The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-07-26
PARIS LETTER.

From our regular Correspondent
PARIS, July II, 1879
Barely a home-only pieotaterre for the
song bird, who Is also unfortunately bird of
p.ssage--is the little house in the Belgravc
road, tenanted by that very attached and quiet
couple, Monsieur and Madame Rouzaud.
Within-doors are signs Of artistic treatment at
every step The walls and ceilings are deco
rated after the Italian fashion, rich porticres
conceal the doorways Sevres vases and Drcs-
den shepherdresses occupy every spare corner
on cabinets of handsome Louis Seize work and
etageres of buhl and marqueterie
Madame Nilsson sets great store by her Pho
tographs; but beyond thcse-beyond even the
bust of Victorie Balie; beyond the Cabanel
Ophela with its FEY" look; beyond the gold
en- laurelcrowns of Russia, Austria, France
and America; beyond all the treasures acquir
ed by life of unceasng devotion to art-sne
chcrishes the little box containing he earliest
musical instrument with which she was ac
quainted Opening it daintlly and carefully,
she Will produce a battered and patched speci-
men of the genus vlolin-no costly toy, no
milky.toned Stainer; but plain fiddle, crack
ed and stringless, sorry specimen OF the most
perfect of musical instruments. As she takes
1t from its retreat she falls naturally into the
position of the violinist, and in IA voice Of that
subtle penetrating force, which constitutes
what is loosely called sympathetic quality,
continues II love the VIOLIN and would play
it every day if were permitted to do so; but
am not permitted 1t Is suspected that the
constrained attitude and the powerful vibration
would by no means improve either my phys-
cal or musical tone for the evening. But re
gret the violin nevertheless and love this one
very much indeed; for it is the instrument
played on at fairs round the country TO help
my people to money while ! was yet child
am, as you hear, peasant born, and am
proud OF it,
So many stories have been told of the early
career of Madame Nilsson that it may perhaps
be well to give a few authentic particulars Of
a romantic life The violin, of which mention
has been made suffered its most serious iniu
re. IN ,ho roGg~r ri journey from fin To
Little Chrlslinc's melody became objections
able to the steady gong animal, who at once
got rid of the musician and the instrument, to
the damage happily Of only the latter The
child had been taught some music by her faith
er, a peasant of the good old school, who sang
in the village choir on Sundays and to whom
the ltlnerate violin-paying of his daughter
brought an important accession OF income. y
small sum of money went long way at We'd
erslof, and Christine went on playing, TILL at
the age of thirteen, as she was playing at the
iair of Liungbq, it occurred to Mr.. +. G. For
ncrhielm, one of her audience, and gentle
man of some influence in the neighborhood,
that 1t was pity so much talent should be
thrown away. Mr.. Fornerhjelm sought out a
friend of his the Baroness Leuhuscn, aud in
duced this lady, who had herself, while Mdlle.
| Nalerius, been a professional singer, to take
charge of the young Swedish vloIinist
Christmas protcctoress soon discovered that
she had voice which promised in time to be
come remarkable and at once took charge Of
her education.
From the school at Halmstad she went to
that at Stockholm, where she studied under
NJ Franz Berwald, and next went to Paris to
complete her musical education under NJ.
Wartel, and appeared for the first time at the
Theatre Lynque as Violetta in LA Traviata,"
on the 9th of October, 1864 An engagement
for three years followed her successful deJUt,
| a Ia, in ~
tlote," Martha" don Giovanni" etc. In
1867 she played highly successful engage
ment at Her Maiesty's Theatre, and in the au-
tumn of the same year returned to Paris to APP
pear as Ophelia in Ambrose Thomass opera
OF Hamlet, since when she has become identi
fled with that role to an almost equal extent
with that of Marguerite in Gounods Faust"
Her trip to the Uaited States resulted IN Il for
tune of a million of francs about one half of
which was lost in the fires at Chicago and
Boston
Madame Nilsson is the most conscientious
of singers, who, although an accomplished
horsewOman, refrains from mounting horse
during an engagement, lest an accident should
WIFI vi hti uutNN =
she is aware of the weakness inseparable from
her vigorous yet delicately sensitive fiber, and
on her days of performance at the opera Is in.
visible at is not enough" she will say, ito
possess a voice and knowledge Of music, and
some histronic talent, or whatever it Is, to
sing through an opera. You must be strong,
physically, brutally strong"
| La Sale ruflians are having picnic nov there
i no police in toYs. The Democrut:
The shameful proceedings enacted at the show
last Friday night by mob is a reflection on the
entire city. 1t goes to show that when no re-
strant is placed upon those inclined to awless-