National Republican., 1882-11-17
HONEST LITTLE EMMA,
A Chat with PrimA Donna at the
wIngs-Thc secret OF Her Success

WInEs-Tbc secret OF Her Success.
"How do you manage to preserve your voice in
all It's freshnessT asked REPUBLICAN represent
alive OF the fair songstress who Is the bright and
particular star Of the opera company which bears
her name. now singing at the National Theater
The two were standing at the wings, Miss Abbott
being attired in the piquant costume of Mdrthd,
her golden hair being surmounted by the sun
bonnet whose pattern has been solicited by so
many young ladies.
Simply by never overtaxing my voice." replied
Miss Abbott
But" said THE REPUBLICAN, "you sing six and
seven times week, and yet you never seem to
exhibit @ any fatigue, and the last performance is
"well" was the reply, at is no more effort for
me TO sing than IL is for me to talk. That Is ow.
ing to the training received. The severe school
ing which is necessary to acquire perfectly cui
tlvated voice Is such that will appal most aspi-
rants for lyric fame"
TO whom do you owe your best instruction 7"
-"Oh, to Wartel," said Miss Abbott. studied
In Milan and Florence, but when l went to Paris
and placed myself under Wartel, the teacher of
Nilsson, l began all over, Just the same as q
escs, and pcrsevered until made my voice what
y now is. The reason why 80 many voices break
down under schooling is because their owners do
not follow the instructions of their teachers. Now
Wartel always had two girls at a lesson, and their
practice was not over five minutes at time, one
alternating with the other. The whole lesson
didn't last over half hour That, OF course, was
not iatigung; but suppose had done as know
some girls do, gone to my room and sung for two or
hold out7 Not bit OF IT, Then again. wartel
taught me to use the metzo p0ce, which always
You notice that am never tremulous or anxious
lest should break. and don't Think the audi
ence ever fear that will fail, no matter how high
the note. That is because have always n reserve
| fund 80 to speak, upon which can draw at the
proper moment"
The conversation was here interrupted by the
pYnfg gnft tta md iri
on the stage and was soon singing the Last Rose
| of summer In manner that completely cnpti-
vated the large audience, which would not be
| satisfied until she had twice repeated the last
stanza. As she came off she renewed the CONVEX
sation, saying;
''There are scores of young girls who come to
me asking Inc to give them the details of the study
by which ! acquired my. present standing, and
promising to do Just as did. They seem to irn
agine that / cnn write out set of rules which
they are to follow, Just as physician writes out
pre- cription. tell them all that they must work,
Work, hard work. and stern determination anu
| resolute purpose are what are most needed. Don't
you know there are lots of nice voices that are
| lying perfectly idle; voices that should be heard
| upon the operalic stage, and which would win
both Ienown and fortune for their possessors, but
the girls are too absolutely indolent to cultivate
| them"
"who do you think the most perfect singer you
ever heard =" asked THE REPUBLICAN.
"Trebelli Bettini," said Miss Abbott. Il asked
Jenny Lind who she thought had the most perfect
voice. and she said Trebelli Bettini, and was in.
| clined TO believe IL was because Beltini was a
contralto; but when heard her sing iu that lit le
| room OF Wartel's, at once rca lied the correct
| ness of the great Queen of Songs judgment"
Have you seen Mrs. Langtry2" asked the
scribe, breaking off from the musical theme of tho
| conversation.
mo. have not; but If she studies as hard as
| in spite of her beauty"
| "How about that baby?" was the next question
That baby" repeated Miss Abbott, was simply
fiction of the imagination of Eugenie Field.
| have been bothered to death almost about thai
| baby. Why my mother wrote me about it, Wont
| you please kill that baby"
| That baby shall be killed." replied THE RE-
PUBLICAN. "It shall be killed in cold type
oniceward, thinking Of the rich reward homes
| little Emma is reaping for all the trials of he
| early life and the indomtable will that enabled
| her to surmount all difficulties and acquire the
perfect cultivation of the rich vocal organ will
| which heaven endowed her, that voice of which
| Bob lngersoll said 1t was "as fresh as morning
| dew and pure as the opening dawn