The New York herald., 1879-11-22
MISS EMMA THURSBY AT HOME.

RETURN OF THE AMERICAN DIvA-HER ExPEnI-
ENCE IN EURoPE-RECEpTIoN IN PARIS AND
bosDoN- PERSONAL HISTORY AND REMINIs-
CENcEs-HER STAY IN AMERICA TEMPoR, ,RY.
Among the passengers who arrived in New York
yesterday the steamship Baltic was Miss Emma
Thursby. the celebrated soprano who after ABB
sence OF eighteen months. returns from Europe
to her native land, covered with laurels not
easily won abroad by foreigner. especially
by an American. and for that reason the
more precious. Owing to the storm
that has prevailed on the coast the Baltic did not
arrive at her dock until after dark. Many personal
friends of Miss Thursby. however. were in waiting
to bid her welcome home and it was not without
considerable persuasion that they permitted Mr..
Maurice Strakosch her manager. to carry out his
prearranged purpose to convey to at least tenn
porary home the Everett House.
II was here that the reporter Of the HERALD found
Miss Thursny. in company with her mother and
sister, quietly esconced before cosey parlor fire
and seeking the rest to which she is entitled after
severe voyage. Unassuming in man
ner and unaffected in conversation. espe-.
cially when speaking Of herself, dressed in
modest suit of black. with only .
rufRe around her neck and others around her
wrists, devoid of all ornament a simple
shaped pin her hair dressed in theA plain fashion
that best exhibits classcally shaped head the Diva
looked in her retirement like any but artist
~rsss9ce Of the most iistnouished musical circles
cf of the old country.
4 BIT OF PERSONAL HISTORY.
ont interest to ali vounp artists like herself who.
commencing professional life, so to speak. at the
aaa ~ ,ar ,,rasart ,,nsit;or n, h;rtp sIa 10 =
Brooklyn girl, and at early age gave evidence OF
1.;satad ,,nas- The d;ract;on - Errsri and nfna
RmdsrsSorff and When she had attained sufacisnt
% ths chors OF the Rev
tsr M Of Wiiiiamsbnrc. Rev Henry Ward Beecber.
De-, n Chanin ana Rev 'Dr Tav,nr ~
Th;r+v sourth .treet and Rroadwav Mean.
whia sbs sano in numerous Concerts ora
shia nuritv and sweetness Of her voice. combined
With an eyecution that was phenomenal. soon at
trs9tea the If s nei ~ rs
~ aiva CONCERTS in hoth America and Europe Under
this engagement she appeared in this country
Samons vioiinist meeting eyerywhere enthusiastic
receptions. A wear ago last May she was invited
hv1he phiiharn,onic Society Of Iondon an institu-
tion over a Century old to visit that cty and sing
at their concerts She accented this aattering offc
and went to England Her success was instanta-
neous II has already been published in the English
innrnas that aimee the time of Jenny Lind and Ada.
i,"n PATTI sA no such unanimous praise has been
hastovsd mon An artist while in london SIR
InIins Raradict and Sir Michael Costa became her
,ya-,' fr,auj. ard rsad overv onnortuyitv to ad.
vance har ,rosssionaI welrare and IL is ioubtless
IN large measure owing To- their interest in her be-
ha,s tst ths services of Ass Thursbv were orickIv
solicited on many occasions on which she an
peared In conjunction with some of the
Greatest artists Of the dav Her successes at
canca-4s ~ a.. - Jam.s Hail ha,lai concerts and
Mt The late mnsical festivais at Rrstol Hereford
n,nch S Of q nersonsI history Of which Miss Thursbv
t,rT mtun ~ po,,sS perS IA. sa.I - hersaf 0s
T., or.r q, .cir ,he ;,nnressions and aescr;r.
ton ~ ths ynarences of the fair dnr;nv
her ionrnev the renorter Of the HxRAIp ENGAGED
her in convers.tion. Of which the foIiowinc ara
the saiient no,nts.-
.yomr visit abroad 7 am informed. was not in.
tended TO be 40 much prolonred?'
.Oh no intended 10 retnrn to America in two
nv tbr.a months Int one event led ,o another aud
On reschinu paris which was one of the obiective
points Of nv visit met with q reception so sudden
and upaxracted that ~ was we'll calculated
to turn the brain w,v of oa any young .,,an and
~ sirp Almost at the ou;set I was greeted
by nearly sii the distinguished artists of the French
Massannet the MANAGER of the Grand Opera M
Vancorbeil. and in brief some thirty of the most
eminent musicians and critics belonging to what is
caied the Association musicale Fancy my aston
ishmenr one morning after a concert at receiving
An sntographic COMMUNICATION signed by all of these
gentlemen so celebrated in and letters announc-
ing that had been elected an honorary member Of
their orranization.''
Miss Tbursby mentioned the foregoing fact with
out the slightest exhibition of egotism, and then
with o merry laugh she continued -
WILL NOT SING OPERA
"And what do Won think thew wanted me to do
aftorward? why, to sing in opera"1
"And are Won aversc to this?'
"Certainly. expect to live and die in the present
department Of my profession"
..Haye you no ambition to 90 on the operatio
stageY''
None whatever. Ambition is satisfied when !
cap Iook I'm the facas of n svYonat audianca and
whether singing the Classical music of an
oratorio or simple ballad realize that
/ have fulfilled the original plan and
nurnosa of nv life The truth ia and w m frankly
Confess IL do NOT feel eouai to the task of renre
sentins chsrscter. the instincts Of which do NOE
eeo 7 am NOT ar actress nrafer 70 rema,n 10 Tire
art.,ic ,voriS AMI mora esnacisiiv 70 NV Sr;erds
plain Emma Thursby."
AFTER such successes as Won have had in Europe.
what has induced Won TO return TO America
.It Az very frue that 7 have received many to,rnt
;r. e.r. from ,ranegar. a., I.lv aorn,a,y uoIia,d
R,ss,a and other NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ara r,.,tar. -
Sact-but I am stil youpy and tho ,ovc ~ homo to
evory smsrcan after sn ahsc,ca 80 ar,,oan
months ia somethipo irresistihIe wanteJ
10 seo nv old Friends Hood Won Know 10
thcher than water 0rs or thss: Javs 7 shall