The National tribune., 1882-08-19
THE QUEEN OF SONG.
Death in Convent of the Greatest Vocalist America
Ever Produced.


Death in Convent of the Greatest Vocalist America
Ever Produced.
A few days ago the telegraph announced the
death of Sister Mary Agnes, the famous soprano,
at the convent of Mount de Chantal in Wheel
ing, w. Va. 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 Gubert in the blush of her early
maidenhood, came from Philadelphia and en-
tered the novitiate of the Sisters OF the Vista
ton, then settled at the convent in Wheeling.
She brought no dowry to the sisterhood. Her
parents were in the middle station of life, as
respected possessions, but although having
large family of children, were able to give their
gifted daughter all she asked-the cultivation
of her marvellous soprano voice. She was one
of Perrini's favorite pupils, and through the
years of her early girlhoOd the maestro labored
to fire her ambition with the prospect OF high
career upon the operatic stage She early de-
veloped the marked religious bent of her mind,
and, when just budding into young woman
hood, when the world was brightest to her, an
nounced to her parents her firm resolve to go
into the holy orders. She went to Wheeling,
and has lived all her life as q nun within or
near that city. Shortly after arriving she took
charge of the musical department of the con-
vent college, and the fame of her voice, as she
permitted it to be heard at the occasional con-
certs at the institution, was soon as wide as the
country. Said the mother superior in charge
of the school the afternoon after the funeral, as
she sat in the silence of the convent parlors,
which had SO often re-echoed to the voice OF
Sister Mary Agnes: sit is seldom that the
tongue of common fame invades the quiet halls
of a convent and there never was singer to
whom fame came less welcome than to Sister
Mary Agnes. Her gentle nature seemed to
blush at the high encomiums heaped upon her
singing, and her soul was frequently harassed
with fear lest the adulation should WOO her
heart to the love of earthly things. Her nature,
as her countenance, was gentle and she was
happy in singing when it gratitied her friends
or added to the reputation of the institution.
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 lived her peaceful life contented and
happy She was loved by all her pupils, whom
she attracted from all parts OF the country, and
not less by her sisters in the order"
Her last public performance was when
number of members of the last Legislature
visited her. Her health was then greatly i'm
paired and she was urged not to sing, but she
said, in her kindly way, that it was pity to
disappoint those who had come out on purpose
to hear her sing, and, going to the piano, sung
for them her favorite hymn, " l know that my
Radeemcr 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 a requiem to the ears of
| those who had been accustomed to the full
resonance Of her voice.
Sister Mary Agnes was the last of the family.
Her voice was a wonderfully high, pure and
strong soprano, and she had, besides, almost
genius for musical composition. So rare q
combination of the qualities of great vocal
ist have seldom been found in one person. If
| she had not been nun, she would have been
q prima donna. Her taste was peculiarly deli
cate, and many of the tavOrite exercises of her
pupils were compositions of their teacher.
Parepa Rosa visited the convent once and
heard the nun sing "The Alpine Echo Song
When she had finished, the great-hearted
cantatrice, when pressed to sing some favorite
of her own, exclaimed, with tears on her face
"I cannot sing now such vocalization is not
human. | believe in inspiration now." When
Max Strakosch offered Sister Mary Agnes
$4,000 to sing for him during q single season
she consulted Bishop Whalen, who admins
tered her sacred vows. She told him how
the sisterhood was in debt on account of the
establishment Of the new convent at Mt. dc
Chantal and explained that the wages OF hei
singing might be devoted to setting the good
enterprise on foot. He feared that departure
from the customs If the sisterhoOd would be toe
wide, however, and advised her not to leave the
schoolroom for the stage. Her voice was re
markable in that she ranged with ease over The
compass. She was, herself, more fond OF simple
ballads than anything else, and once when, years
ago, asked to sing something that she would
choose herself, she said, John Anderson, My
10 John" A remonstrance was about to b
offered, fearing that her time would be fritt"t
, away. She struck the keynote on the piant
III the large music hall, and starting OF III th
song, it seemed to the listener that the bird
+ were singing it instead of the woman No
until the close did her fingers again touch tn
piano. It would seem that her voice was TOT
sweet to be marred by any instrument. Sh
r was, however, q thorough mistress of both tn
piano and harp. Musical pieces, no matte
how difficult were read by her at sight, but 8
great was she that. she was above their AID
When one speaks of strings, keys and notes.
is speaking of something which can be learned
But her sweet voice, almost divine, was neye
learned Its song is stilled forever.
Q The Grand Army Post at Pittsburg, Pa,
growing rapidiy It now numbers over lift