The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-01-07
MISS ABBoTT's LIFE WORK.
Her Many Early struEg es and Triumphant
Successes.

Successes.
Emma Abbott's early life was passed in
Peoria, Ill. When she was an infant her
father, a music teacher Of small means,
removed to Peoria, hoping to better his
fortunes. 1t was about this time the
child, who knew almost nothing of the
world beyond her humble home, and had
never been in a theater or concert-room,
conceived the idea Of becoming a great
singer, and when she was scarcely more
than eight years old her father allowed
her to assist in a concert given in the
school-house of a country place. The
two artists walked nearly ten miles, carry
ing violin and guitar, to acquit them
selves of this duty. She was even then
received by her audience with smiles Of
curious interest, and her ambitious efforts
rewarded with kindly applause. There
was always a certain purity about the
childish soprano-a searching. appealing,
pathetic quality, which never failed to
touch the heart. After this tour she re
turned home and continued her desultory
education in the public school.
During a vacation she once visited a
1 young lEltllu IN Il uelEllDOFlfE Town, MneT0
the idea occurred TO her busy brain and
brave little heart, which could not rest for
thinking of the dear ones left behind in
the shadow OF poverty and ever-impend-
ing difficulties, OF giving a concert, a grand
Abbott concert, all alone by herself and
her guitar. She was at tina time a quaint
little creature, small for her age, thin and
pale, and dressed always like the child
she really was.
The result of this concert was $40, which
the singer took home to her mother.
Then for g season she taught a country
school, which she walked eighteen miles
through mud and slush to obtain, and
then on returning home and finding the
family in dire straits took to the highway
again and went singing from town to
town. In o place she sang in the church.,
standing in the pulpit-a little preacher
of -harmony-and resting her guitar on the
bible. For the two years succeeding she
sang for her bread and that of the dear
ones depending upon her, for a season or
two attached TO a troupe OF vOcaiists as
their prima donna ~asSOluta, but mostly
singing and travelling by herself, and often
suffering from cold and exposure TO wild
winter storms on the p%rairies. One ter
ribly severe night, or going to her little
concert she actually froze her feet, but
: lIOllAiuE AAiAlOh AAC wal III Va AdAlA4
and love that visited her sad heart.
She was often homesick, but that made
her all the more anxious TO send every
penny not necessary for her bare subsi5t-
ence back home. Many times she had
failures, utter and disheartening failures,
and more than once was Obliged to pawn
her few trinkets, her concert dress and
even her precious guitar. Once when she
had nothing to pledge she cut off her long
hair and sold it for food. Here and there
she was helped by generous strangers
her frank face always inspiring confidence.
All alone. Miss Abbott Once sang her
way to New York to hear Parepa. The
lowest ebb of fortune and courage found
her at Toledo, O., in the winter OF 1870.
Just then, in the midst of her psrplexities,
| Clara Louise kellogg, then in the first
glow of her power and fame, heard her
sing and decided at once to be her sponsor
and benefactress. Miss Abbott went to
New York and became the pupil of Err
rani.
Then came a piece of deserved good for
tune in the position of soprano in DR..
Chapin's church, and among the friends
she won while there was Horace Greeley.
Here she made a fine reputation and
many warm friends, among whom were
George G.. Lake, Mrs. George Hoffman,
- Il e 49, ~ NAL1N CA-A1
her "Honest Little Emma" gave the
wheel of fortune a brisk turn In her favor.
With others of DR.. Chapin's congregation
they offered to send her abroad to com
| plete her musical studies.
After a brief tour through France and
Switzerland Miss Abbott FASTENED to Italy
and began her studies with great ardor
under Maestro San Giovanni. Sleepless
nights and overwork, however, soon told
upon her health TO an alarming extent,
and one morning she found her superb
voice had lett her.
1t was months before she recovered it,
and without losing any time, and under
the advice of Christine Nilsson, Miss ABB
bolt at once proceeded to Paris and COM
menced a vigorous course of study under
| the WOrtel for vOcaliZation, at
the same time having six other masters In
the study of operas, fencing, drumming,
French and Italian, and in acting at the
Conservative and Opera Comique, where
she obtained the unusual advantages
which developed her dramatic talent. So
a year went by, and in all these lessons
from expensive masters much money
went also, and just as the enthusiastic
young student was sadly feeling that art
was long and francs were f~leeting, and
that she would be obliged to stop far short
of the last finishing lessons of her exact
ing master, she made the acquaintance of
! the Baroness Solomon de Rothschild,
who engaged Miss Abbott to call at her
house and sing for her once a month, she
to receive 1000 francs each visit.
Before singing in England Miss Abbott
visited Italy, and at Florence, according
to III Corriere HdtiGno, created a veritable
Juror, being recalled thirteen times by the
enthusiastic multitude. On her arrival in
London she made her debut at the ROYAL
Italian opera, Covent garden, where she
was enthusiastically received. Shortly af-
ter this Emma Abbott appeared at the
Crystal palace, where she sang with mag
%nificent erect, carrying off the honors
rom all competitors.
Mr.. Mapleson of her majesty's opera,
| Drurv lane, London, who had watched
with great interest the career of the young
prima donna, then engaged her for a term
of three wears. She was well received
throughout England and Ireland and at
the conclusion of her engagement she
came to this country, where she achieved
success from the start. Her principal
roles were Mgnon, Lucia, Linda, Anind.
! Gidd, Martha, Zerlind, LeOnOrd, juliet, Vir-
qiaiG, Arline, and she sang in a varied
repertory of standard English operas.