The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-10
MARRIED IN FRANCE.
STORY OF THE GOWER-NORDICA
ROMANCE AND ITS SAD END.

as Miss Lillian Norton-Mr. Cover Was
Also from Maine-SIketch of His Career.
His Phenomenal Success in Telephony.
Lillian Norton, the famous singer,
granddaughter of Campmeeting John
Allen, was born in Pennington, Me.
Her father, Edwin Norton, was pros
porous farmer in that town. Both her
fathers and mothers families were ex-
cellent singers. Lillian attended the
Conservatory of Music in Boston to re-
ceive a musical education. The excel
lence of her voice introduced her into
the concerts of Gilmore, where she took
a prominent part Thus q way was
opened for her to visit Europe and
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 finished
her course Of study and become notable
fcS 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 to Russia.
The manager of the Grand opera Of
Paris was so pleased with her singing
that he gave her an invitation to become
the prima donna Of the highest seat 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. After she had completed
her engagement in the north, she &C
copied the overtures made her in Paris
and made an engagement to sing in the
Grand opera.
THE MARRIAGE.
During her residence in Italy her name
was changed to Lila Nordica to suit the
Italian style Of RECOMMENDATION. It was
during her appearance as the great
American singer in the Grand opera
that she became acquainted with her
second cousin, Frederick Allen Cover,
grandnephew of Campmeeting John
Allen. He said: ''It was not 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.
Fl. B. Cover, a Baptist clergyman, who
died in Pennington, Me-, leaving
widow and three sons, the eldest 10 and
the youngest 6 years old. AS the fam
lily were left 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 as an 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 at the. family
school Frederick and his brothers, by
the energy and ability of their mother,
were gathered into family home 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 till they graduated.
George, the eldest brother, became
lawyer, and has served by repeated cleo
tons as clerk of the 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 a lecture at Providence
on the new invention. By invitation
young Cover went to Boston to assist