The sun., 1897-09-19
NELSON'S UNIQUE GENIUS.
ITS BIRTH nv nut AND ITS
DEPEL OPMENT
Tho Marvel OF Hrr song ana tho surcc'"c.

The Marvel OF Hcr song ana tho surce.sc.
That II brought Her - Parts In which
She wns InimItnbie-The Peculiar Quality
| OF Her Girts-somc scenes from Tier 1hrc
Christine Nilsson was born on tho Sd day Of
Aug usts1sd3, In the hamlet of liussaby, on tho
| southern confines of the Swedish peninsula.
| Sho was the eighth child OF Nilsson. II worthy
| peasant who lived by husbandry, and main
tained. with the aid OF his numerous family, n
farm, belonging TO Count Hamilton. The cot
occupied by tho seven brothers and sisters was
small and lowly. In her earliest childhood
! Christine was not distinguished among her
sisters. With them she was sent to n country
| school TO learn, at the expense of the Common
! wealth, reading and writing. Her father who
was an impassloned admircr Of music and the
leading singer in his church, taught her the
| first scale Of the musical notes. As she grew
| In form M woil in beauty she had to per.
| form share OF the household labors and some.
times to work in the fields. But Christine.
when alone at home seized upon the instrU-
ment OF her brother Carl, tho village fiddler,
and repeated by ear the national airs she had
heard him play. Tho noghhors were loud in
their approval OF the child's voice. which they
deemed wonderful in one so young. Carl then
conceived tho scheme Of increasing his slender
gains In taking his sister TO the fairs and wed.
| ulNEs Ut NIiICH MS SERVICES were npcOrU. inc
realization OF the idea was most excellent. Tho
| tiny girl attracted the crowd and held It spell.
| bound. Her fresh tones. her candid look her
slkcn hair trailing to the ground. her natural
| grac,. delighted the rustic audiences. Ap-
| plause used to be liberal and so were tho dona.
tions OF shillings thrown into the plate which tho
child passed around after the entertainment.
A good chsnc, at a fair brought to Christine
| Nilsson a happy incident. 1t happened at the
| fair Of Ljumby. noted magistrate, Mr..
| Ihornorhjcm was there and heard n noisy
crowd applauding FROM corner OF the plaza
| where the two wanderers were giving
concert. lie listened, first carelessly. and
then attenuvcly. He was enchanted to
| hoar, coming from the lips Of the child, the
| sweetness OF tho Swedish melodies tingcd with
| added innocence and suavity He summoned
! to him, ms he had been deeply moved. the
| brother and sister. conversed with them, and
| inquired Of their parents, who were well known
and respectable.
The day after Nilsson received letter from
| Mr.. Thorncrhjclm offering TO look out for the
education and future prosperity OF Christine,
which not the first proposal OF the kind
made to him. But this offer OF a differ.
ent nature. The Thornerhjclm family was so
hi shly respectable that question rs to its
| intention could he raised: It was assurcdly
| Providence which sent to Christine such protect
| ors rs these. To his wife, who was somewhat OPP
posed to acceptance, Nilsson unfolded his pre-.
sssn.ments ;no More than % once he said he had
him With beamiss '" and ld Sioried Sisaeo' S
sef haT aT no wPi lie ssss q the sSsn s. Il.
quecnsi He also said to her; Was Christincs
turesi Were her dainty hands moulded FOR for
Rrasping the shovel or the pickf, such arS,l-
| Acknowledged lhDrneFh
-, Once settled in the dwelling, of her protector,
| Christine won the love OF all its inmates.
In the castle Of Thornerh jclm guests were nume-
rous and many festivities took place. One evening
Nalcrius, a favorite songstress who aftcrward
became Baroness de Lauhasen, expressed
tine Nilsson voice charmed harmed her and and she at
once once determined 70 aid her In It's culture. Mr..
ing Nile Vaerus TOOK Hf the chd ,o her hoase
She gave her lessons and learned with salts.
that S,, she % Ss NOT in the when she
| the germ OF great artist. I he rare musical
taste was sdeyelopcd by Christine $ quick intellect
her advancement in art was interrupted for a
brief period; She had reached the age OF com.
In the church. That she might be the better pre-
pared, Christine was sent to an excellent school
his charge and escorted her To Stockho I'm.
aHd 'as of an
tine zcalously devoted herself again to her
musical studies. In a brief space of time
gained an intimate knowledge Of German nan
music. \ .well.det1ncd ambition now. filled
Lind. the pride "f Stockholm. was then en-.
dowed with its mightiest Significance and was
| the theme OF all conversation. Christine could
not listen to IT'S constant repetition without
| emotion.
rank. have in their race and blood rare au.
that Willingly. deaos the dictates OF chance and
| interrogates fearlessly the seas and the stars.
Nilsson's dream. too often bcset his daughter.
At midnight her closed eyes were opened 10 dis
tant and luminous horizons, and Of a sudden
vacrus, q distinguished painter, was about TO
leave for Frame She pTopo;;Gd to Christine
OF Hussaby journey to France was voyage
TO land OF wonders. The temptation was
were short, and she re~olutcly left her country
with the resolve of giving her talent its widest
the object OF a simple and cordial hospitality.
er. Prof. Varte CHANGED to visit the house she
occupied: Christine e., sought his advice, and ;
counsels with absolute docility. NJ. Nnrtel was
that his p ,,sm should ss'I, a the y iyrG re-
being uncertain sto whether this was her true
vocation, One evening, however. on her return
an admirable performance OF Nine, Mivlan.C Car.
| vulhO in la ltcinc TonaZc. the Young wOuld.ho
artist was stung quickly by desire OF cmulatnG
such triuInphs. After passing slceplcss and fc.
| vcrish night. Christine from that moment deter
mined to heed her secret desire, and to seek
n hearing OF the manager of the Theatre Iy-
riquc. Thanks to NJ. Nartcl. her request was
speedily granted Her natural fitness and the
sngnarity Of her talent secured for her nt
hearing three years engagement. She was
to receive 1000 francs $500 for the first year.
$500 francs $500 for the second year. and
5000 francs $500 for the Third year. Ehi
You dcbutantcs OF the present age, what do
you think about such an offer to you by an
impresarioi You surely will ask dollars in.
stead Of francs. and double the above amount
without possessing the voice or onc,tcnth ot
the talent OF Christine Missions d-givcn
gifts. On Oct ~, 1854 tho young Swedc made
hor first appearance on the French stage and
before PaTisian public In la Travinta,' il |
well remember.
On tho evening OF Feb. %, 1863, the North
Star shone with a peerless radiance. And what
better medium could Christine Nilsson have
selected for a revelation Of her mystical char
actor and her musical and religious tclnpcra
mcnt than I'll Flauto Magco." II was not
Pamina, the romantic, fond and innocent hero
.lzl...