National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-04-22
HER RECoLLECTI0Ns.
Emma Abbott Talks About Ole Bull, Miss
Kellogg, and Parepa,
Jennie Lind Tells Her what She Thinks
About Some Sister Artistes,

Miss Emma Abbott on her arrival at tho
Arlington yesterday was as asked by RE-
PUBLICAN reporter II she could not give
some account Of tho musical celebrities that
she must have met in her career.
"Oh yes" she replied, II can we'll ro-
member tho first great celebrity I met. IL
was the famous violinist Ole Bull. He met
mo when | was poor, struggling lit
tie girl He heard me sing, and said,
You will succeed for you havo the
voice. the developed (which he pro.
nounoed dovlopc.ed) heart, and you are
poor shall never forget his kind, noble
face nor the sweet tones OF his violin,
for they seemed to come from his
heart and to touch the hearts Of
bis hearers. Miss Clara Louis Kellogg was
tho next famous parsonage with whom |
conversed. She was then ut tho sonith. OF
her fame splendid artist, handsome LADY,
and exceedingly kind to me. IL was she who
first encouraged mo TO visit New York, and
from hor 1 received my first start / am
quite sure she rejoices OF the success ! have
since achieved, aud never cease to feel my
gratitude for her royal goodness to me.
Parepa Rosa was the next famous star met,
and she took me in her arms, hugged and
kissed me, gave me great encouragement,
furnished me with seats to her performance,
and told me that 4 was bravo
ltIlb BlTl anu tnhL UlubJ hUCCCeu.
Who that has ever met hor can forget tho
nobility of her nature and the kindness Of
her heart? And where shall We ever hear
again voice so pure, so round, so full Of
music and of such sympathetic quality Hor
ballads-who can forget themY and In all Of
her music there was 80 much soul so much
heart that we forgot her as the artist aud
looked upon and loved her only as a woman,
shortly aftor meeting Parepa began to
make New York my home, and through my
connection with musical persons / met
Nilsson, then on her first tour in America.
She heard me sing, and gave me letters to
teachers in Europe, and described TO me what
hard and severe road one must travel in the
journey from a Students life to that Of a
successful artist. | admired the quality Of
her voice, the perfection OF her method, and
her histrionic ability was great. She was
exceedingly sensitive to adverse criticism,
and when nesday | saw tears standing in her
eyes because, as she said, some ignoramus
who usually attends TO the dog fights OF that
New York paper has by accident got chance
to write me down. l wanted to 60 and pull
his hair, for, said l. he is a cruel wretch.
81 met Alboni, the great contralto, in her
villa in Paris, aud was charmed with the
grace of her manners and tho brilliancy
other conversational powers, but have never
been able to hear her sing. Not SO, however,
with Jenny Lind, who is the most difficult
person to meet for the reason that she dis
likes society, prefers the quietude OF her own
home and, as she says, does not caro- to DO
stared at and questioned She did not speak
enthusiastically Of her American tour, nor Of
America, which quite amazed me, for her
greatest artistic and financial successes were
made here. twas In Paris and at DIR, Evaus's
elegant homo, that l met, by arrangement,
this noted artist She had enjoined them
mot to have any callers presented to her.
and only on that condition would she remain
TO tea. Mrs. Evans, knowing from me that
l had always idolized Jenny Lind, and de-
suggested that as soon as tea was
served / should rush in unan-
nounced and seat myself at the
table, for, said she, we shall
call you our little American protege who
always pounces in upon us unawares.' By
this strategy was at last vls-a-vis with my
idol, my angel, the great Jenny Lind. 1
wanted to fall upon her neck, to deyonr her
with kisses, to tell her how since child bad
carried her picture with me and worshiped
her as though she were my own mother. But,
alas! she was calm, reserved, cold. In
her reference to America she spoke
regretfully and as having been carried
about by Mr.. Barnum as wild beast and
she did not 'enthuse' on any subject. Patti
sho called q music box. Nilsson, she said,
was icicle. Albsni had voice. but no
soul,' said the great critic. All the artists,
the great artists, have Departed said she,
"and fear none will arise to fill their
placos.' &c. AT last, urged by DR.. Evans
and his irresistible wife, Jenny Lind seated
herself at the piano and sang, Que la voce,'
from Puritani, and In such an artistic manner
and with such an amount Of sentiment that
l quito forgot her former English manner,
and became again her admirer. Tho fresh
ness of the voice had gone, but the soul Of
| tho great artist was there, and shall never
forget the expression of her oountenance and
the sweetness of her manner as she finished
the aria and bade me sing for her that she
might advise me. / have been greatly bene-
fted by her wise suggestion, and I always
keep before me her record as an artist and q
woman, for whose example could one prefer
to that of Jenny Lind ~