Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-11-07

enter u MUSIC nan, anu ptlOIS SHo
essayed opera, education of her
voice was imperative. After ma
ture deliberation she had resolved
to give concerts throughout the
northwest, assisted only 10y her
guitar, hoping to accumulate sutli-
cient means to enable her to go to
Italy for n course of instruction,
and in consequence of that resolve
she was then soliciting our aid.
Thus in brief was the deeply in
teresting story she told us, and as
we looked into the fair young face,
made more girlish than her years
warranted 10y the manner in which
she dressed her haircut short,
and inclined to curl-we saw that
her eyes were dimmed 10y the tears
which welled up unbidden. Dur
ing the recital we had become
deeply interested in our visitor,
and when she asked our opinion as
to the propriety Of the entertain
ment and the success which would
probably attend it, we gave her all
the encouragement possible, prom
ising to do all in our power TO aid
her. The bills were written, prin-
ted and posted, the little circulars
distributed (,he brought no adver-
Using material with herr and the
tickets issued. We enlisted the CO.
operation of several lady and gen.
tlemen friends, use of the court
room was obtained, and in the
evening there assembled as an au-
dience a goodly number of Alpe-
mas most cultivated people. The
admission was so cents "to all parts
of the house" and for the first and
only time in our life we found our
self enacting the role of business
manager and director to an opera
singer (at least one in emhryo.)
The curtain rose lin imagination
and ere Miss Abbott had uttered
half dozen notes her audience
was in hearty sympathy with her.
Air followed air in quick succession
intersrersed with selections upon
her gnitar (of which she was mis-
tress), but her great success of the
evening was in III Bacio," the IA
nous kiss Waltz and Home
Sweet Home" The latter was
most exquisitely rendered, and as
her clear and sympathetic voice
wound through the measures o.
that dear old time-worn melody, the
silence was Of the most impressive
character, and many an eye was
sufTused with tears ere il was fin
ished. We had heard several o
the most noted opera singers of the
l day give Home, Sweet Home" il
D response to encores, hut nevel
heard it SING with such exquisite
and touching expression as on tina
z evening.
For two hours end a half Mis-
Abbott entertained her friends
! audience it was no longer after thu
. first air had been sung-and wher
p her rendition of GOOD Night" in
: formed us that the entertainment
J was brought to close, all were
D 10th to leave.
e A selected few from the circle o
our friends adjourned to the pri
, vate boarding house where Mis-
Abbott stopped, and she very gra
D riously condesrended to continue
{ the musical treat until the whistle
If the steamer Alpena sounded tn,
note of warning and the fair youns
: cantatrire began her preparation
for departure. We accompanied
! her to the steamer, and with many
: wish for the fullest measure o
= success in her heroic and praise
! worthy effort, Emma Abbott de
= parted never TO return. She came
, among us stranger, but before
: she bid adieu to the town, hei
sweet singing, ladylike department
= charming conversational powers
and girlish beauty, had drawn
, about her friends whose hearts fOl
. years after thrilled with pride and
satisfaction ut the success which
attended her efforts. Occasionally
we received papers containing
highly complime ntary notices OF
: her appearance in different cities.
Her career subsequent to her meet
ing with Miss Kellogg at Cleveland
is known to all who have read the
r daily press, and repetition is not
) required.
Such is the story Of orr oilicia-
ting n business manager AMI gen
eral factotnm of the Emma Abbott
concert troupe" for one brief even
ing. the memory of which will new