The Portland daily press., 1870-11-14
Annie Louise cary


Annie L. Cary was born in Wayne, Kenne-
bee county, State of Maine, in October, 1912.
Her father, Nelson Fl. Cary M. D., now, and |
for many years a resident of Gorham, came
with his father, when boy, to this State, in
the year 1915. He, early in life, entered the
profession of medicine to which he became
much attached. Active and temperate in his
habits, and possessing rare natural mental
qualifications, he has always secured success
full practice and an enviable distinction in his
profession. man of uncommon good prac-
tical sense, and ever practicing the social
amenities ola gentleman, he has exerted be-
nefcent influence on those under his immedi
ate care, and he IS respected, as he is sur
rounded, by hosts of friends.
The mother of Miss Cary was Maria Stock
bridge of Yarmouth, Maine, Qong deceased,)
but remembered for her many virtues as a
wife, mother and friend. She belonged to
highly respectable and talented family of
which there are but few representatives living,
and all Of them have left their native State
brother of the late Mrs. Cary, Rev. Joseph
Stockbridge, graduate of Bowdoin College,
is retired Chaplain in the United States
Navy. The ancestors of Miss Cary were ma
tives of North Bridgew alter, Mass, and were
always noted in that town for their musical
attainments.
Miss Cary early in life gave unmistakable
evidence of love for instrumental and vocal
music. She was the youngest of the family,
and while the older members were singing,
She would frequently chime in with her voice,
even before she could articulate the words.
She received her early education at one of
our common schools, but afterwards attend
ed the Gardiner Lyceum, and was for some
time member of Gorham Female Seminary
She had no musical instruction except what
she received at home until she was seventeen
years of age. AT that time she went into her
brothers family in Boston, and was very soon
engaged to sing as member of the quartette
choir in Dr. Stoves church in Bedford street.
She next sang for two years in Dr. Lowell's
church on an increased salsry, and two years
in DR.. Hunington's. The last of these sew
.eral engagements was concluded in 1866. The
whole of this time she was gaining in musi-
cal proficiency, and her active efforts to ex-
Gel accomplished the full measure of what
was expected by her most devoted friends and
admirers. During the above period she was
pupil of Mr.. Wheeler, and was receiving
lessons from other teachers resident of the
city OF Boston. She also occasionally sang
at concerts in the larger cities and towns in
the New England States, aud was on all occa-
SONS regarded as one of the favorite singers
of the North.
One OF the last concerts that she gave be-
fore leaving for Europe was a free one. to
which the acquaintance of her adopted
town and the public were invited. The Con-
gregational meeting house at Gorham village
was never fuller than on this occasion. The
1aiher, brothers and sisters of the Cary fami-
~ gave joint entertainment, displaying great
musical ability, and creating an enthusiasm
that sho1ed the high opinion in which the
rare gilt of this talented family was held by
the residents of their adopted town as well as
In larger cities. In the spring of 1861 agree
. ably 10 her own desires, and in compliance
with the wishes of her friends, she resolved
on visiting Europe in order to put herself I'M
der the best masters, for the study of the
French and Italian languages, and for fur
Their advancement in musical attachments.
On the 10Th day of August 1886, this dis
tsnguished daughter of the State of Maine.
mot BOSTON, sailed from the city of Boston
in the steamship Cuba. After prosperous
voyage she arrived at Liverpool. BY the
kindness of friends, she was we'll provided
with laftars nf irfrod,of;o,, - J:a..I
ties in London, Paris, Milan, through whose
kind assistance, and her own indomitable
Yankee courage, she arrived safe in the city of
Milan, after journey of eighteen days. She
accomplished the distance from London to
Milan without even the presence of an ac-
qualntance and passed the last forty
hours without rest or refreshments. She now
commenced and terminated in that city eight
cen months of continuous and rigid applica-
tion to the study of music and the language
OF the country, and had as an associate an
accomplished lady, Miss Written of Boston,
(since deceased.)
Alter finishing a thorough course of study
under the direction of the great masters of
Milan, these two ladies made a tour of obser-
Walton through Italy. They were accompani-
ed from Milan to Florence by the American
Consul and his wife, Alter remaining in that
city about week, they started for Rome,
where they remained two weeks, passing the
time IN visiting the various interesting locali-
ties in the neighborhood of this imperial city,
made famous by thousand historical facts,
traditions, &c. In one of her letters, at that
(uh tn ha Ok
she gives very interesting account of her
visit to Naples, the ascent of Vesuvius, Pom
pei and Herculaneum furnish the subject of
another equally interesting letter. The let
tiers are evidence that this lady possesses 9TH
er accomplishments than music
After visiting all these places of interest, so
familiar to every one who is in the habit of
reading the reports of travellers, they returned
to Milan, refreshed and delighted, and renew
ed their studies with increased energy In
the winter of 1868 she was engaged with an
italian troupe to sing in Copenhagen. 1t was
in this city that she made her debut on the
stage. Her reception was very fattering, the
musical critics giving her the first place in the
company. After singing in that city few
weeks, one of the Strakosch brothers sent for
her to meet him at Stockholm, where she
sang for the remainder of the season. At this
time, by the courtesy of our minister at Stock
holm, she was presented to the King of
Sweden. She spent over an hour with bis
majesty, he personally taking her to the diff
ferent parts of the palace, library, (which is
immensely, gallery of paintings. culiosties, &C
cumulated through long course of wears.
The summer of 1868 was spent by her in Ger
many, in study, and occasionally her services
were obtained for concerts in Hamburg, Brus-
sells, and other of the large cities of that en-
pire.
The fall of1S6S was mainly spent in Baden
with an eminent teacher of music. In the
winter she returned to Copenhagen, and re-
manned there through the season singing in
pera. She also sang in Christiana, Norway.
The winter of 1S69-70 was spent in Paris in
study. In February, 1870 through the nfu-
ence OF Mr.. Strackosch, she was induced to 90
to the aty OF London, and try her powers in
that great emporium. Such was her success |
that The critics gave her high seat among |
the musical celebrities of EuroDe. and led tn |
the acceptance of an engagement with Stra-
kosch to visit this country with Nilsson.