Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-12-08

Mrs. Jessie Bartlett Davis Advice. 60
those seeking Musical engagements.
Ns,C York World.


Nsso York World
"Vocal teachers and impresarios may
saw what they like about young singers
starting out with grand operas In their
tbroats. but know a better plan" sal1
Jessie Bartlett Davis, the other day. as
she engulfed large quantities OF lmpe-
rial Hotel coffee and rolls.
otis the song system. II ran con-
servatory would tell the pupils VINO
had ability and were anxious TO oegln
a public career, to get one song-never
mind what-ballad, hymn, serenade;
ditty, carol, cradle or topical song, ana
work at it until they could make OF IL
all that the composer and author In
tended.
,sTake the girl, for instance. who
wants a position in a church choir.
What under the religious roof does the
Committee on Music care for 'Marguer-
ite' or Elsa? Operate efforts are
wasted on them. II the applicant wants
70 win let her sing Go Bury Thy Sor-
row There is Green Hill Far Away,
or Rock of Ages The possioiiltles OF
those three sweet old songs are only
limited by the ability and soul OF the
singer.
"Move two hearts in a committee OF
three. get couple Of heads to bend,
bring four or five eyes TO tears and let
the rest of the applicants do the mad
scene in 'Somnambhla' and the ave
Maria until they are black In the race
or hoarse as crows. It's a good deal
better to reach the human heart than
high G, and the average churchman
would rather listen to a familiar Sun
day school song that he USED 10
sing when he was young and good than
the grandest opera that ever was staged:
Managers of concert companies Will
not listen to jewel songs and operatlc
invocations. They haven't got time,
and they wouldn't waste it If they had.
What they want, think, is something
with touch and 60 in it. Scotch and
English ballads are always good. NO
man is ever too busy or too tired TO
listen to plantation melody, and eleV-
en- il every dozen surrender to the COM
monest street song If you begin at fHe
right place. There's 'Teachin9 Nc
Fadden to Waltz for exampte; that
will go every time, and 'Roci-a-Bye, =
well, there's baby aud woman In
every mans heart, SAD three bars OF
| that little lullah;- that the whole
country has nummed and whistled Tor
half a dozen years will bring tears and
smjles:, according to our treatment.
| - Under the Daisies" Sweet Belle
Mahone,' and songs of that class may
be considered threadbare by piano bang
ers and all-round singers, but it's mis-
take They are not. II you get the
manager or director alone after three
or four o'clock, when the rush Of bust
ness is over; if you can continue to turn
your back on him; if you can work your
heart-strings, pump tears and memo
ries into your voice, keep your body
quiet and your music low, Belle will
get you an engagement. But if the
conditions are unfaYorable; II there is
a crowd in the Office; if there is fire
in the neghborhood or the man hasn't
had his lunch, spare yourself ridicule
and sing hunting or drinking song.
In other words, the girl who wants to
make hit must take in her field and
get the lay of the land"
"And your song is?"
"My song is Sweet Genevieve.' /
can sing it better than anything else
and l love it better than everything
else. 1t got me every good engagement
| ever had. The first time / tried it
was in a Chicago church committee
room. There was vacancy in the
choir that wanted; made application,
and when the reverential deacon said
he would like to hear me sing some
thing didn't know what to do. l was
trying to decide between Gounod and
a Bach solo when 1 caught sight of
locket hanging from the good mans
watch chain. That settled it. l con-
cluded that Genevieve's picture was In
side and l almost broke my heart reSur-
recting her vocal namesake. But got
the vacancy.
1.-The next time? The next time
went to see Mr.. Davis. He was man.
ager of the Chicago Church Choir Com
pany. l wanted more money than l
was getting and l applied for an en-
gagement. l sang "Sweet Genevieve"
again and got the part Of Little But
tercup. frequently sang it by request
and Mr.. Davis fell in love with the
song and married the singer.
'When the American Opera Company
was getting into shape, l went to see
Mr. Theodore Thomas, and when he
said he would like to hear something l
knew how to sing gave him Sweet
Genevieye'."
Well he said, any girl who can
sing a love song like that can sing
American opera, and he engaged me.
when l applied for an engagement
in the Mapleson Grand Opera Company
Mr.. Mapleson made an appointment for
me to meet Nine. Patti and ! gave her
S. G. She heard me through the whole
song and applauded by clapping my face
between her hands.
"Mr. Barnaby admitted me to my
present position in the 'Robin Hood"
company on the strength Of the lament
ed Miss Genevieve, and he pays me the
mischievovs compliment Of getting out
his handkerchief every time l sing it.
OF course he only does it to break me
up. But / shall sing Sweet Geneveie'
till my voice crackssand II there is any
delay at the kingdom of heaven l shall
try il on st. Peter"
What He Got.