The Somerset reporter., 1890-12-11
MARRIED IN FRANCE
STORY OF THE GOWER-NORDiCA
ROMANCE AND It's SAD END.


An.s. Nordisa Was = MA,as Girl kApwn
as hlss Lillian Nerten-MT. Cover Was
Aiss from nai.s-shrtsh of Hts CArs&r.
HSs Ph>oouc-.I s~es.s- !. Tsiepa~.y.
Lillian Norton, the famous singer,
granddaughter Of Csmpmeeting John
Allen. was born in Pennington, Ne.
Her father, Edwin Norton, was prus-
porous farmer in that town. Both her
fathers and mothers families were sI-
cellent singers. Lillian attended the
Conservatory Of AuSic in Boston 10 re
ceive 4 musical education. The excel
lence Of her voice introduced her into
the concerts of Gilmore. where she took
prominent part Tins q way WAS
opened for her to visit Europe and a
more complete musical education.
Accompanied by her mother she went
to Italy, and was placed under the dis
cipline Of the most accomplished musical
teachers of Europe. Having hnished
her course Of study and become notable
for her power Of song. she received an
invitation with liberal salary to sing in
the Royal opera at st. Petersburg. She
went with her mother 10 Russia.
The manager OF the Grand opera Of
Paris WAS 40 pleased with her singing
that he gave her an invitation TO become
the prima donna Of the highest scat of
song, and by liberal pecuniary rewards
sought to obtain her release from her
St. Petersburg engagement, but the
Russians preferred her voice TO the
money offered. Aftes she had completed
her engagement in the north, she &C
cepted the overtures made her IN Paris
and made an engagement to sing in the
Grand opera.
THE HARRIAGE
During her residence In Italy her name
was changed to Lila Nordica to suit the
Italian style Of pronunciation. 1t waA
during her appearance as tho great
American singer In the Grand opera
that she became acquainted with her
second cousin, Frederick Allen Cover,
granddaughter Of Cahpmeeting John
Allen. He said: at WAS not a case Of
love at first sight, for it was full seven
minutes before became enchanted with
the lovely singer.
The history Of this young man is fully
as romantic as is the success Of Nine.
Nordica. He WAS the son of the Rev.
II. b. Cover, a Baptist clergyman. whs
died in Pennington, Me. leaving a
widow and three sons, the eldest 10 and
the youngest 0 years old. AS the fam
lily were LEI: in destitute circumstances
Frederick, the second son, was kindly
received and freely supported for year
at the Abbott family school. He had
given proof Of his activity rs All infant
by leaping from his nurses arms. before
he was month old. through an open
window without breaking his neck.
As scholar he WAS more noted for
vivacity than quiet study.
After years sojourn Mt the family
school Frederick and his brothers, by
the energy and ability of their mother,
were gathered into a family homo in
Providence, r. l. The two elder broth
ers were fitted by their mother to enter
Brown university, and were supported
by her at college TIL they graduated.
George, the eldest brother, became =
lawyer, and has served by repeated cleo
lions az clerk of tho Rhode Island assem-
bly,
Frederick entered upon the profession
of journalism, and became city editor of
The Providence Journal. He wrote to
Professor Bell, the inventor OF the tele-
phone, to deliver lecture at Providence
on the new invention. By invitation
young Cover went to Boston to assist
Bell in the preparation of his lecture.
MR.. COVERS SUCCESS AND END.
His active and ingenious intellect be-
came intensely Interested in the new in
| =, .e:->.. &c u. - einp,1J
machinery and TO increase tho intensity
Of the magnetic power, using one instead
Of two batteries, and introducing cir
cular instead OF horseshoe magnets, with
other devices now used in the Cover
Bell telephone.
Having obtained patents and estab
lished tho Bell Telephone company,
Cover went to France and formed
telephone company there, OF which he
was president, with salary Of Us, 900.
He also obtained patents In Germany
and England. In England a company
was formed, but tho English govern
ment took tho telephone, as they had the
telegraph, as a part Of their postofflce SER
vice, purchasing Of the company mill
ion dollars worth of telephones for their
use.
After brief acquaintance these two
American celebrities were united In
marriage, and Nine. Nordica was re-
leased from her engagement ut the
Grand opera. She came with her hus-
band to America.
Their married life was not a happy
one. For sufficient cause Mime. Nordica
sued for separate maintenance, bat
never for divorce. While the suit was
in progress he left suddenly for Paris,
where he had been deeply engaged study
ing out an invention to employ magnet
ism in the control Of balloons. This he
considered the greatest invention Of the
age, both for military and commercial
purposes.
To test tho efficiency Of some Of his
plans he undertook in balloon, alone,
to cross the Straits Of Dover. Since his
disappearance from tho view Of the
spectators who witnessed his ascension
he has never been eeen.-Lewiston Jour
nal