The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-06
THE SINGERS R o
Americans in the Musical Schools Of Paris
Observations on Art and Artists.

Charles Holman Black. who is in the city
for q few weeks on o visit to his parents,
has lived in Paris for more than four years.
and talks very entertainingly of the gay
French capital. "Yous speak," said he to
the reporter, 'of Bohemian life. Bohemian
life in Paris does not mean what many per-
sons in this country think. 1t is artist life,
and means hard work and not having q
high old time. There is q comradeship in
Bohemia that cannot be foundin this coun-
try, and it is very helpful. Bohemia APP
plauds when a good thing appears, whether
in music, painting or sculpture. 1t is crit
ical. too, but kind, and r~ejoices for arts
sake in whatever successes may come.
Paris is spoken of as a wicked city, u
there one does not see vice unless he
chooses to see it. 1t is different In London;
one sees 1T there whether he wishes or not.
The French are q misunderstood people,
and are not near so bad as they are painted.
They are not al 'nts, but the gross and
disgusting vic ..Aess of London has no
counterpart in Paris"
"Do you meet many Americans abroads"
II have met a great many per-
sons abroad during. the past few
luOutuo. luuluu6pOlS Suio NCdA, dpPCoio W
be emptied in London. never before met
80 many people abroad whom / knew.
Among those l saw in London were John
III. Holiday, w. L. Barnes, Charles j.
Cooper and. of course, C0nsul-general New
and o. r. Johnson
What of Paris as a musical center!"'
paris is the Mecca of persons who have,
or think they have voices. and this includes
a great %concOurse of Americans. Italy is in
its decadence; there are no great masters
left. LAMBERT is an old man; San Giovanni
is also old, and those who have made sing
ers somehow make them no more. The
singing one now hears in Italy, save in a
few of the largest theaters. is poor indeed.
sic. but for all the arts. Painting. and
sculpture are in their ~decadence in Italy as
much as is music. The Americans who
come to Paris to study any art soon lose
after French styles. and the work of
sculptors is upon French models. Sing
ing is, of course, more cOsmop0l-
itan. In Paris the teachers are French
s snd l dsalis AZ Fs Thsr? e. Are Are g no a%e srf;.f
now living, but he will not teach. He is an
opera singer, and is known all over Europe.
He is the greatest Mephistopheles that ever
lived; he created the role of Hamlet when
he sung with Christine Nilsson. and there
magnificent voice. He Is now sixty-five
years old, and sings in concert. When he
sings he fills the largest theater in Paris at
double prices, and is fairly idolized by the
Parisians. Miss Margaret Reid is studying
with Madame Leonard, and has a beautiful
voice. l heard of her in London. Sir George
Grove, director of the Royal Conservatory,
one of the greatest authorities, gives great
doubt. she will have a most successful ca
reer. l saw Miss Virginia Cooper. of this
city, in Paris. She was painting under the
instruction of the celebrated C%arolus-
Duran; her sister Carrie is studying the
self since L. left Indianapolis; no
fewer than t%hirty-two different parts
in operettas and operas. There is a young
man now in Paris who will be heard from
Gray ens & sar s \ a aaSihi hi, H fath namf Re rs c ). H.
Barnard, is. belieye,a Presbyterian min
lister at Madison. He is q sculptor, and Is
now. at twenty-fiy 9 years old. a stronger
man in his art thar many who have repu-
tations. He has the imaginative faculty.
wonderful technique and great industry.
All who have seen his work think he has a
great future. In London l met a charming
lady well known in Indianapolis, She was
Miss Nellie Bellies, and married the artist,
John Hill, who died young. She has a rich
contralto voice, and is now Mrs. Mac
milan, having married q member of the
famous pIblishing;house.
1.-The French acknowledge that Amer
leans have. good voices. and. as l said,
Paris is full of my cOuntry-women. Miss
Ames, of Boston. has made a great
success. She is engaged at the
Grand Opera, and has quite captivated
the populace. At the Opera Comiqne Miss
Sybil SandersOn, q California girl, is the
prima donna. At the Royal Italian Opera,
London, there were last season seven Amer
icanlprime dome. Thereisno greater favor
lite there than Albani, who is an American.
The ladies take away from the men, and
any Partisan opera-house."
Among the presents Mr.. Black has re-
ceived during his European sojourn is a
life-size portrait. exhibited in the Paris
Salon, a year ago, painted by Mr.. S. Frank
Holman, who, although an American. has
lived many years in Paris. He studied un-
der Cabanel. is an American at heart, and
one to be proud of. His works are not only
exhibited in Europe, but in New York.