The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-05-24

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in my excitement. No one would remark
the tone of the audience, who listened as
though transfixed by some enchantment.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY.
About Signora Gester, who, meteor-like,
has so suddenly flashed into the musical
world, there are many different reports.
One is that she is young wife; her hus-
band has lost all his property in the late
panic, and she has been forced to go upon
the stage. Signor Gardini, recognising
her talent, has engaged her for six years
for 5000 guldans per year. Already she
is beset on all sides with lucrative offers.
Gen. Won Hulsen has tried in vain to Sc
cure her for the royal opera. Signor Gar
DIM promises her, if she succeeds as we'll
in London and Paris as she has in Berlin,
he will raise her income directly to 80, 900
thalers per year, so she prefers not to
break her contract. She says herself, it
seems all like a beautiful dream to her,
and she cannot realize why she is being
so feted, and how she could be invited to
the Empress.
Her simple manners, doubtless, are
great attraction, and her acting is perfect
" natural-indeed it is not acting, it is
life itself-her voice is as clear as bell,
yet soft and clear of expression. One
critic, from whom it has become prov
erb to say, she never saw good in any one
excepting his own scholars" says of her:
"She does not blind with wonderful
technic, but what she offers in passages
both staccato and legato are of the finest
setting and finish her MESA di voce is
perfect, and information and expression
faultless. But above all, the soul in her
tones, the fineness of the shading, and the
grace are with her fine playing, that
which makes her so attractive. Although
she is too young to be master, although
her voice differs in some particulars from
Jenny Lind, she reminds me constantly of
her, and doubtless will become as cele-
brated." The Emperor, during one rep
resentation, sent for her to come to his
box, and said to her: ~ am so charmed
with your singing, would like to show
my appreciation in a substantial way; do
ask any favor of me you choose" She
answered: "Your Majesty, if my singing
pleases you, permit me sometime to sing
for yourself alone" 1t was in accord
ance with this visit the tableaux and mu-
sic were arranged on his birthday, and
the appearance Of the Signora was pleas
ant surprise to him.
THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT.
During all this rush for seats to the
Italian opera, Minnie Hauk has been fill
ing the Royal Opera House, and charm
ing her hearers by adding to the Daugh-
| <1,o <ho Of !, Loo
Mavourneen, which she renders in every
way equal to Tietjens. BY the way, the
story making its rounds in the Amer
lean papers about Tietens' Kath-
leen Mavourneen, and its author, Crouch,
is not correct. The true version is this
Madame T. added this song very often to
her role with great effect. One evening
she sang it in Steinway Hall. A plain
looking man, who had made himself con-
spicuous through the evening by his en-
thusiasm, left his seat as soon as she fin
ished this song, and, bathed in tears,
rushed toward her, threw himself at her
feet, crying: "God bless you for that
song" Several persons hurried forward
to remove the excited man, where he had
already, overpowered by his feelings,
fallen in fainting fit. The explanation
given was that a year before in his native
land he was engaged to young girl who
often delighted him by singing Kathleen
Mavourneen. One evening they were
both out rowing, and while she was in
the act of singing the same song a sudden
lurch of the boat threw her overheard,
and she was drowned before his eyes.
HONORs FOR MINISTER wAsHDURNE.
The portrait which our distinguished
artist, Healy, has been painting here Of
Bismarck, is designed for Mr.. Wash
burne, of the American Legation in Paris,
and is present to him from the German
Government in honor of his efficient as
sistance to the German troops during
their stay in Paris. The German Govern
ment have long wished to show Mr..
Washburne in some enduring way their
appreciation of his kindness to the sick
and suffering soldiers. The Emperor
rendered him one of his brightest orders,
which Mr.. Washburne declined for the
reason that it was not the custom in
America to wear orders. He then
asked the Minister to make request
which was in his power to grant. Mr..
Washburne expressed wish for the por-
trait of Bismarck, with the request that
he be permitted to send an American
artist to paint it. Mr.. Healy is now here,
and in spite Of the Princes aversion to
seeing himself on canvas, and also of the
great demands upon his time, he has
given the artist several sittings. The
great Chancellor, who is an All FOOLS
Day child, will celebrate, on the 1st Of
April, his sixty-fourth birthdsy.-Cor.