The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-08-06
LONDON LETTER.
LONDON, July 10, 1879.

(Frcm our Regular Correspondent
LONDON, July 10, 1879.
Barely home-o1ly pted.0-terre
for the song bird who is aleo unfortu-
nately bird of psssage-is the little
house in the Belgrsve-road, tenanted
by that very attached and quiet
couple, Monsieur and Madame Rou-
zand. Within doors are signs Of ar
tistic treatment at every step. The
walls and ceilings are decorated after
the Italian fashion, rich portieres con-
ceal the doorways, Sevres vases and
Dresden shepardesses occupy every
spare corner on cabinets OF handsome
Louis Seize work and etageres of bubl
and marqueterae.
Madame Nillson sets great store by
her photographs but beyond these
beyond even the bust of Victoria
Balfe, beyond the Csbanel Cphelis,
with its ''fey" look beyond the gol-
den laurel erewns of Russia, Austria,
France and America; beyond all the
treasures acquired during life of un-
ceasing devotion to art--she cherish
es the little box containing the earl
lest musical instrument with which
she was acquainted. Opening it
daintilY aud delicately, she viii pro-
duce battered and patched speci-
men Of the geDss vbIin-nC coaly
toy, no milky<ored StsinerS bat q
plain fiddle, cracked and strin4less,.
sorry specimen of the most perfect of
musical instruments. As she takes
it from It's retreat, she falls naturally
into the position Of sbe violinist, and
in voice of that subtle penetrating
force which constitutes what Is loose
ly called sympathetic quality con-
tinues
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 atti-
tude and the powerful vibration
would by no means improve either
my physical or musical tsne for the
evening. But / regret the violin
nevertheless, and love this one very
much indeed; for it is the instrument
l played on at fairs round the coun-
try to help my people to money while
| was yet child. | am, as you near,
a peasant-born, and am very proud of
it.n
So many stories have been told Of
the early career of Madame Sillson
that it may perhaps be well to give a
few authentic particulars of roman
tic life. The violin, of which men
ton has been made, suffered its most
serious injuries in the course of a
journey from fair to market-place on
the horse of friendly farmer. Lit
tie Christine's melody became objec-
tionsble to the steady going 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
father, peasant of the good old
school, who sang IN the village choir
on Sundays, and to whom the timer
ate violin playing Of bis daughter
brought an important accession of in
come. A small sum of money went
long way at Wederslof, and Chris
tine went on playing, till at the age
of thirteen, as she was playing at the
fair of Ljungby, it occurred to Mr..
f. g. Forrerbjelm, one of her audi
ence and gentleman Of some inhu-
ence in the neighborhood, that il was
a pity so much talent should be
thrown away. Mr.. Fornerbjelm
sought out friend of bis, the Baro-
ness Leuhusen, and induced this lady
who had herself while Mdlle Vale
RUS been q professional singer, to
take charge of the young Swedish
violinist. Christine's protectoress
soon discovered that she had voice
which promised in time to become
remarkable, and at once took charge
Of her education. From the school
at Halmstsd she went to shat at
Stockholm, where she studied under
NJ. Franz Berwala, aDd mex. vent To
Psris to complete ha musical edu-
cation under NJ Vaitel, and sypear-
ed for the first rime at the Theatre
Lyrigue az violetta ia La 1sarjuta
on the 9th Of ostoter 1885,. An en-
gagsment for shree years followed
her successful debut and she appear
ed successfully in the Zau5er tote.
Martha, 4 on Giocanht, etc. In 1867
she played highly suceessful en-
gsgement st Her Msjesty's Theatre,
and in the autumn of the same year
returned TO Paris to appear as Opbe-
lia in AMBROSE Thomsse's opera of
Hamlet, since when she has become
identified with that role to an almost
equal extent with tha; Of Marguerite
in Gounod's Faust.
Her trip to the United States re-
suited in q fortune OF million Of
francs, about onehalf of which was
lost in the fires at Chicago and Bos-
ton- Madame Nillson is the most
conscientious of singers, who, al
though an accomplished horsewomau.
refrains from mounting a horse dur
ing an engagement. lest any accident
should interfere with the performance
of her duties she is aware of the
weakness inseparabie from Der rigor-
Gus yet delieately sensitive fibre, and
on her days of performance at the
Opera is invisible III is not enough
she will say. TO possess q voice and
a knowledge Of Inusic, and some his
trionic talent, or whatever it is, to
sing through an opera You mus:
be strong. physically, brutally
s.rong'
A newly married man, who evil
IDENTIFY needs discipline thus discursef:
"A woman is handy thing to have
about the house. She does not cost
any more to keep than you'll give her,
and she'll take n 0reaf insaroar In xou