National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-06-27
Madame Nilsson ROuxeaud.

| Christine NllB6OH, nays u IoTeiBh
writer, does not look az II she had ever
been a street singer, amenable to the
Vagrahtn' Act, and accompanying her.
self with fiddle for the entertainment
of provincial Swedes. Yet she began
this life when ten years old, and varied
her fiddle performances by an occasion'
al solo on the flute, which cheek. dis
torting instrument gave none but pleas,
ant sounds under her touch. One cold
day at nightfall, Count Tornerhjelm, q
nobleman with ~ much wealth M kind
ness-rare combination--hcard her war
BILE out her clear childish notes as sht
shivered under the biting wind, having
earned but few coppers that day, times
being bad. He took compassion OF
her and caused her to be we'll educated
She came ont ut the Opera in Stock
holm in 1860. being thea seventeen
and her voice was admired but she
wanted method, the which her patron
supposed Paris alone could give her
so he dispatched her there to be finish
ed. regardless OF cost, as q penny paper
would put 1t, by NJ. Victor Masse and
Herr Wastel Christine Nilsson was Of
gentle disposition, but little pIim,
and with no more sentimentalism than
would fill nutshell. She had curious
way OF arguing, and became early i'm
bued with the business aspects OF the
career she was going to embrace. her
first engagement in 1864 was at the
Theatre Lyrique, of which Madame
Miolan- -Cafvalho, wife of the lessee. was
the star and popular fa*rti.e. Madame
Carvalho was just the opposite OF Chris
tine Nilsson-graceful, tasteful, play
full, French ali overland she did the
Swedish girl not little good in teach.
ing her by what arts to captivate that
fanciful thing, the Partisan public,
which will not give rush for voice
that is not warmed up by soul.
Christine Nilsson's debut was success,
but not such flashing one as PATHS
had been. Paris found her notes TOO
metalic-something like those OF the
silver flute ON which she continued 70
be a proficient, and with which she
would regale her acquaintances when
they came to visit her of Sunday and
sip the somewhat yellow tea she pro-
vided But she grew upon. her public
lust rs they grew to like her, and.
thanks to Madame Miolan, gradually
leai ned to die in the Traviata in u
manner to set the audience snivelling
in their handkerchiefs after the most
approved fashion. She then lived on
third story IN a small street close to the
Conservatoire, did her own marketing,
and overhauled the butchers bills With
a perspicuity deserving all honor. Her
hands were cold, her smile amiable, her
talk sensible, and her blue eyes keen.
Frenchmen being enterprising all the
world over, she received presents, and
love notes along with them. Sne had
no objection to the presents, If decently
offered, but she burned the love notes
She was very hard at driving bargain,
and had no idea of singing for nothing.
Once. though, she must have thought
she had parted with three whole songs,
and all in one night, too, for nothing.
1t was at Madrid. She had returned
from the opera, and was in her rsom,
when a ladder was planted against her
balcony, which looked on to a garden,
and gentleman with cloak and mask
clambcred through the open window,
followed by second, and 80 on till
IHtIe were bl4 Va tuCms ShAtS
Nilsson. no doubt, thought they had
come for some money, but did not pull
the bell-rope, because there was none.
She asked them without screaming
what they wanted, and they explained
in very choice Castilian that, being too
destitute to pay for admittance to the
Opera at the increased rate OF prices,
they had come to hear the songs in
which they were informed she excelled.
Farley proving bootless, there was
nothing for it but to sing, and she did
sing right well. The Castilians bowed
to the ground, and assured her, as they
through the way they had ar
rived, that they had spent half an hour
in Paradise. But when they had vfeish.
ed, they and their ladder, size found
they had left diamond bracelet, worth
a thousand guineas, which gave her to
wonder in all probability why they had
not introduced themselves through the
door, as no six men with a bracelet
need be ashamed to do.