The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-01-20
Two Singers.

Inc fact u patent to nearly every ont
that, with the possible exception Of poets
who, It IL said, are ''born, not made, y
they who would win the commentator
Of the world must labor indefatigably
Few, however, fully realize the annoy
ances that obstruct the pathway of RS.
ing talent In its effort to secure success
When the sweet songstress Henrietts
Sontag made her debut at Vienna, she
found there bitter enemy In the person
Of Amelia Steininger, herself former
favorite with the musical public, whose
excuses had told upon her health, and
seriously impaired the power and quail
ty Of her voice.
But she still had o retinue Of admirers
who sought In every way to preserve
her waning supremacy; and their veno
nous Kisses were heard above the friend
ly roar which greeted tho de6utante-ac
tually forcing her to leave Vienna, very
much mortified, and, naturally, deeply
incensed against Amelia Steininger.
Several years subsequent to this event
while enjoying brilliant career at Der
lin-where her praise was the theme o.
the press and Of conversation; where hel
singing filed the academies to repletion
and rendered it necessary that those
desiring to hear her engage their seats
in advance; where bouquets of raresi
flowers fell at her feet each night like
raindrops; where the nobility even were
pleased to drag the carriage she occupi-
cd through the streets-she was one
morning driving about the city, attend
ed by numerous cavaliers, when she
heard a plaintive Austrian air, and,
turning, saw the singer was a little girl
who led woman by the hand.
The celebrated vocalist ordered her
driver to halt the caleche, and calling
the child to her, asked her name.
Fannie" was the response.
"Who is the woman you are leadingP''
my mother"
"What is her name!"
amelia Steininger."
"Amelia Steiningerr' repeated Son.
tag, in amazement,
Yes; she was once Q 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 I am obliged to sing or
the streets for living, else we should
starve."
The pathetic recital brought tears tc
Sontag's beautiful eyes, and, addressing
the gentlemen clustered around her, she
said:
Il propose to take up collection in
behalf Of an unfortunate sister who has
lost her sight. Here is my contribution -
placing her purse in the hat she had
removed from her head. shall it remain
alone?''
Immediately q shower Of gold and
silver filled the hat. Miss Sontag pass
ed it to the child: with the remark:
Tell your mother her friend, Hen.
rietta Sontag, will call upon her to-day"
Then she 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 80 bitterly.
She did not know the remorse in that
mothers heart occasioned by the re-
membrance Of the unkind treatment
which this benevolent woman had form.
erly received at her hands.
In the afternoon Sontag went to Anne
liza Steininger's home-nothing better
than hovel in disreputable section Of
the city-and had long conversation
with her, dexterously avoiding all topics
that could suggest the unpleasant sea-
son in the Austrian capital.
The next day she engaged . skilled
oculist to make an examination of the
visionless eyes, and learn If restoration
of sight was possible; but he pronounc-
ed it hopeless case. A few evenings
later she gave "benefit for distressed
artist" the proceeds of which placed
the recipient outside the pale Of immedi-
ate want.
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.