The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-01-03

church, received, it is said, similar re-
wards. But such instances are excep-
tional. The average pay of the soprano
of church quartet choir Is not more
than 5000 year, and $3.50 is considered
a very fair remuneration. Her duties
are to sing one rehearsal night week,
and at two services on Sunday, aud
she must be cultivated person with
good voice, and accustomed TO the
service she performs. III her voice is
unusually good, and has had some in
telligent training, she may begin at
$500 or $500 a year, without the pre-
liminary experience. A young woman
with such voice obtained such posi-
ton n short time ago, and within few
days after signing her agreement re-
ceived three sillilar offers at increased
prices. In two years she will probably
command 5000, $500, perhaps 81 900
per annum.
The position, too, has certain per-
quisites. 1t brings TO her side the social
influence that will exert for her its own
valuable kind Offices. 1t leads to other
engagements-fo for instance, to engage
ments TO sing at private entertainments
"a practice much in vogue nowadays,
during the fashionable season. The
fee on such occasions is usually SO;
but singers like Miss Beebe receive
more, and an entertainer like Mr.. Van
derbilt might give check for almost
any amount. Social influence can
secure for our young artist engage
ments in the concert hall, where she
will be in the receipt of from $50 to
800 a performance. Mr. Theodore
Thomas usually pays his vocal soloists
500, but these are almost always
professionals, amateurs getting no pay
save the honor of having been invited
to sing. BY professional is meant n
singer who has been before the pubic
for some time, and who makes singing,
or the teaching, her entire business.
By an amateur is meant-almost any
body.
But if our young artist asks what an
nual income she can depend upon,
what moneys she may be sure OF re-
ceiving month by month, the answer is
that she can be sure of nothing at all.
An engagement in church choir may
be depended upon while it lasts, and so
may series of paying pupils, if one
has them. But opportunities to sing
at private parties and in the concert
hall come and go like the birds of pas
sage that they are. There are so many
singers, SO many teachers, that the
mass are left ont in the cold.
Opera is different field altogether
different in its social aspects; for while
in the church choir, the private party,
and the concert hall our young singer
is among her friends and among Amer
leans who will protect her, in the opera
house her associates are for the most
part foreigners, some Of whom have lit
tie regard for woman's character or
reputation. Yet great many of our
best singers and truest women have
reached the heights of Their present po-
sitions through the chorus of the opera.
Only, where the danger is greater our
young artist will exercise the greater
care. A chorus singer in English opera
receives about S15 week: in Italian
opera, from $l5 to $50 q week. Her
costume in English opera she usually
pays for herself; in Italian opera the
manager usually pays for them. A
leading singer in Italian opera receives
from 500 to 500 month for the
lighter parts; for the principal parts,
from $500 a month to 81, 900 night.
Madame PATHS salary last winter of
"a, 500 a highland next winter of
So, 500 a nights, of course, beyond all
generalization, and stands apart.
Madame Gerster received about $4,000
month when under Strakosch ;
Madame Lucca about the same. Miss
Cary's terms were $500 night. The
scale is very sliding, and the great
prime dome command almost as much
as they ask.-Hdrper' Bdgdr.