The Van Buren press., 1894-05-12

fFrom photograph by Window, Londonl
songstress which makes her interest
and sympathy well-nigh universal.
Nothing escapes her, and, while she
never dignifies trifles, neither does she
ignore them. In all things her ideals
are high. Nothing less than the best
Is satisfactory to her, and such is her
artistic sense of color and form that
she cannot brook disorder or the un-
slightly about her. l have seen her
stop in the midst of writing note, for
which messenger was waiting to re-
move withered flower which she hap
pened to see In the bouquet on her
writing desk and carefully rearrange
the blossoms she had misplaced in do
Ing SO.
Wherever she Is, she sets up her
household gods, and flowers are always
to be found among them. Dainty be-
iongings, which make an apartment
homelike and attractive, are bestowed
IN her baggage, and soon as she is set
tied in her temporary quarters they are
brought forth and arranged. Refined,
tasteful. womanly in all that she does
and is, Nine. Nordica is yet possessed
OF an indomitable will, and, while Aexi-
bic with others, is positively .unrelent-
ing with herself Descended from O
long line Of New England clergymen,
several Of whom were famous doctors
of divinity, she seems to have inherited
the masterful strength Of character
which distinguished them. To those
Interested in the methods which pre-
vailed in New England years ago the
fact that Nine. Nordica's great-grand-
father who lived in the little town OF
Pennington, Me-, was taxed not for his
possessions but his ability, is not with
out interest.
While she gives more or less atten-
tion to many things, Nine. Nordica is
devoted with the utmost singleness Of
purpose to her art. She says, in speak
Ing of the mode Of life which she has
found is best for her work.
II don't believe in stimulants Of any
sort. never touch coffee or tea. To
be successful one must do her work
with intelligence and not by moods.
live very simply and regularly. In the
morning take nothing more than an
egg on bit OF toast and never eat
rich food or pastry. 1 take regular
athletic exercise every day, and during
the two or three weeks vacation, which
I take every summer, row, fish and
swim"
That this regime is productive of
admirable results Is evident, for, al
though Nine. Nordica is no longer q
very young woman, her eyes are limpid
and brilliant, her complexion as smooth
and soft as childs and she does not
appear to be more than twenty-four or
twenty-five years of age.
Nine. Melba, the famous singer from
Australia, is peculiarly and rarely
gifted. When she was a little girl it
was her won't to entertain her play
fellows by making what they called
shat pretty sound, such as a bird
makes, in her throat" This was the
marvellous trill which is one of her
most extraordinary vocal accomplish
ments and which Is as natural to her
rs are It's notes to song bird. 1t is an
odd fact that neither she, nor any of
her friends, took any account of this
remarkable gift when she was being
educated.
From her childhood she has been
fond Of music, In fact has scarcely
known any other interest. She laugh
ingly says that She never was good for
anything but her music, and that al
though her mother devoted many
anxious years to making her accom-
plishments somewhat more universal
she never succeeded. Her father was
wealthy man and she had the best Of