Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-03-15
ANEW MUSICAL STAR.
Her Romantic History - A Strange
Story.

Correspondence of The Springfield Republican.
New Yonx, February 10, 1872.
America has thus far produced
such a small number of superior
singers that the prospect of adding
another to the list is matter Of
general interest. Without depre-
ciating the talent of Miss Kellogg,
Adelaide Phillips, or Mrs Moulton,
it must be admitted that there is
ample room for more vocalists of
first-class talent. A new aspirant
for musical honors has lately APP
pcarcd in New York, Of whom such
praise is spoken, and such high
hopes entertained by competent
Judges, as to render detailed
sketch of her history and qualifica-
tions appropriate.
Miss Emma Abbott, the soprano
Of the choir in DR.. Chapin's church,
is the singer in question. Though
only % years ofage, her life has
been almost n romance, owing to
her long and strangely incidental
struggle to obtain recognition of
her genius. She has been to some
extent a protcgc Of Miss Kellogg,
while Parcpa-Rosa, Adelaide Phil
lips and Nilsson have acknowl-
edged her great vocal abilities.
She is just now preparing to 60 to
Europe to study for the opcratic
stage, and Il short time since she
had the most brilliant offer ever
made to young singer in this
country A gentleman of means
volunteered to give her 100000
and expenses for five years of her
services, provided she would go
before the public at once, but as
Miss Abbott's wish is to obtain a
thorough training first, she declined
the offer, and is going abroad in
stead, her expenses being paid by
the voluntary contributions of her
friends and admirers. Miss Abbott
is a native of Wisconsin, and one
of a large family in very humble
circumstances in a small country
town. Her father was music
teacher, and two of her brothers
showed some musical talent, but
nothing above mediocrity. Emma
was precocious, and almost from
infancy had love Of music and
desire to- sing. In her fourth year
she obtained a picture of Jenny
Lind; who at once became her idol.
At later period she read Barnum's
Autobiography, and had her imag-
ination fired by the account therein
Of the triumphs of the Swedish
Nightengalc. When only nine
years of age she took part in a con-
cert with her brothers in public, and
rapidly developed quite mature
vocal powers. Her family, how
ever, failedto recognized her talent
but gave her all the schooling with
in their small means. Her father
seemed born to ll-luck, and the
family were often in distress. Urged
by pressing necessity, Emma de-
termined to try and earn some
money by her talents, and at the
a"c of Is gave concert all alone,
in which she sung a number of
songs, to the accompaniment of a
guitar, and made quite little sum
by the entertainment. Emboldencd
by this success, she set out by here
self and visited all the towns adjoin.
ing the place where the family were
then living in Illinois, giving con.
ccrts at each one of them. Some
proved successful, while others fail
ed utterly, and she often had
trouble to pay the necessary expen-
ses of printing, advertising, etc. 1t
seems incredible how such mere
child could have got along as she
did. On arriving at strange
place, she would go to the principal
hotel, obtain permission to use the
parlors, school or some ncighbor-
ing church for her performance, and
then go about to the newspaper
Offices, or other gathering places,
distribute circulars, and arrange in
other ways to advertise herself.
Sometimes she would have q full