Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-12-11
MARY HOWE LAWN WRITES
Reviewing Her own Career, and Gives
Advice TO Ambitious Young Singers.

heNleWlnk AAtE OWh NhEeeEg anu uANeh
Advice TO Ambitious Young Singers.
The frontispiece of The Vermonter for
December is a full page portrait of Mary
Howe-Lavin, and one of its most interest
ing numbers is an article from the pen of
the fair singer under the title, "Recollec-
tions of my musical career" Mrs. LAWN
reviews briefly her experiences, from her
first appearance in a cantata at the age of
four, to the present time. OF her earliest
efforts she says:
81 have sung ever since l can remember,
and have often been told that / could
sing a tune before 1 could walk alone.
When little girl my one thought was to
be big singer, and my greatest delight
was to put on an old calico apron for a
trail, make a stage of old boxes and give
concerts.
"My fist public experience on the stage
was at the age of four, in a little cantata
given by children. My second, at the age
of nine, was in an operetta called The
quarrel among the flowers 1 had the
part of The dahlia,' and l did so well in
it that from that time on unusual things
were expected of me.
"When about eleven years of age l took
the part of Josephine in children's per-
formance of H. M. S. Pinafore' As l
had to lead the chorus as well, the effort
proved to be somewhat of a strain on my
voice, and was not allowed to sing much
during the next year.
"The first money ever earned by sing
ing was paid me as soprano in church
choir at home when l was fourteen. The
very modest sum seemed to me quite for
tune. My father, at that time seventy
years of age, but still retaining his strong,
clear, tenor voice was the choir leader.
My first teacher in singing and instrument
tai music was my brother, Lucien Howe.
To his instruction and guidance, both at
this time and in later years, l feel indebt-
ed for what success l have attained far
more than to that of any other teacher"
In the latter part of her article Mrs.
LAWN expresses the belief that American
girls should not think of studying abroad
unless they have exceptional talent, good
fundamental training, and ample financial
resources. The time has passed, she says,
when first-class musical instruction can be
had at less expense in Europe than in
America. Mrs. LAWN recognizes the ad-
vantages of the much-talked-of "musical at
mosphere" of foreign cities, but says she
cannot too strongly urge the importance of
thorough preparation under the best
masters at home in order to best appreciate
and profit by these advantages. She can
not recall single instance where an Amer
ican girl has attained to distinction in for
eign lands who has not already won sue
cess before the public at home.
"For all of them Europe has been only a
finishing school, and the all-important
early training has been done by teachers
at home, who have not always had the
credit that is due them; however, for one
who wishes to sing in grand opera there is
really no opportunity in America, until
one has achieved success abroad. There
has been a great deal of valuable informa-
tion in regard to study and singing abroad
printed in our musical journals of late,
notably in the Paris letters of Miss Fanny
Edgar Thomas. hope the day is not far
distant when we shall have permanent
grand opera in America sung in the Eng
lish language. There is abundant talent
in all directions, and feel sure that such
operatic performances would receive far
better support from the general public
than any sung in a foreign language. If
grand opera in English could once become
the fashion, l would say to any Vermont
girl who has the talent and aspiration for
a musical career, not to enter upon such
career with the idea that 1t is an altogether
enVlaDle One' ne lie Vi puplC Singer
here, of the most successful, is far from an
easy one and is sure to contain great deal
of the bitter with the sweet. In my own
experience the kind interest in my welfare
which has been manifested by friends in
my own town and state has more than made
up for the less agreeable features of public
| life."
The article in The Vermonter is illus
| trated with fOur nortraits of Mrs LAWN
showing her at the age of IA, as concert
singer, in grand opera, and one portrait
taken in the summer of 1896.