The Irish standard., 1888-05-05

In Limerick, her native place, Gather
inc Hayes, erstwhile the poor tisherman's
daughter, was feted like princess, and
immense popular demonstrations took
place on her arrival and departure from
the city. Then commenced q series Of
professional tours through the United
States, Canada, California, Australia,
and British India; and everywhere she
went she received immense Welcomes
from the Irish residents especially. As
an operate singer she was in the front
rank; but she swayed hearts more pow
erfully when she sang an Irish melody
or q simple ballad. List, the great
pianist, wrote-'tI don't know Of any
voice more expressive than that of Miss
Hayes The silvery tones Of her voice
were most fascinating, and her marvel
lous, ihrllling shake has rarely been sur
passed, and when to these magnificent
vocal gifts WAS added sympathetic SEN
sibilitY, we can we'll imagine the effect Of
her singing OF the sweet plaintive and in
spiriting melodies of her native land.
How Irish hearts at home and abroad
must have thrilled beneath the magic in
Auence Of her voice! "In Ireland" said
the Times, announcing her death, Cher
way may be said, without exaggeration,
to have been paved with gold and strewn
with flowers"
During her tour in America III 1857
she married an American gentleman
named Bushnell "a famous electioneer-,
ing AGENT, who had conducted the bust
ness transactions connected with Ter ell
gagements. the married life was term
mated in few years by the death OF the
husband. Madame Hayes then returned
to England. For the remainder Of her
career she devoted herself mainly to
concerG-singing, in which, us I have
SAID, she scored her GREATEST successes.
GAS e. singer Of melodies and simple
songs she WAS probably unsurpassed, !"
wrote the Times. She was always Of
aelicats constitution, Her system never
recovered from shock occasione,i by q
fall from a horse i'll AnlaNca, anls she
died at Sydenhanl, 81 London suburb, on
the llth August, 1860, from the bursting
Of blood vessel. She Left property to
the amount OF El6, 200.
AS a woman Catherine Hayes was Ell
lowed with ali the noble attributes that
aGorn she sex. Kindness Of feeling,
warmth, OF heart, and generosity >f dis
position were but few Of her qualities,
she was always simple and quiet i'll her
habits, sIrewd in business matters, and,
above all, She Was g. MOST excellent
daughter, and a liberal benefactor to her
poor relations by che Shannon, though
fond Of money, even to pars1mony.
The Gentle1nans Magazine, in an article
published in 1871, writes Of her
''Her worldwide experience OF coun-
tries and people gave an indispensable
charm to her conversation. 1t would
have been interesting under any circum-
stances; while her manners, always re-
strained, sweet, and fascinating. were
quite unspoiled by the lifelong adula-
ten she had received.'
Ireland's Queen OF Song was in
tered in Kensal~green Cemetery, Lon
don, which also containa the remains Of
another great operate singer, Theyese
Tietiens. The grave of Catherine Hayes
will be easily found by the pilgrim.
After passing through the arched en-
trance to the cemetery, take the centre
Of The three main pathways, and to the
left, Gu the edge CT the path as you APP
proach near the mortuary chapel, YOU
will find the grave, There is nothing III
the monument catching to the eye. 1t
consists OF a coffin-shaped stone raised
about two feet from the ground plainly
but neatly flushed, and bears the fol-
lowing inscription
SACRED to the Memory
OF