Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1885-06-05
PAT IT,.

Adelina Patti was brought to
this country when but year old.
Her education, musical and other
wise, was received here, 80 that
America may justly claim the
honor of having produced the
greatest prima donna Of the world.
She was not one OF those preternat.
urally precocious children who
give evidence of genius as soon as
they can speak. When Patti was
five years old a child was required
in an opera to sing about a couple
of bars of music, aud her mother
thought the little Adelina could
sing them. Her voice was tried
and found capable Of the task. In
order to keep her amused and quiet
Dcillnu tnc SCcllcS uilii ShO ""' iN
quired she was given handsome
new doll. She was obliged to put
it down when she went on for the
little role. Just as she was about
to sing she caught sight of a little
girl she knew sitting behind the
orchestra. She clapped her hands
with glee and cried out to her:
"Oh, come up here and see my lit
tie new dOllic; come right away
The audience roared, of course, ,and
Patti was carried off the stage still
inviting her playmate to come up
and see her dOllie. She was re-
called, but refused to go back with
out her doll. She was allowed to
carry it on, and, hugging dollie to
her breast, Adelina Patti made her
first appearance in public.
A year or two more and her
teachers began to foresee the won
ders of her voice, and at the age of
nine she commenced to sing in con-
certs. In those days there were
no opera.hOuses and so she sang
i'm halls and cOncert.rooms. She
was successful, but the American
public did not regard her as a
prodigy and she created no furore.
From the age of nine until she grew
mp, Patti sang moro or less in pub
lie. Scholtcn, Of st. Louis, has a
photograph Of her when abont
eleven years old. 1t is very like
her as she was at that time. She
was n little old.fashioned girl, and
the prim.braided hair and old
fashioned dress and pantalettes
worn at that time by little girls
look very quaint now. Patti al
WAYS possessed an amiable temper,
although the Italian blood in her
veins, it is said, will occasionally
assert itself. For years treasured
little list OF linen made out in
PATHS own childish hand at the
old Biddle House, Detroit, in 1852.
She was giving concerts there IN
company with Strakosh and Ole
Bull. The little list Of "clothes
for the wash shows that the great
songstress did not always disdain
the homely duties which few wo'
men escape, however gifted.
Patti is very generous to the
peasants living in the vicinity of
her castle in Wales, and no matter
in what part of the world she may
be in, never fails to send Christ
mas presents to be Distributed
among them. But hers is so kind
Iva nature that the adulatlOn OF
an entire world cannot spoil it,
Once, Il lady journalist called upon
Patti, and after the conversation
ended the diva said: Is there
anything else | can do for you T.
"Yes,' replied the lady, I" am,
as you perceive, somewhat deal,
and, therefore, from the front lose
some of your notes. Will yon sing
me here privately 'llome, Sweet
Home 2 Here ! shall not lose q
note" Without an instants hcsl-
tation Patti sang the sweet old
song of " Home as one might be-
lievc the angels sing.