Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-02-21
A PRINCESS.
The Simple Story of Minnie
Hauck, Prlma Donna.

Hauck. It was the superlative romance
of the thing which gave it value enough
to merit place in our columns.
Munchausen in his most brilliant
hour never retailed wilder fabrication.
1t will be remembered that after sketch
ing the childhood of Minnie as that of
a prodigy, it tells of her fathers going
out to Kansas, where he had as a neigh
Dor, Mr.. Leonard Jerome, a Northern
man (rather D That the Indians seized
Mr.. Jerome, laid him across a rail-
way track, and how Minnie rushed
among them and rescued the Northern
man by dragging him from the track
Just as the approaching train was about
to cut him up into very small pieces.
And all this she did with own fair hand,
stabbing the Indians with her angry
eyes. Then it told of Mr.. Jerome's
gratitude, of Minnie becoming his
protege, and of his building a theater for
her, and so on, swelling out the little
romance charmingly. The railway
scene in % After Dark" which he heard
of, no doubt, suggested to the SOu-a-
liner, this romance for Minnie.
We hope, if good can come out of
this kind of thing, that Miss Hauck has
felt the benefit of the tale in the quick.
ened sympathies of her Partisan audi
euee. Whether the Figaro will accept
the correct version or not, we are tempted
to give our readers the benefit Of brief
sketch of the true history of the young
cantatrice.
Minnie Hauek was born in this city;
we won't say when, we never suggest the
age of an unmarried lady suffice it to
say that Minnie is young and blooming.
When she was about six years old, her
parents moved to Providence, Rhode
Island, where they lived for several
years, then returned to New York. Ow-
ing to a misfortune on their return
Journey, they lost all the goods they had
with them. arriving in the city very poor
indeed. Mr.. Hauck went bravely to
work at his trade of upholstering, q saw
ing all earnings to the uttermost and
ultimately getting enough money to-
gether to take his family to Kansas,
then territory, and towards which the
tide of emigration had set in strong ly.
/ Here they remained but two years, as
the health of Mrs. Hauck gave way
rapidly, the climate being uncOngenial.
Before leaving Kansas, hnWeYer, Minnie
gave evidence of remarkable musical
talent and becoming the pet of musical
/ friends there, received her first lessons
from them. Up TO this time, she did
not know a single note of music, yet
sang readily every air sung in her pres
ence. From Kansas the Haucks moved
to New Orleans, where Mr.. Hauck read
I ily found employment. One day while
sitting singing at her fathers door,
Minnie was accosted by a gentleman
named Cuerto, who was charmed by her
sweet voice, and who having made him
( self known to her father offered to be-
come her teacher. The offer was gladly
accepted. and Minnie. for the first time,
began to study vocal music scientifically.
She soon began to sing in church, where
her voice attracted much attention. She
was then about fourteen years old. Her
appreciative friends got up two concerts
for her. which were admirably success
ful. and which enabled Minnie to help
he's good parents in their struggles in
her own behalf. Advised by those who
recognized Minnies talent, Mr.. Hauck
concluded to return to New York once
more, where it was believed that Minnie
would have a better field and where she
might possibly obtain a position in tht
opera. He brought letters of recon
mendation to Max MaratZek <, to whom h
, presented them, and with them hi
: Young daughter. By NJ. Maretzek sh,
was introduced to Signor Errani, the
{ we'll l-known tenor and accomplished
teacher, who at once took upon himsel
the task of educating the young lady
) and did so with ali the oEthqsiasm o
his kindly nature. Had she been hi
l own daughter he could not have beel
more devoted to her, more ambitious 0
her success. She studied hard, he
, father working persistently at his trad
to sustain the family. After year
a hard study, Minnie was fortunate enoug
4 to make the acquaintance of Mr.. Seguir
. at whose residence she took a leadin
part in some pleasant eRteFtainment'
gotten up mainly on her account. 4
= one of these, her singing and artles
: manner stirred the admiration of Nj
o Leonard Jerome, and prompted him
y aid the charming soEgstFess in be
studies. He thus became her patro
. charmed by her sweet voice, not out {
. gratitude for the rescue of his life frol
the bellicose Indians, and a worse raj
i way train, as the Figaro hqnehause
J.. had it.
Up TO this time Signor Errani ha
r taught his fair pupil earnestly, seekin
: no compensation, beyond the pleasure B
a took in his good work, and the rewar
he received in the daily promise of Ii
r fulfillment of his brightest hopes fC
;. his young pupil. Soon after this Mimi
!. made her debut as Linda, in Mr.. Jerome
q theater, upon which occasion she VOL
:. the valuable diamonds of Mrs. Jerom
! which that good lady loaned her. The
n we're worth sI00, 600, and as Minnie sar
v her best. her debut may very properl
be said to have been brilliant one.
20 Mr.. Jerome, with whom Minnie was
q. special fayorite, gave further evidence
n his appreciation Of her talents, and
,e his desire to see it recognized, inyitiI
of her to a reception at his house, when
< presented her with a costly gold wat'
set with diamonds.
Y, With such a devoted friend al
20, teacher as Errani, with such patror
r. and with the heavenly gift of her swe
n voice, could Minnie fail ? How she h
he won upon the public since then is I
ed we'll known to need rehearsal hel
ite Suffice it to say, that which we ha
,rs succeeded in disposing of the terrific
ID. her history, as told in the Figaro, it b
OF, been our pleasant task to replace it by
var simple, truthful story of the struggl
of an honest workingman, to whom G
Die gave child of genius to bless him d
Dr.. reward him for his honest struggles vi
Ige adversely, and one whom we shall ne'
ra- doubt, while remembering the faith
ce. father, will cherish lifelong gratitu
nts for her friend and teacher, Errani, a
IAN for her generous patrons the Jero
ich family.