Sun River sun. [volume] (Sun River, Mont.) 1884-1885, 1884-10-23
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE.
Interesting Episodes in the Lite Of
Mrs. Jessie Bartlett.Davis,

Like most singers born to achieve
distinction and success, Mrs. Jessie
Bartlett-Davis who made herself such
u favorite in this city, as one Of the
leading artistcs Of the Carleton Opera
Company, has had a most curious and
interesting history. Born early in
1860, she began in childhood to eyince
fondness for music, and her voice
charmed and pleased the schoolmates
ut the private schools she attended in
her girlhood. She was always sing
ing and romping, and her lively viva
cious manners made her a general fa-
voritc with her companions. One day
in April, 1870, she suddenly disap-
peared from home and although search
was made for her in the large city of
Chicago, where her parents then re-
sided, no trace or clue of her where
abouts could be found. The italian
padrones with their hand organs and
monkeys then infested the city and it
was known that they had no scruplcs
in kidnapping children, whom they
trained us singers and beggars for the
purpose of earning u livelihood for
themselves. Search was made in the
Italian quarters without success, and
week passed by before the young
girl was found. Finally the alert de-
tectives captured her in the suburbs
of town, where one of the lazzaroni
was training her in a small hut in the
art of mendicancy and song, intend
ing to ship her to Philadelphia to a
partner padrone after her education
was completed. When found she was
in rags and tatters, her hair had been
cut off close, she was dressed in boys
clothes, and had it not been for GER
tain distinctive peculiaritics, would
have been almost unrccognizablc.
Her parents who were almost heart
broken with grief, were overpowered
with joy when their darling was re-
turned to their arms and they then
began to give her voice the special
training of which it was in need.
In 1873, her father who had up to
that time been in comfortable circum-
stances, lost everything in the panic
that swept the entire country. He was
compelled to withdraw from his
daughter the advantages of a first
class musical education, to the accom-
plishment Of which purpose he had
long looked forward to us the one
great object of his life. But Miss
Jessie was not to be daunted and with
that pluck and cnegy which has char
acterized her every effort through life,
she applied for, and obtained clerk
ship in the moncy-orler department
of the Chicago postollice. Her salary
was between 5000 and $500 n year and
with that she helped support the fam
lily and pay for the services of vocal
teacher. Finally she obtained Il posi-
tion in one of the leading church
choirs Of Chicago, and with the re-
ccipts from that source and by giving
occasional concerts, managed to make
quite snug sum annually. Colonel
Mapleston heard Of her while in Chi
cago and offered to take her abroad
and give her three years course in
one Of the best Conservatives in Eu-
rope if she would consent to give him
three years of her service free of
charge, after her course had been
completed. She cogitatcd over the
matter and began course of study
looking towards the acceptance of
the proposition, but she finally con
cluded that six years of her life spent
in that way would not be a sufficient
compensation for the results to be at
tanned. About 1879 she joined the
Chicago Church Choir Pinafore Com
pany, making her first appearance ut
She then travelled all
through the Northwest, playing "But-
tercups" for 300 nights and then tax
up the operas, of Iolanthe, Patience,
Fatinitz, &c. After three years hard
work she went to New York City
where she placed herself under the
tutorship of distinguished maestro.
Being an apt student, by dilligent ap-
plication she managed to make rapid
strides in her profession, and Nine.
Patti, to whom she was introduced,
:ook great interest in her and fire.
luently spoke words of cheer and
encouragement. Ono night Maple
son called upon her to sing the part
If "Siebel" to Nine. PATHS Margue-
'itc in the opera of Faust, and the
'omanza which she sang to "Margue-
'ite" was SO touchingly rendered, that
Nine. Patti then and there kissed her,
.mid the widest applause and enthu-
iasm on the part of the audience.
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