Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-23
Is NINE. mELBA A JEwEsss
Chicago Family of Mitchclls which
Think She Is Relative.

Chicago Family of Mitchells which
Think She Is n Relative.
Chicago Times Herald)
IL Nine. MeIba. the prima donna.
Mitchell? Was that her name before the
world came to know her as the sweetest
throated woman Of the decade? These
questions were asked Nine. Melba year
ago. when she was in Chicago. and she
answered in the negative. Her interro-
gator maintained afterward. though. that
her deniais were equvocal. leaving room
for the thought that there might be rea-
sons why she did not care to have the
word know she was the daughter OF
! David Mitchell OF Melbourne, Australia
Rabbi Messing. OF the temple OF Bnai
Shollom. on Michigan avenue, was her
0uestioner How he came 10 be Interested
in the identity OF the songstress is
story with which a number OF Chicago
people are connected.
Years ago in the town OF JarocZin. In
the province OF Posen. Prussia. there
was a family by the name Of Mitchell.
Sons and daughters OF the family In
time scattered to different parts OF the
world. More than thirty years ago Da-
vid Mitchell. a son. emigrated TO Austria
LA, making his home at Melbourne. His
sister Hannah Mitchell. came to America
and Chicago and became the wife Of
Isaac Livingston. Her husband IL dead,
but she resides at 370s Wabash avenue,
Morris Mitchell, brother OF David. re-
sides also on Wabash avenue,
and Is prominent in the business circles
OF the city. Rabbi Messing Is a warm
friend OF both families.
l,.s Inc
prospered in Melbourne visited his rela-
tives in America and Chicago While
here he talked often OF the daughter
whom he had left behind In Melbourne.
He represented her TO be a singer OF
marvellous power, and predicted that she
would be famous in future years. He
told Of the money he had spent on her
musical education and seemed very
proud Of her accomplishments. He died
after his return to Melbourne and his
Chicago relatives heard but little. If any
thing, of the daughter. But after the
appearance OF Media on the stage ana
the vague stories OF her origin in Aus
tralla began to appear. the Chicago
Mitchells came 70 think that she was
in all probability. the daughter OF David
Mitchell They made some effort to as
certain II this was true. and the visit or
Rabbi Messing followed.
But so far they have not been able 10
confirm their suspicious. Melba, herself
apparently does not care to either ac-
knowledge the truth Of the story or to
destroy 1t by relating who her parents
were. II she Is the daughter OF David
Mitchell she Is n Jewess coming from
family OF honorable descent and name
OF the two De Reszkes. Jean and Ed
Guard. II IL told that their musical ca
reers began In Jewish church In Poland,
where they took the part Of chazan or
cantors Of the musical service OF the
Jewish temples After years of such
song practice attention was attracted to
the evident genius possessed by both,
and a way opened for them TO find on
the stage the fame and wealth which Ia
now theirs. Charles Cohen, Of LaSalle
street Is aware OF this origin of the two
brothers. Of how a peculiar institution
Of the Jewish church developed them for
the world Of song This is not the first
time the cantor Of a synagogue has de-
lighted thousands from the operate
6tage.