The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-08-24
CLEAR GRIT.

Emma Abbott and III Gunod-The Young
American Prima Donna's First Interview
with the Great Composer.
''Can I see M. Gounod 9" The cues
toner was Emma Abbott, who, unac-
companled, and without a letter of in
PRODUCTION, rang the bell of M. Gounod's
residence, In London. The servant
handed her card with blanks to be
filled up, on which was printed ssyour
name, " residence" "by whom intro
duced, etc. Miss Abbott handed the
card back to the servant.
81 don't want to sign that. I want
to see M. Gounod."
A sharp voice came from the head of
the stairs. It proceeded from Nine.
Weldon, M. Gounod's self-constituted
guardian. "What do you want9''
Miss Abbott ran up the stairs. CT
want to see M. Gounod and sing to him.
am an American girl"
You cannot sing, child, said Nine.
Weldon, "and you cannot see M. Gou-
nod"
sob /! I can. can sing the Jewel
Song in Faust Won't you please hear
me?"
st say, child, repeated Nine. We'll
don, severely, "you cannot sing; there
is only one person living who can sing
that song"
"Oh!'' said Miss Abbott, "you mean
Patti. I"
"Patti ?" with shrug.) "Patti is
nothing but music box-she can't
sing"
"Then You mean Nilsson?"
"Nilsson? No! Her voice is worn out
ong ago p
"Who can it be, then ?" and Miss Alb
bolts eyes expressed her curiosity.
est is myself-Mme. Weldon"
60, Mrs. Weldon, won't you please
sing it for me9 I would SO like to hear
YOU"
Nine. Weldon led the way to the
piano. She sang, and Miss Abbott ap-
plauded.
CHOW, Mrs. Weldon, you shall hear
me sing" And, suiting the action to
the word. Miss Abbott began the Jewel
Song. She had proceeded but few
bars, when Nine. Weldon tried to stop
her. ''There, there, child, stop; you
cannot sing" Suddenly voice from
the top of the next fight of stairs called
out: " Weldon Weldon who have you
got there 2" Before Nine. Weldon could
eply, Miss Abbott shot past her and up
the stairs. go, M. Gounod, it is /,
Emma Abbott, an American girl, and /
want to sing to you!"
Nine. Weldon had followed her up
the stairs and tried to stop her.
"She cannot sing, M. Gounod, and ]
want her to go away"
''She shall not go away" replied
Gounod, "and she shall sing"
He then seated himself at the piano,
and began theaccompaniment. Heplayed
it as Miss Abbott had never heard il
played. She began the song; Nine.
Weldon again tried to stop her, but
Gounod forbade her interrupting. He
said Z" Miss Abbott should not leave the
house till she had sung the song" He
again commenced the accompaniment
and told Miss Abbott to sing. Utter1ng
an inward prayer, she obeyed. 1t was a
favorite opera and she threw into the
song all her power and feeling. When
she concluded her eyes were full of tears.
Gounod rose from the piano and took
her by both hands. He said Miss Alb
bott, you have sung my song better than
[ ever heard it sung!" He then took
from drawer m elegantly bound copy
of " Faust" "My child" said he, 81
want you to accept this from me-" Seat
ing himself at his table, he took a pen
and wrote in the frontispiece:
TO MISS EMMA XBBoTT.
: FROM CHARLES GOUNOD.
! In token of Miss Abbot's singing for him, this:
day, the Jewel Song from s. Faust better than
| he has ever heard it sung.