The Portland daily press., 1872-05-28
An American Artist.

In bidding goodbye, rs we must this week,
to the sweet singers of the Nilsson company,
it would be inexcusable to omit tribute Of
respectful admiration and word of cordial
farewell to lady who has in a few short
months showed her right to foremost posi-
tion among American artists. Though, by
the emergencies of the situation, less promi-
nently brought forward in the recent engage
ment than her friends could have wished and
the public have approved, discriminating
critics are at no loss in estimating the merits
of Miss ANNIE LOUISE CARY. The career
of this charming vocalist singularly confirms
the faith we have above alluded to in the in
herent tendencies and genuine capacity of
the American constitution in matters of art.
Going abroad at an early age, Miss Cary,
after faithful study in Italy with the best
models and masters, made her first appear
ance and achieved her first success ON the
continental stage. Several years of European
travel and technical experience. especially
among the music-loving and amiable society
of Scandinavian capitals, rpened the girl in
to woman, the student into the full-blown ar
tist. Her appearance in concert in New
York took the audience by surprise and gave
assurance that our list of singers must count
one admirable contralto the more. Her voice
is notably strong. full, and resonant, very pure
in quality, and of certain fine color and me-
tallc timbre, highly effective in music either
calm, steady, and accurate. One of her
special excellences is her skill in the full
strong, level cdntdbitle which many critics
are disposed to esteem the chief and essential
beauty of musical delivery. And these more
technical merits are lit up and vivifed by
truth, depth and delcacy of feeling-that in
ner life of music without which mechanical
perfection is of scant avail
Here, perhaps, our comment should proper
ly end-when the last fiattering echo OF kid
ded palms has died on the ear-the last gleam
of sheeny MORE or vaporous tulie disappears
in the unkindly closing of the remorseess
stage door-the public interest may fairly ter
inmate, and only an over-restless curiosity, it
might seem, would seek to penetrate that
more intimate intercourse of the withdraw
ing-room which is the privilege of personal
and trusted friends. But it Is not always pos
sible to separate the artist from the individ-
ual. Character will inform and modify @s-
thetic delneation, and in the subtle magnet
ism which emanates from the performer each
of his auditory may catch some hint of perso-
nal character, some thrill of personal influence
or inspiration. Be itsaid, then, with all discre-
tion, but in all earnestness, that Miss Csry's
attitude before the public, her individual inn
preston upon her hearers, tells a story
which the report of friends amply confirms
of a frank, simple, sweet and honest nature;
unconventional but modest, independent
without boldness, and spirited without arro-
gance or pretence. The thoughtful hearer
whom she has soothed and delighted with
her singing, will go away the better and the
happier for recognizing in her a noble type of
the American woman, thanking her for gift
to the soul as well as the intellect, and no lit
tie inclined to envy that inner circle of conf
Dental friends privileged to judge by personal
experience of virtues which the outer public
may only surmise.-N. Y. Mail
POISONOUS CoLoRs.-Coal tar colors are
frequently the cause of distressing symptoms
in the human economy. Aniline itself is a
poison, and all colors that contain it is in an
unchanged state are consequently more or
less toxic in their action. The agents employ
ed in the preparation of aniline colors are in
many instances very deleterious. Among
these are the compounds of arsenic, zinc, tin,
antimony, lead, together with hydrochloric
and picric acids.
The common or inferior colors prepared
from residues are especially dangerous, and
are, on account of their cheapness, employed
in coloring paper-hangings, wooden toys,
matches, India-rubber, articles, and confec-
tiOnery. In the dyeing of wooden and other
tissues the common aniline colors are also ex-
tensively used, and sewing girls frequently
suffer severely from the presence of arsenic
and picric acid in their materials; their fin
gers become infamed and dotted with small
pimples upon red ground; the same erup-
tions after a while appear upon the face, the
lips are of dark violet color and there is
trembling of the hands and feet, accelerated
pulse, and difficult respiration. n.-Scribner's
for June