Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-09-23
CRAZY TO SING.

Hundreds or American Girls Strug.l
CLING In Italy.
From On interview with Miss Kellogg In the NcwI
York Herald.
"I presume you found Italy oycrrun will,
young American grls who we're provided
with slender purses and dnphonous voices,
but who expect to astonish the world With
their operate brilliancy?'
"Yes, am sorry 10 say that found hun
drcds aud hundreds thsre, and among that
number were many, very many, in the dir
eat distress. My attention was attracted to,
them by their piieous letters asking for as.
sistamce, pecuniary nnd influential, and II
sought thom out 10 sec what could be donel
for them. The state oil affairs / discov-
cred was something terrible. cannot col
4 into all the details, but will tell you so
amuch as can OF the true state OF affairs
( in musical circles in Italy into winch
American girls penetrate. l made IL myl
\ business to talk with them, TO investigated
Il the truth of what they snid, and then made
aHn investigation of musical schools and
theatrical agencies OF Italy 10 enlighten
lmyself further on certain points The av-
Hernge American girl goes to Italy with a.
small sum of money, being under the i'm
1pression that she can live on mere pit.
lance, that the best masters teach for little
or nothing, and that she will breathe in a
A musical genius and dramatic talent by
! merely breathing in the balmy air of Italy
A She finds when she goes there that i, costs
much money and more time to get even a
decent musical education than her purse
dwill allow, but she studies and practices
and battles and starves along, writing
cheerful and encouraging letters home for
4 fear friends aud family will recall her, aud
astruggling for very life all the while in Mi
\ Ian or some such city. Injudicious friends
hnve told her that she will be another Patti
I or Nilsson, and she hugs and cherishes this
\ mistaken idea with n fond deluson and
Y ambition ut first, and with dull dread of
the reality and tenacity OF despairing pur.
K pose under pinching starvation as funds
run low at the last that is piteous to wit
i ness. Years have come and gone, and she
y has been the usual round of the masters,
each OF whom hive taught her for
Sa while and then kindly bade her go
home; that she will never do anything
great But Mary is under II fascinating
3delusion, and she seeks those who will buoy
! up her hopes. She falls Into the hands Of
n less scrupulous masters. So she goes on, ,
from bud to worse, till she finds herself
+ penniless in Milan. Now comes the worst
phase Of the whose affair; and, what / am
! about to say | say rs truth, after the most
careful investigation of facts. Az rule
the poor girl finds in the end tliat she Inns
little hopes Of obtaining success; and say
4 that she is too often set upon by certain
INSCRIPTIONS set of men iniesling these
Acities, who will do all in their power, nm
y der n promise OF engagements, to lead her
Haway where her associations will be such
! that she will he morally destroyed. Even
4 If she has good, but not great voice she
4 can probably gam no public appearance
z|except undertwo conditions she must buy
) her way in or she must submit to those in.
n fuential friends of the management whose
: word is law at the theaters. This is plain
aspeaking; but tell you my Investigations.
8 the stories and tenrs oil poor girls who
Hcame to me in Italy and teld me their sad
tales, made me vow that l would open my
z mouth and speak of this through the land
when | came home. would say to moth
3ers, whose young daughters are leaving
n home with. deusive dreams of sunny days
+ in Italy, and an easy path in success Keep
@your daughter at home unless you can give
Sher protection in watchful friends and an
Hindependent income. say 10 yon, moth
Hers, that you are sending your daughters
into temptation that you do not appreci-
Hate. They will be tried and tempted ns
i you cannot imagine. My investigations In
y Italy have led me to believe your daughters
! need not go abrond that we have good
masters here. l think it entirely unneces.
&sary for their ordinary musical education.
& When that is finished then send them to
Italy for n short period to receive the fin
fishing touches, and to learn certain roles
and then return. Before they go you will
a have discovered whether their voices will
warrant that Italian trip. Generally yon
can see that il is useless undertaking.
s But do not think that average merit will
Sopen the stage doors of Italian opera houses.
Z 1t will not. And sny this to you on the
word OF more than one, more than fifty,
s. American girls whom saw there, as many
Mas could l sent to their homes in
n America"