The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-30
SoNTAG AND SrEININGER.
A Romance 0fthe Opera.

Luc
When the celebrated singer Henriette
Sontag began her musical career she was
subjected to the same annoyances and
struggles that rising talent generally
finds obstructing its pathway as it
would race over the burning sands
of life to the haven of lame and fortune.
Nevertheless her debut in Vienna was
most brilliant, spite of the enormous sea
of opposition that greeted her, yet the
encouraging roar OF the lions could not
entirely drown the Kissing of the
snakes.
One of the most venomous of these was
the falling fayorite of the public, but
still powerful rival, Amelia Steininger.
Chagrined, if not humiliated. Sontag
left Vienna harboring anything but
friendly feelings towards Amelia STEIN
niger. Some years later, she was in the
glory of her triumph singing with the
great tenor, JAEGER, and the never-to be.
| forgotten BIffo Spitzeder, at the Royal
Theater, Berlin, where her sweet warb-
| ling made her the CataIoni of her day,
\ where tongues and pens all moved In
| her praise, the gardens were robbed OF
all their blossoms and the florists OF their
4 buds and exotics to testify to the en-
Il LhusiasLic admiration and alteration o1
| the charming songstress.
II
| panied by a NUMBER of gallants, she Was
riding along one Of the main streets OF
Berlin; she WAS attracted by hearing an
Austrian song, familiar from childhood
and home, sung on the street corner by q
little girl about six years old, who led
| by the haud q forlorn-looking blind
woman. 1t was a sad and touching air,
and the happy cantatrice Immediately
ordered her coupe to be halted, called
the IL title singer to her, and said:
"What is your name, my wee Austrian
echoP
"Nannie,"t he child replied, with a
strong Vienna accent.
sand who Is the woman with youH
"My poor blind mother, lady"
"And what Is her nameW
"Amelia Steininger, lady"
"Amelia SteiningerV exclaimed SON.
tag In greatest surprise.
"Yes, lady, my mother was great
singer in Vienna long ago, but she lost
her voice, and then she wept 80 much
that the light wentout of he. eyes: then
our friends turned away from us, and
when that was also gone We were
obliged to beg our way or dio of hum
GER" Nl
Tears welled from the kind and gener-
GUS heart of the fortunate woman as she
L IlBbeH9u w buo paNuSViO etoIy VI tuo
little one-tears of genuine sympathy.
She turned to the gallant gentlemen who
gathered about her like satellites around
tneir star.
"Gentlemen,p said she, the pearling
| drops OF heart dew glistening In her
beautiful eyes, "permit me here on this
public place to take up collection for
an unhappy sister from whom God has
seen tt to take his greatest gilt, the gift
| of sight. Here is my purse; do not allow
| it TO remain companionless in the hands
Of this poor child"
In an instant the gold and silver coin
rained upon the overjoyed little girl,
who imagined an angel had come to
relieve her mother from poverty and
care.
"Now tell me, Mamie. where do you
livep
The child gave the address.
"91ve your mother my love, and tell
her her old friend Henriette Sontag will
do herself the pleasure OF hunting her
up this afternoon and having y little
chat with her."
Crying for JOY the child ran to her
mother with her good luck, and repeated
| Sontag's words, but she could not
| understand the violence Of the impelli-
| Gus burst Of tears that fell from the
Diind eyes, to be followed by the
| remorseful sobbing Of her who once
droye this penefactrsss from her natiye
dty with Kisses.
Sontag came according to promise,
bringing skilltul ocuIst. who after an
Examination shook his gray head. He
aad no relief for ~ black cstsr&ct thai