who is insisting that his
> retirement is for real.  So the meaning of  "Patti farewell" seems to be "a
> false farewell."  ----But why Patti?  And  is anyone familiar this
> expression ?
>
>     Here is the context in the 1913 article:
>
>   'Jack Sheridan lent his modest presences to the opening session.  The
> veteran indicator man never misses a big occasion, but he is a man of such
> few words that only his intimate friends know that he is about.  Jack blew
> up from San Jose, which is his home, and will be the rest of his days.
> Jack declared unreservedly yesterday that he is through with baseball for
> all time.  ³This is not Patti farewell,² he avowed before the game started.
> ³I won¹t go back East this year, or the next, or the next.  I am through.
> I have a nice business at San Jose, which will take all my time, and
> besides I am tired of travelling about, and it is time for me to settle
> down.... I know I have threatened to quit before, but this time I mean
> business....²¹
>
> ----Gerald Cohen
>
>
>
> gcohen at umr.edu
>