Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1882-08-19

The Farewell of Famous Soprano.

The Farewell of ~ Famous Soprano.
Mary Agnes Gilbert, who died at Mt
Dechaim seminary, near Wheeling, on
Monday, was one Of the most noted teach
ers of vocal music in the country. Pa
repa Rosa once visited the seminary,
and after hearing SISTER Agnes" sing
alpine Bells" declared, it is said, that
she was one of the greatest singers in the
world. Shortly afterward Max Strak-
Osch offered "Sister Agnes $4,000 for a
season of six months in concert, but
Bishop Whalen declined to permit her to
accept it. A correspondent of the Pitts
burg Dispatch gives the following ac-
count of her public appearance and her
last days:
Sister Mary Agnes Colbert, the famous
soprano of Mount du Chantal, was quiet
| ly buried this afternoon in the cemetery
near tine college. There was probably
no nun living in retirement from the
world so widely known and so warmly
loved as she. Twenty-Five years ago
Miss Colbert, in the blush of her early
maidenhOOd, came from Philadelphia
and entered the nOvitiate of the sisters
of the visitation, then settled at the con-
vent in this city. Said the mother SUI
periOr in charge of the school this after
noon after the funeral ut is seldom
that the tongue of common fame invades
the quiet halls of a convent, and never
was there singer to whom fame came
less welcome than to Sister Mary Agnes.
Her gentle nature seemed to blush at
the high encOniums placed upon her
singing, and her soul was frequently
harassed with fear lest the adulatiOn
should WOO her heart to the love of earth
ly things. Her nature, as her cOunte-
nance, was gentle, and she was happy in
singing when it gratified her friends or
added to the reputation of the institu-
ton. She brought to the sisterhood no
broken heart, but came to holy vows in
the brightest years of her life, and from
the time of her coming to her death she
lived her peaceful life cOntented and
happy. She was loved by all her pupils,
whom she attracted here from all parts
OF the country, and not less by her sisters
In the order. For wear or more she
had been threatened with paralysis and
has refrained from all but the lighter
duties of her position. The highest med
ical skill in the city was secured, but
without avail. Finally her throat was
attacked. When the wonderful, pure
soprano notes failed to come with her
endeavOr she gave up almost all hope of
living beyond few months, saying: IF
my work were not concluded | would
not so have been smitten in the one tai
ent that was given me- For several
years her voice has been used with the
greatest consideration, and she only
sang upon special occasions. Her last
public performance was when number
of members of the last legislature visit
ed her. Her health was then greatly
impaired, and she was urged not to sing,
but she said, in her kindly way, that 1t
was pity to disappOint those who had
come out on purpose to hear her sing,
and going to the piano sang for them
her favorite hymn, Il Know that My Re-
deemer Liveth.' The first notes of the
song as they came weakly from the
throat that had always added new
beauty to the hymn before seemed re-
QUEEN to the ears of those who had been
accustomed to the full resonance of her
voice. AS she sang, however, she seemed
to be imbued with the spirit of bygOne
days, and she sang the last lines of the
hymn with a fervOr and tone that none
who heard that last song will forget. 1t
was in the evening, and the room was
unlighted except by the fire, but when
the last notes Of the hymn died away
and the sweet singer leaned forward eX-
hausted upon the piano, the room SEEM
ed filled with warmth and light. After
that evening she sang no more except in
the privacy of her own room, where she
frequently gave voice to her favOrite
hymns until her voice grew weaker as
her health failed"