The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1871-01-12
The Prima Donna's Story.

Now that VIC have the successor OF
Jenny Lind and rival Of Patti among "s'
the following compact story Of her life
aud career will have double Interest,"
Mile. Christine Nilsson was born on the
third Of August, 1916, in the hamlet OF
Hussaby, on the southern confines Of
Sweden. She was the eighth child Of
peasant parents, born in poverty, but
endowed with those talents aud graces
which, srs she had arrived at puberty,
attracted the attention Of tho world
The French story Is that her parents
were 20 poor that she was c2mpelle,, to
wear the cast of clothing Or her elder
brother, in which picturesque but usu
al costume the Paris teui,lctonistes have
already pictured her a. performing on a
violin for pennies at the annual fair Of
Ljunby. Whether this be true or not,
the child was gifted with with re.
markable voice, and this, ~ in several
other cases Of children who subsequent
ly became famous, drew to her the pat.
rons who rescued her from poverty and
set her upon the road to fame and for.
tune. It is said that once, while singing
to her own violin accompaniment, be-
fore . crowd Of peasants at a fair, .
strolling juggler offered her the mag
nificent sum Of twenty riksthaler y'r
II she would join Ills troup. 1t would
seem that Christine declined this first
engagement, Notwithstanding the lib
erslity of the entreprcneur. What an
interesting subject Tor a painter, in
view of her after career, this would
make-Nilsson offered her irst engage
ment, (three dollars q year, who now
obtains one thousand dollars night.
At the age of fourteen she was domi.
ciled with the Baroness of Lenhusen,
who became her patron. She was herself
. singer Of some celebrity, and took the
most judicious course to makea vocalist
of her protege. Then the girl was sent
to Stockholm to study under Franz Ber-
wald, and here she attracted the atten-
ton Of royalty. From Stockholm her
parents sent sent her TO Paris, where
she completed her musical education
under the famous Wartel, who has
made more divas than any other man
living. Three years was given to unre-
mitting study of oil the arts that belong
to the lyric stage, aud on the 9th Of
October, 1916, she made her debut at
the Lyrique as :.Nioletta, iu the "Tra-
viata." She was then eighteen years of
age; fair. slender, graceful, and interest,
ing. The debut Was an instant success.
Having thus matriculated in Verdi she
soon after took her first lyrical degree
In Mozart, appearing in Don Giovan-
nj" aud "Die Zaubeflote" with still
greater success. The latter had run
Of nearly three hundred nights at the
Eyriquc. Her fame had how reached
London, and on the 10th of June, 1867,
after the most strenuous efforts on the
part ofthe London managers, she was
advertised to appear in that city. She
made her entree in the "Traviata." Her
Majesty's Theatre was packed to the
dome. The next morning one and all
ofthe journals were In raptures. Zone
glance, aud the wo:ld shown fresl,
again." said the ordinarily staid Satur-
dar Review, quoting Schumann. Her
subsequent triumphs in Faust" and
Hamlet" are familiar to all. She made
her debut at the Grand Opera, Paris, in
the part Of Ophelia, in Ameroise Tbom-
as. Hamlet on the 9th Of March, 1868.
It Is with this role that she Is most COM
pletely identified, and which more than
any other added to her trans atlantic
fame.-HOn,e Journal.