The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-11

arms around the physicians neck, ISIS, l
have come to say Eood-by. Pm going to
Italy to study singing"
The physician did not answer for a min
ute; she was looking n her sisters eyes
10 see if there we're any signs of incipient
insanity in them. At last she observed 10
slow and measured tones, 'Effie Critch-
field, if this is your idea of joke it is a
mighty poor one"
ITS not 10 ke," replied Efie, laughing
with mischievous delight at her sisters
justification. Ever since l was child
have wanted to sing Carmen. It has
grown upon NE lately, haunted me. and
am going to Italy TO learn singing or die. "
and she waved her gripsack in the air as if
it had been a banner, while her sister
asked her quietly if abe was going without
money or baggage.
Nc" replied the girl; 81 have been
teaching school for six months, and you
wondered why did it aud what became
OF the money. Every cent of it will 90 to
clock right? Yes! Then put on your ha;.
and hurry. for father is waiting at the
depot and we sban't have more than five
minutes to spare when we get there"
but your baggage" persisted the ply
sican. at is here" replied the young
girl, holding out her gripsack. III l want
anything more [ can get it as go through
Paris"
And incredible as it may seem. it was at
one days notice that Effie Critchtield.
alias Thea DorTe, set out to Italy to study
singing. She herself had been quietly
working and saving for months. and had
arranged to board with a friend of her
family who lived III Naples; but abe knew
IF her father and sister had time TO think
over it they would not Let her go, so she
sprung" hOT scheme on them.
Once plunged into student life in Ma
Piles the quick American girl realized tn at
singing could not be learned in six months
no. nor in six years. She worked on
patiently till her money was nearly gone.
and then she wrote To her father for more.
By that time she had come to the c0nclu-
sion that Milan was more live musical
center for students than Naples at that
time. just six years ago.
The frat faint whisDerings of the new
italian school of opera, which has since
thrilled the world, were being heard In
Milan.
Mascagni and LeOncavallo ware still
mute and inClorious. but Baron Franchel-
ffs "AZrae" was being rehearsed at the
Scala, and from her room, overlooking the
bastiop. away TO the white Alps. the
American girl could hear Puccini pacing
the floor above or PLAYING saatches of
lovely TDeiOQy. ae W as tHb plduO G1aCuer
who lives upstairs" to US students six
wears ago whenever we visited Effie. To-day
ne is the Maestro Puceini. who has world
wide reputation "a the composer of Ed
ger" and "Manon Lescaut."
Efie was immensely popular with all
the students, though we considered her a
little crazy on the subject Of Carmen"
If she went to a remnant sale to buy a
much-needed dress che always came home
with bit of gorgeous yellow brocade or a
string OF 1inRling coins. "Tbey are just
the thing for the second act OF 'Carmen,' -"
she would say. -,
And how about your new dress?" we
wnnld ASK.
Goa, well, l can turn this one" she al
ways answered, laughing, and 1t did not
matter what she went without she never
resisted anything that looked SPANISH.
Size even took TO eating Spanish 1000, aud
One month she spent the last frame OF her
remittance in taking lessons from a Dalie-
rlna whose only recommendation was tnat
she had just come from Seville.
IL was no one but her intimate friends
who knew what hard struggle Ellie had
TO stay long enough 10 Milan 10 complete
her education. Her father was iDdulgeDt
but, like many another parent, he could
not real re that cart is long" and that a
diva Is not made while you wait. Each
month was TO be her last in Italy, and
each mouth she prayed for little moro
lime, and used it by working feveriehly,
%hiie trying to get an engagement. AT
last she had q "Serittura" to sing at
-NeTcelll, town between Milan and Turin,
and her success there as OrsinO in "Lu-
crezia borgta" was so decided that they