The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-06-14
THE PATH OF A PRIMA DONNA.
PeriIs Which Lie in the Way of the Seeker
for Musical Glory.

New York Commercial Advertiser.
The room was nearly filed with shadows and
only the musicians face caught the full light of
a small lamp that rested near the piano. 1t was
the sanctum of composer, whose figure and
curiously prominent features are well known to
concert goers. A music lesson, during which the
great artist had touched the keys perhaps twice.
was Just finished, and the pupil, slender girl of
eighteen years. was preparing to leave AS she
hesitated moment, the teacher laughingly
asked what more she wanted. Blushing more
than was necessary, but gaining confidence as
she proceeded, she confessed that she was con
sumed with desire to become an operate sing
CT. Would the professor be kind enough to give
her the benefit of his experience, and advise her
how to shape her course2
The professor hesitated, also, as he said 1t
was not grateful task to give unpleasant adj
vice; and his advice to asprants for vocal honors
was anything but pleasant. But youth and
beauty prevailed as usual and after a prelude
of protestations the teacher unbosomed himself
in what he termed "a sad sonata in a minor key
dedicated to would-be operate divas."
He said: $50 you want to join the army of
the heart brokenl You want to be rid of the
drudgery of giving music lessons and to court
the despair of the debutante who fails! Not that
you are more likely to fail than most young
women who depend upon a sweet little voice and
q pretty face to put them abreast with Patti
You ask my advice. l give it you: Avoid tho
stage as you would the plague! You are deter,
mined to go onl You still want my advicel
Well, will show you how to enter the net. Poor
little fish, you will never get out again!
F. "You are, we will say about eighteen years
ed, attractive and with a voice. but unculti-
waited voice of considerable sweetness and, posi-
bly, power We will assume that you are out of
your senses, and that your malady is incurable
Perhaps you have sung little in church choir
That is good. To sing in church choir, if one
has an ear for music, is the hest training for the
voice. ear and eye that a singer can have. There
fore ii is well for the young lady of operate ten
denotes to begin with a church choir. OF course
the church choir must precede the stage it GER
tainly cannot come after. While she is still in
the choir she may go-I am supposng she is a
New Yorker-to one Of three teachers whose
names are on this paper (hoding up list.
Their charges may seem a little high. They are
really low for such tuition. 1t is frst-cass. Two
years of it will bring out the pupils voice if voice
there is.
'Now there are two roads by which she may
travel One will take her to Paris Milan and
great success or gigantic failure; the other
will not take her beyond the States, and will
end probably in neither glory death
Suppose she goes to Milan. Forthwith she
will be surrounded by operate agents mana
gers teachers, all masquerading as guides, phi
losophers, and friends. Milan swarns with
bandits of this description. If they think the
young woman has money they will cling to her;
and while she has cent they will never desert
her. They will begin by confdentially inform
ng her that they control the operate market
md some rascal more plausible than the rest,