The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-07-29
Two Singers.

The fact is patent to hearty every one
that, with the possible exception of
poets, who, it is said, are "born, not
made" they who would win the com
mendation of the world must labor IN
defatigably. Few, however, fully real
ize the annoyances that obstruct the
pathway of rising talent in its effort to
secure success.
When the sweet songstress Henrietta
Sontag made her debnt at Vienna, she
found there a bitter enem, in the per-
son of Amelia steinit1ger, herself a for
mer favorite with the musical public,
whose excuses had told upon her health
and seriously impaired the power and
quality of her voice.
But she still had retinue of admirers
who sought in every way to preserve
her waning supremacy; and their ven
omous Kisses were heard above the
friendly roar which greeted the deba-
actually forcing her to leave
Vienna, very much mortified, and, nat
urally, deeply incensed against Amelia
Steininger.
Several years subsequent to this event,
while enjoying a brilliant career at Der
lin-where her praise was the theme of
the press and of conversation where
her singing filed the academies to re-
pletion and rendered it necessary that
those desiring to hear her engage their
seats in advance where bouquets of
rarest flowers fell at her feet, each night,
like rain-drops; where the nobility even
were pleased to drag the carriage she
occupied through the streets-she was,
one morning, driving about the city, at
tended by numerous cavaliers, when she
heard plaintive Austrian air, and, turn
ing, saw the singer was a little girl who
led a woman by the hand.
The celebrated vocalist ordered her
driver to halt the cGleche, and, calling
the child to her, asked her name.
"Nannie, was the response.
"Who is the woman you are lead
ing?"
"My mother"
"What is her name?"
"Amelia Steininger."
"Amelia Steininger repeated Son
tag, in amazement.
eyes; she was once a great singer in
Vienna. She lost her voice, and cried
SO much on account of it that she be-
came blind. Then her friends deserted
her, and now [ ain obliged to sing on
the streets for living, else we should
starve.
The pathetic recital brought tears to
sontag's beautiful eyes, and, addressing
the gentlemen clustered around her, she
said !:
81 propose to take up collection in
behalf of an unfortunate sister who has
lost her sight. Here is my contribu-
tion," placing her purse in the hat she
had removed from her head. Shall it
remain aloneP"
Immediately shower of gold and sill
yer filled the hat. Miss Sontag passed
it to the child with the remark:
"Tell your mother her friend, Henri
cite Sontag, will call upon her to-day"
Then sine drove on.
Mamie ran to acquaint her mother
with the good fortune that had befallen
them, and to give her Sontag's message,
but was unable to comprehend why it
caused her to weep so bitterly.
UlNl 11OU hAlOW tALO AC4AOACC Al OI1bt
mothers heart occasioned by the re-
membrailce Of the unkind treatment
which this benevolent woman had for
merly received at her hands. @
In the afternoon Sontag went to Amelia
Steiningers home-nothing better than
a howell in a disreputable section of the
city-and had long conversation with
her, dexterously avoiding ali topics that
could suggest the unpleasant season in
the Austrian capital.
The next day she engaged a skilled
oculist to make an examination Of the
visionless eyes, and learn if restoration
of sight was possible; but he pronounced
it a hopeless case. A few evenings
later she gave "beneit for a distressed
artist, the proceeds of which placed the
recipient outside the pale of immediate
want. r
Thenceforth Sontag provided for the
necessities of her former rival and her
daughter, and, when Amelia Steininger
died, received Mamie as her protege,
whom she educated in such manner as
fitted her for future of independence
and usefulness. Youths Companion.