Daily Kennebec journal., 1896-02-17
theatre goers to attend and return at thu
close Of the performance.
YaW's Personal History.

Yaw's Personal History.
The appearance Of Yaw at the Opera
house on Friday evening. Feb. 81, is as
suming the proportions Of a musical SEN
sation.
Her return to America is therefore al
ready subject Of interested conversation
and comment, not only in musical and 60
ciety circles, but among the patrons OF
amusements generally.
Not only the wonderful voice of the
woman. but her interesting personal his
tory makes her an ever-fresh subject of
conversation. The following gives some
entertaining facts about her:
Miss Yaw is new type. Her per.
sonality is as unique as her voice, and in
deed a stranger could not meet her with
ont expecting something out of the ordi-
nary from so extraordinary presence In
cold descriptiyes she is certainly entitled
to be called beauty; not the Venus
Aphrodite or Trilby genus, but gentle
Madonna, IL Vestal virgin, an embodi-
ment OF Spring, Titania even, for al
though Miss Yaw is really above the aver
age height of women, her perfect and
an impression Of being with diminutive
creature.
The child destined to possess the most
remarkable voice of history was born near
Buffalo, n Y Her father died when she
was scarcely more than baby, strengthen
ing of course, the tie between the mother
and the little ones-who, grown men and
women now, still look to mother as the
sum and source of all wisdom and virtue.
Ellen Beach, from the maternal family
name, sang before she could talk, and in
her childhood was especially noted for her
ability to improvise genuine melody to
any words which might be given her. She
still occasionally sings Take Me Back to
Home and Mother to an air composed
by herself at 10 years. At the unusually
early age of IA she commenced her sing.
ing lessons, and gives the notable testi-
mony that she never had poor teacher
Circumstances caused frequent changes
of masters until she had the good fortune
to be placed under the tuition Of Mrs
Theo. Bjorksten of New York. With
this able instructress she remained q long
time and finally went to Paris with Mrs
Bjorksten as mentor.
Her voice created au instant and tire
mendous sensation, and some of the finest
press notices are from the Paris Galignani.
While in the capital of the world OF genius,
Miss Yaw was given the freedom OF the
box of Baroness Ro.hschild at the Grand
Opera.
Miss Yaw returned from Paris little
more than year ago and was advised by
friends to take short concert trip as be-
ing the best preparation for this year s
metropolitan tour, learning BY experience
exactly the best course to pursue both in
an artistic and a business way. To this
end she engaged Miss Lay and Mr. Dick
to join her, and the little party left St.
Paul 70 fill Is dates. Such success was q
very miracle. Instead of three weeks and
IS concerts, the tour embraced GA dates, a
number of which were returns on short
order. The tidings of the new voice flashed
from enc to end of the continent, so that
the triumphs of the present season were
written in the book of fate beforehand"
The third of the series of union meet
ings will be held, this evening, in the
Congregational chapel, instead Of Univer.
sal,st as announced, last week The ad
dress will be by Mrs. E. S. Fogg Sub
iect: "How to Interest and Hold Young
Men," Everyone interested in strength
ening the work of the Sunday school is
cordially invited to attend these meetings.
The bare announcement that the grand
wedding of Miss Tiny Midget and
Major Little Mite is to be repeated al
the Universalist church, this evening.
should be sufficient to fill the audience
room. Those, and there were many, who
were kept away by the storm, last Thurs
day, will have another opportunity tc
witness this charming entertainment.
John w. Rowe has shown q marked
Improvement in his condition during the
past few days.
Rev. John Pettineill, formerly of Rock
land, ia to be ordained Feb. 25 as pastor
Of the First Baptist church, Jefferson.