Daily Kennebec journal., 1891-09-17
Socal 1loacrs.
posA Willy fALKs


Yesterday afseFneoa JouHHAL reporter
vent 70 the Cony House, vhefe 10 mes
Mr James p. Ra7ss, sbs clever youns
bns:sess manager Of the Dora Wiey com
psny. Ia rspsy 10 question = . whether
or not Miss Wiley veuid corsens to sn IL
serviev be .ps.ered dat shs vouli srd
took shs reporter upsssirs- They vent into
the pretty little ladies psfiof AID before
,oas Mics wiley entered and Af. Forrest
presented his companion 70 her. Miss
WHEY 10 lss too well known TO need psr-
sonsl description. The vary children knav
her.
"I suppose ihsf hfst Of 81. you want to
koow wheshsr liks the Stage" she said.
swell, I do. which do Ike best, drama
or opera? The latter, most decidedly.
want 70 sing. I am TOO much in love with
mu.ic 70 care to saik-Oh. l ike comic
opera best, there is more acting and then
grand opsra is so sober. / can's stand that.
Ike life and Aelion,r and she made =
graceful Httls gesture, which was very
expressive.
How did l happen TO 60 into the Pre-
iession. eouldn'. tell you, hsvs been
singing since was two years old and have
always wanted to 40 on the stsge and here
/ am. That's all. Yes, made my debut
At q concert in Portland. Oh, how we'll
remember il. wore 8 white Suisse mus
lin skirt, vsry full and quite short-I was
or ly . child hai a red silk basque,
poi oted in the from. and laced up behind
tell ycu felt foe. There never was
such . dress before and IS for nnsinz, why.
| was the be,t On lcp Of the earth. l have
gotten over tha, now. Pm slmass sorry.
made my debut on the stage With the cid
Boston English Opera Company as
Mariana.
Then studied with Mrs. Foster in
B. es.ou. | had funny interview with her
at my ,st lesson. She toll me to sing so
of l started on tie prsyer in Csvatine She
let me .ing sbout five lines then stopped
ard said, Child, you hsSe magnificent
voice but you sing abomipably.' l felt
crushed. l had thought knew it all. But
l didn't aud dont now. Well. after thst
/ went to work ard studied hard. Since
then hsve gotten on-somehoS."
"Tell him how you got into the Boston
Philharmonic Club, broke in Mr.. Forrest.
"Yes, am proud Of that. Out of over
one hundred and fifty applicants was the
one to be chosen. l never thought
tha. ia get it. l lived in Chelsea then. !
came into Boston and went to Russells
music store where the eximinstion was
going on and sat on the stairs and listened.
suffered. or course l had date and
time, tu. l had to come early 10 get an ides.
would hear them singing and as each cne
ssrg her voice seemed more beautiful than
he last. Three times got up and started
home, but then 1 went back. Al lsst my
turn came and l went into the room where
six men sal as solemn as six old owls. sat
down to the piano. played my own accom-
psnime ma and sang. l was Almos! dead
with fright"
Then Miss Wiley gave q graphic and
amusing account Of the episode. Four
times she sang and then was bowed out,
and others head Next morning to her
complete amszemens che got letter ask
ing her to come int, the city aud rehesise,
in preparation f>r tour tn, next week.
She then told many other m,rry little incl
dents in her operate cireer, aud OF her tour
through Europe aud Australia.
81 Ike the European audiences" she
said, "they are 50 enthusiastic. But the
Australians are ahead Of them in that lire &;
the Australians out E1glith the English
They are SO queer, and there is 80 much
red tape. In Melbourne, she American
city IS they call it, vrose business let
ter to maa. / enclosed . stamped and
addressed envelope, and isked for an i'm
mediate answer. got it-ten days LATER"
and she laughed rneriIy.
"My fsvorite rcle out of 357 haven't =
single choice, have three, Marie in the
Daughter Of The Regiment, Betiins in the
Masco. aud Vera Now you will want to
know what think Of Augusta. I'm in
love with is. Is beautiful aud charming
ard perfect. This rart of Maine is very
like the Country round Cardiff, Wales.
That little country is the only place that is
like Maine. But We beat that even down
here. There's no place ike dear old
Maine"
How do composer Well, see some
words that strike me. cit down at the pisno
and play and hum until get an air.
Simple, is1'f it2 That's the way did with
the Fevymsn. dislike that song now.
Oh, how wish l had never written the
music. have to sing it every night, the
people make me, and it Is SO tiresome".
Mics Wiley says that she will cling to
Vera" until next ear, then she will strike
Uut anew. Miss Wiley, to be appreciated,
r'nst be known. In private life she is
most bright and charming woman. 1t is
rarely hst the reporter has as pleasant An
hour - ;ha: which he spent yesterday with