The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-11-19
BROOKLYN LETTER.
Distinguished Arrivals from Over
the Sea-Miss Emma Thursby, sig
nor RrocOlini and Rev. mr.. Ebert
=. Porter - Music ana Religious
Culture.

\. Porter - Music and Religious
| Culture.
Correspondence of the Star.
BROOKLYN, N. Y, Eov. II.
Figuratively speaking, the Atlantic
has brought to us within the past week
two distinguished passengers. A third is
expected to arrive this week. The three
are Rev. DR.. Elbert S. Porter, Signor
Brocolini and Miss Emma Thursby. Gal
lantry compels me to pay my respects to
the last named first, and though, per-
haps, the others might not thank me for
making the remark, I think her celebrity
also commands the first place, since her
fame as singer seems to have penetrated
into the remotest corner of the earth,
and her name has been on thousands of
tongues in Europe during the past year
as the american Patti"
Now, this is no disparagement of
either the very noble and learned doctor
of divinity, or the sweet-voiced and high
spirited Signor who is to take the part
of the "Captain," in Gilbert AMI Sulli-
vans new Pinafore Troupe, and you will
bear in mind that in beginning 1 referred
to them as distinguished personages But
Miss Thursby's star is just now in the
ascendant, and so propose to lead off
with her.
If Cincinnati audiences have not al
ready made the acquaintance of Emma
Thursby, they are soon likely to, for it is
not presumable that this gifted song bird
is going into retirement after the con-
quest of Europe, and while her voice is
in its perfection. I have known of her for
years-can remember when she first be-
gan to sing-for she was born here. The
house where she first saw the light is now
used as a house-if not recently torn
down-for the Sisters Of Charity, in
charge of St. Catharine's Hospital, on
the outskirts of the eastern section of
the city.
When last saw it the house was spa
cious, old-fashloned Dutc, and English
structure (architects were little mud
died when it was built Jof yellow color,
standing on a little knoll which COM
manded the meadows of Bushwick and
looked out upon the verdant slopes of
QUEENS County. In Emma's childhood
days the spot must have been full of
beauty. But now the city has encroached
upon the neiehborhood and tenement-
dlsfgure its sightliness. For years Miss
Thursby has been a half orphan. At
present she has mother and two sisters
living, and the four are devotedly at
tached to one another.
She first discovered that she could sing
while in attendance as girl upon the
SundAy-school of Rev. DIR. Porter's
Church, at which time the church stood
ut the corner of Fourth and South
Second streets. BY and by, when the
new church was built on Bedford avenue,
and she grew older, her voice attracted
attention, and she was given place in
the choir. Then Plymouth Church dis
covered her abilities, and she became a
member of Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's
choir, though l have an impression that
before going there she sang in Rev. DR..
Theodore l.. Cuyler's choir. But at any
rate she finally got back to her own
church again, where she became the So
prano of one of the finest quartettes ever
brought together for sacred purposes in
this country.
During her second stay at DIR. Porter'e
church she wentabroad fora year to study
music. Finally, about three years ago
she accepted a place in DR.. Chapin's
church in New York, but soon afterward
choir days ceased, and she made her de.
but as a prima donna. She has since
cen under the management of those
Maestros, the Strakosches, and for the
past year has been in Europe, from
where she set sail the early part of last
week in the Baltic, having the day pre-.
vious sung "Home, Sweet Home in the
festivities of Lord Mayors Dav in Lon
don. Miss Thufsby is petite in form
with an oval face, pretty and full of ami
nation.
She is in a word winsome little crea
ture, as simple in her tastes as she il
pure and lovely in heart, and to know
her is to respect her. Something of he
character may be inferred from the fac
that she never travels without having
either her mother or one of her sisters
with her, and during this last tour he
mother and sister (Alice) have been hel
constant companions. But what of tn
quality of her voice2 | hear some on,
ask. Her singing is that Of the canary
full of thousand little exquisite varfa
tions, free as the air, soft as the note
from silver flute. She fas not the vol
ume of a Parepa, nor the peculiar com
pass Of a Nilsson. Indeed I do no
know whom to compare her with, for he
abilities and style are peculiarly her own
and are marked with an exquisitenes
readily appreciated, but difficult to de
scribe.
}, I firmly believe, however, that she i
the greatest female concert and orator.,
soprano singer of the day, certainly Oh
this side of the water, and that her nam
is to be enrolled in the list of renowne'