McCook weekly tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 188?-1886, 1884-11-06
"LA FIL0MELA."


London had SO completely exhausted
my energies that in January, two years
ago, | was obliged to seek rest and
change. Having great faith in variety
of work as a tonic and restorative,
determined to spend some months in
Paris, where / might, if so minded
follow up specially in which l was
greatly interested, and yet live com
fortably in holiday fashion with my
eldest sister, widow residing in that
cheerful capital for the education of hel
two daughters.
For fortnight after my arrival | led
lazy life, and fell into routine which
made me the attendant of my sister and
nieces, who appeared to consider
''Uncle Paul. decidedly useful APP.
pendage. Mary and Lucy were charm
ing girls, aged respectively sixteen and
seventeen, and my sister had cause fol
the triumph she felt in the success OF
her mode of bringing them up, fol-
they were thoroughly well informed
and accomplished, and yet seemed to
be without any consciousness that their
intelligence and requirements were
above tt e average.
Of course | heard a great deal OF
their instructors. They laughed at
their German master in an amiable
way: initiated the fiery Italian, whose
patriotism was the motif for most elo-
quent discourses; and pitied the Par
lslan, who could not persuade herself
their accent was sufficiently pure. Their
love and admiration was reserved for
their singing mistress, for whom they
had nothing but praise so unqualified
that L saw the girls were victims to one
of those passions evoked in school DAYS,
which, for strength and vehemence,
are often prototypes of the love of later
life.
They called this lady (whose name
was Giulia Martigny) LA Filomela, :"
and told me if l could but hear her
sing, | should never again mention such
second rate voices as those of the prima
dome of London, Paris and Vienna,
whose organs [ had hitherto been ac-
customed to consider entirely satisfac-
tory.
My sister was very fond of Signorina
Giulia, but told me she would like to
know something of her history before
permitting the intimacy for which the
girls were eager.
'Does the lady encourage them?"
asked /.
'.By no MEANS" was the answer:
''she Encourages the slightest attempt
to establish more friendly relations;
and all | know of her is that she was
trained for public singer, and has for
some reason entirely relinquished the
career, and will only teach or perform
at private concerts, and even then she
is capricious in her choice of houses to
which she will CO.
''In what way?' inquired.
''She has never sung for any of the
Americans here. but for French, Eng
lish, or foreigners of any other nation
atty, she will always appear; and her
voice and style are really quite out of
the common. She would have succeed
ed well in public, am certain
Stranger [ said. ''What belong
ings has she?''
THAT l really do not know" replied
my sister. 81 have heard her mention
her father, but 1 do not feel sure that
he lives with her. She never goes any
where before nine in the evening, or
stays after eleven. She has a little
brougham. and at night young maid
servant is always in it. She seems to
have no acquaintance, and not to wish
for any. | confess the slight mystery
piques me little, as we usually learn
the histories of the girls teachers so
quickly"
''She is probably very POOR sug-
gested [, ''and does not wish to display
her want of means to all beholders."
81 think not" was the reply. 81
should Judge her to be comfortably cir
cumstanced as far as money goes.''
The conversation ended, and as I had
not seen the lady, the matter faded
from my mind. One day 1 came back
from visit to a confrere earlier than I
expected, as he was summoned away.
and on opening the door of nv sisters
''fiat,' l heard some one singing with
voice so pure, so melodious, so round
and full, that | stood transfixed. The
opening words of Braga's serenata.
80 quail mi risvegliano," filed the
vestibule with wistful, longing tones.
and soft accompaniment on.piano and
violin harmonized TO perfection. 1t
was only for few bars, however. for
Lucy's little voice took up the strain,
and the spell was broken. I went to
the morning-room in search of my sis
ter, and asked if it were ..La Filomela''
had heard; needless question. for ]
knew it could be no one else, and was
filled with a desire to hear her notes
again. Laura told me that most likely
she would not sing any more, as she
very seldom did so, and that her meth
cd of teaching was one of her PECULIAR.
ties, being conducted so much more by
precept than example, and yet entirely
successful.
"But," she added, 81 have taken
tickets for a concert in aid of some
charity which is to be held at the house
of the Duchess de L'Agan' next week,
and as La Filomela' is to sing two
songs, you had better 90 with us and