Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-08-12


 Altogether an Agreeable ordeaI-But
 She Conscientiously Labors Always For
 Her Pupils Benefit.
 In the musical world of Europe no teacher stands higher than Mime. Mar chesi, and yet first interview with her is an ordeal to be dreaded. She may tell you with almost brutal frankness that your cherished vocal projects are thin as air bubbles and that you had better turn your attention to cooking. Or, with one unusual gleam of her gray eyes and one sudden indrawn breath, making her thin lips still thinner, she may tell you that you are destined to lift the heart of the world in immortal song and wear the laurels of a great lyric career Again, she may tell you with tho same blunt severity that you have no looks at all for the stage, and after you have been accepted as pupil you are still subjected to her merciless severity.
 To be taught by Mime. Marehesi is not to have the luxury of an individual lesson, an hours good, oozy, comfort able time all to yourself By no means. That is not her plan. You are taught ill class. You are thus introduced at once to an audience. You thus have an opportunity of conquering stage fright. You are thus submitted to the criticism of others. Not only your voice, but your manners, your gait, your way of holding your hands are studied. From head to foot you are sorutinized.
 A small platform is in the center of Marchesi s salon, where the pupil stands and recites Cor sings) her lesson. The class sit around the room and critieise. The pupil has to face not only the class, but the audience includes often the first musicians of the world How does sensitive woman bear the gun fire of Mme. Marchesi $ criticism, her ridieule, her sarcasm and severity? One day one of the class was having her 1 , minutes of lesson before a crowded room. Mar chesi was ill q sardouic humor that morning. Her remarks were brilliant, but more cutting than q Damascus blade The audience felt that climax was coming. It came The girls lip began to tremble as Marchesi 5 com mentary sparkled and cut and sparkled again Her lip trembled moro and more Tho agitation gained upon her whole body, till she shook like a willow in the wind Poor dear, tho other pu- pils held their breath. The room was silent as | tomb. You could hear Mar ohesi s watch tick in her pocket Still the pupil stfove to bring out the tone that those severe lips of Marehesi had commanded. At last the voice rolled out. The tone gained upon the room. The voice stopped.
 You sing like a fooI!9 literally hissed Marehesi, and the storm broke.
 The girl burst into tears. Her sobs, coming upon the silence, were most painful. Not one of the pupils dared to rush forward with comfort or bandlSer- chief Tho girl threw the sheet of mu- sic on the floor and covered her face with her hands. Then, dashing the tears away from her face, she stopped down gathered up the scattered music, tore it into shreds, tossed it to every part of the room, and rushed from the platform stage All felt it was over with her forever, so far as lessons with Marehesi were concerned, and more than one heart aehed for her.
 Ha, hap laughed Marchesi, rising delightedly from the piano, rubbing her hands together and walking, or rather stalking, majestically through the room and up and down and again seating herself at the piano. tHa, ha! That girl will singl She has the grand fire She is dramatic. She has the fine pas sion of the devil , And the girl came back the next day and won Marchesi' $ braves and hand clapping.
 Upon another occasion Marehesi sat in judgment upon pupils hands as she stood upon the platform.
 Now, don't put up your lip like a baby she says, if I tell you that I never saw such booby. You re as awk- ward as country clown. Look at your hands Just look at them dangling down at your sides like jumping jack waiting to twitch on pole. Maie, vol Ia, , she continued, softening little, if l do not tell you. ma chere, of these things now while you are i'll my salon, do you know who will tell you of them later on when you stand for the first time before one of the great audiences of Europe? The reporters will fay you alive and deservedly. Will they not note down every awkward gesture, every gaueherie? Will they not say, She has { divine voice, but she held her hands like elown?' And when you read it in all the papers the next morning, ah, how you win exclaim, Why did not Marchesi correct me, tell me, reproqe me, no matter how severely?' Now, hold your hands easily, one palm crossed upon the other, the right hand across the left, the forefnger and middle fia- ger of the ight hand between the thumb and forefnger of the left hand Bon Now, see what ease of position, what repose it gives to yoar whole figure as you stand there.
 To look over the programme for the