Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-11-28
CHAPTER ON TEN0RS.
NO OTHER PROFESSION DEMANDS
SUCH REGULARITY OF LIFE.

Great Care Taken of His Valuable Throat.
What the Public Thinks of Him-Fas-
tidiousness in Regard to Physical Condi-
tions-The Prima Donna.
There has been,n SAYS Sims Reeves in his
autobiography, ''for some tirne past de
cided fall in tenors; not that there is no de-
mand for the article but because the demand
which really exists cannot be supplied. For
in art the great principle which rules in
commerce does not hold good. On the con-
trary, instead of the demand creating the
supply, it is the supply which creates or at
least stimulates the demand Quotations for
first rate prima donnas were never so high as
they are now, yet never before were prima
donnas so numerous. No one, on the other
hand, goes to the opera to hear a tenor, SIM
ply because there are none of the highest dis
tinction to hear
HIS VALUABLE THROAT.
Think how every tenor, who wishes at all
times to do his best, must regulate his life,
must protect his valuable throat against all
possible and impossible draughts. He eats
in the most sparng manner, when all Lon
don sets him down as glutton; drinks moth
ing but claret and water, when by universal
consent he is a flaming, fiery drunkard. You
get your feet wet, are hoarse, and are well
the next day. The more delicate, more sus-
ceptble tenor gets his feet wet, is hoarse and
is not well the next day; and so long as he is
unable to sing not only loses his money-if
hn bor tp ha but 10
| usually regarded as an impostor, because be
| frankly and conscientiously declines to tor
| ture the ears of public he has been in the
habit of delighting. Tenors have their faults
| like other men But they can scarcely, with
any fairness, be accused of irregular habits
| There is naprofession, indeed, which demands
such absolute regularity of life, such punctu-
ality in the performance of duties, as that. of
the actor, and above all, of a singer, who,
| besides his general health, has his voice
| often very delicate one-to think of. In
| deed, the care the tenor takes of himself
amounts in many cases to fsstidiousness
| when he is on his travels, especially in
| our capricious, chanGeable climate, the tenor
does really incur risks, and the care these
delicate voiced singers are obliged to take oi
their valuable threats is something incredi
bic to those who have not witnessed it
| There are some tenOrs who seem TO keeI
themselves constantly enveloped, as If il
cotton wool, and ! have known more thai
one who would not start even on the shortes
Journey but he must take with him a collec
ton of scarves, wrappers and other band
ages Notwithstanding some drawbacks
the position of a tenor is all the same, fin
| nj q, ,a a,-i,1
il cannot be said that such enthusiasm q
by baritones or basses.
TIE PRIMA DONNA
"The prima donna is not only as great
| favorite as ever, but is often the only men
Der Of an operatic cast 10 whom every sol
of favor is shown For her exclusively is r,
served the admiration which was forInerl
shared by the prima donna, contralto, teno
baritone end bass. In these matters there
no debating to the public; but, whatever Il
fact may signify, fact it is that. where's
Mime. Patti, Nine Nilsson, Nine Albani an
Mime. Gerster are sought for in all eountrie
and travel in the character of stars to Il
most distant lands, none in any part OF Il
| world seem to care much for the voice of ar
tenor baritone or bass now on the Italia
operatic stage
Amateurs and struggling genius will {
well to ponder over these remarks abol
| singing masters Il should like says II
Sims Reeves, ito make short digressio
and comment on the great evils arising fro
the pretensions of musical quacks, who off
to teach singing without possa ssing one Of Il
" necessary qualifications; indeed, l could coul
= the really clever professors Of singing on Il
fingers. A carpenter, house painter, or al
other mechanic has TO serve an apprentic
ship in order to learn his craft but all tn
the charlatan professor of singing requir
is brass door plate, and an unlimited smou
of cheek
MANY a voice, which was naturally swe
and sympathetic, has been irreparably ruin
by this system; yes, and l regret to say, t
monstrouS evil Is growing, by reason OF q
vertisements, which offer unwary music
aspirants lessons at rate less than is pa
for the most ordinary kind of mechanic
labor With teachers protesting to hold &C
servatoire diplomas and to be able TO tea
proper production of voice and phrssin
within q given time, at a less price than v,
min powder costs, good singers ought to
plentiful, but unfortunately the reverse hol
good: we have few eminent vocalists and L
questionably it is not for the lack Of go
voices. Pail Mall Gazette