The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1881-07-07
Two Singers.

The fact is patent to nearly 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 efforts to
secure success.
When the sweet songstress Henriette
Sontag made her debut at Vienna, she
found there bitter enemy in the per-
son of Amelia Steininger, herself a
former fayorite with the musical public,
whose excesses had told upon her health
and seriously impaired the power and
quality of her voice. But she still had
a retinue of admirers who sought ia
every way to preserve her waning SUI
premacy; and their venomous Kisses
were heard above the friendly roar
which greeted the debut0aste-actualIy
forcing her to leave Vienna, very much
mortified and, naturally, deeply in
censed against Amelia Steininger.
Several years subsequent to this
event, while enjoying brilliant career
at Berlln-where her praise was the
theme of the press and OF conversation;
where her singing filled the academies
to repletion and rendered it necessary
that those desirous to hear her engage
their seats in advance; where bouquets
of rarest flowers fell at her feet, each
night, like rain-drops; where the nobil-
ity even were pleased to drag the car
riage she occupied through the streets
she was, one morning, driving about
the CITY. attended by numerous cav
alters, when she heard a plaintive Aus
trian air, and turning, saw the singer
was little girl who led a woman by the
hand. The celebrated vocalist ordered
her driver to halt and calling the child
to her, asked her name.
s Mamie was the response.
"sWho is the woman you are lead
ing?''
my MOTHER
'.What is her name?'
e." amelia Steininger.''
Amelia Steiningerr' repeated Son.
tag, in amazement.
| g Yes, she was once 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 l am 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:
Il propose to take up a collection in
behalf of an unfortunate sister who has
lost her sight. Here is my contribution
placing her purse in the hat she had re-
moved from her head. '.Shall it re.
main alone?''
Immediately shower of gold ant
silver filled the hat. Miss Sontag passeC
to the child with the remark:
'sTell your mother her friend Henri
cite Sontag will call upon her to-day
Then she drove on.
Mamie ran to acquaint her mother
with the good fortune that had befaller
them and to give her Sontag's message
but was unable to comprehend why i
caused her to weep SO bitterly. She di(
not know the remorse in that mother
heart occasioned by the remembrance
of the unkind treatment which this be
nevolent woman had formerly received
at her hands.
In the afternoon, Sontag went t.
Amelia Steininger's s home-nothing bet
ter than a hovel in a disreputable sec
ton of the city-and had long con
versation with her, dextrously avoidin;
all topics that could suggest the un
pleasant season in the Austrian Capital
The next day she engaged skille,
oculist to make an examination of th
visionless eyes and learn if restoration
of sight was possible; but he pre-
nounced it q hopeless case. A fey
evenings later, she gave a ''benefit for
distressed artist" the proceeds c
which placed the recipient outside tn
pale of immediate want.
Thenceforth, Sontag provided for th
necessities of her former rival and he
daughter and when Amelia Steininge
died, received Mamie as her proteg(
whom she educated in such a manne
, as fitted her for future of indepenC
. ence and usefulness. - YOUTHS Con
, pdHiOn.