The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-12-22
How a Great Singer was Formed.

FROM Paullne Lucca'S Autobiography
When l was scarcely eight years old 1t was
decided that should be singer and this is
how it came about. Twas at school in the
Dauniger House. My parents were poor.
nevertheless my mother did her very best to
get me good education. For this, according
to the views of that period q852), to speak
French was Indispensable; and at our school
great point was made of 1t. But for me
there was this difficulty in the way; my
mother could not out OF her scanty means pro-
vide the extra fees. SO one day she took me
by the hand, and, placing me before the mist
ress of the school, entreated her to make an
abatement Of them in my case. After much
discussion this was at last grudgingly conced-
to learn French, II learn | would or could.
No one could be happier than my mother, no
one more wretched than myself. OfGerman
knew next to nothing. My mother-language
was Italian. had been brought up till was
five with sister of my father in Milan, and
my tongue took by no means kindly to the
rough German idiom. And now l was to
learn French alsOl / regarded this demand
as mere tyranny and rebelled against it by
learning nothing-not French. nor anything
else. The schoolmistress and the scholars
loved me not. In fact, they regarded me as a
Ounce. My case was all the worse, seeing l
paid only half fees, so that my teaching was
OF no profit either to my teacher or myself.
My fellow-pupils who paid full fees looked
down upon me. And how was L TO engage SYM
pathy? l was poor, seemed to be stupid, and
was regarded as very plain. Pooh, very
plain-and a girl! A fine start in life, truly
In the years martyrdom which l underwent
Of learning nothing, OF, to speak more correct
ly, of wishing to learn nothing, there was,
however, one CLEAN Of light. These were the
hours, once week, when my fellow-pupils
were taught singing. In these lessons was
only passive sharer Twas free to listen,
and to take notes of what was taught; but /
was not permitted to sing, as for this an extra
fee would have had to be paid. But as did
not sing in the school, all the more and louder
did sing at home, when knew was alone
or anywhere.else when / thought no one heard
me. So matters stood when the annual exam
ination came round. / was seated on the
hindmost bench, of course. among my gaily
dressed fellow-scholars: Suddenly my name
Il was meant? Again it sounded. "Lucca,
Paullnew Isprang to my feet. / felt as If
had dropped from the clouds. What to do /
knew not. They asked me something. Ibid
not understand the question, and my face
looked so full of dismay. that everybody
scholars, visitors and all-burst into loud
laughter. Only the schoolmistress did not
lauge, but cast look of bitter wrath at me;
and there was yet one other who did not
laugh, but let two big tears roll down her
so sadlv-my mother! My fiasco had formed
the grand finale to the examination. Now
they came to the subjects which were not
obligatory-and last In order came singing.
The pupils who had taken lessons rose up.
Then 1t flashed upon me what had to do in
order to dry up these tears. which had fallen
like molten lead upon my young heart rose
with them. In vain did the schoolmistress
glare at me with angry eyes. l remained
standing, and looked hard, imploring pity, at
my good catechist, the only one from whom
instinctiyely expected help. The children
sang their little songs, one after another, by
turns as they were called, and discharged
themselves of their task with more pleasure
than voice. At last alone was left stand
ing, and no one called upon me to sing
Dumbly, with fearful eyes, appealed to the
catechist. until he observed me and gave me
kindly encouragement by saying, "The little
schoolmistress remarked to the eccleslastic
that had not learned to sing. But he over
came her protest with the words, mo mat
ter, she will still sing us something What
can you do, little oneY' With this he turned
to me, and felt as If a ban was taken off me.
Everything that the others CAM" Ianswer-
ed proudly, and without embarrassment.
Then sing to US 'Wdnn's MdiLlgterL weht.
In after years have had opportunities in
plenty Of singing before an audience, but
triumph. or with greater freedom, than sang
this my first song in public. l sang 'IVann's
MailWterL iceht,' and then,asI had
done 1t so well, and with such general
approval, l sang song after song.
sang to dry my mothers tears, and I sue
ceeded. Beaming with delight, my good
mother received the congratulations which
poured in upon her from all sides. One Of
the first to offer them was stout, bustling
gentleman with a red, beardless face. He
declared that mine was quite phenomenal
talent, which must be cultivated; and he was
entitled to speak with authority, for he was
Josef Fri, In his day the justly famous tenor
of the Court Opera. From this hour my
destiny was decided. Fri, good fellow that
Karlskirche, Joseph Rupprecht, who car
ried out my education with such excellent
results that when still child Of twelve l
was able to take the place Of the renowned
Titiens in the performance Of a Mass, and 70
sing the solo in the Offertorium at sight with
complete success. Thus it was that l be-
came a singer.