The times., 1897-05-09

A few days ago, while Judge Lewis, of
Washington State, was in a well-known
jewelers. establishment two ladies entered
They We're talking OF Signorina Belinfante-
One OF them said: "Oh, yes, she Is per-
fectly wonderful as a singer, and her voice
is magnificent, but it's too bad about her
religion" The Judge became interested
wondering " hat was going TO be saidabout
his little friend.
The speaker continued: You see, she is
an Italian, and they are all Catholics"
The judge smiled, wondering what diff
ference it could possibly make IL she
were but as he knew she was an Episco-
palian, having been brought up by the
strictest of Scotch Protestants, the re
mark seemed as ridiculous as 1t was
narrow.
sicnorina Belinfante does not like to he
called blind She sa Us that while she can
not see TO read or study, or distinguish
color, she is quite sensible of light aud
darkness, and can get an idea of the out
lines OF forms, so that she is very far
from being absolutely blind, as many
people suppose her to be. Her eyes are
large and beautiful, and at glance one
would never suppose that she had any
trouble with them.
Signorina Belinfante was left an orphan
at a very early age and was adopted by
Miss Farquehar, who belongs 10 one OF
the Oldest and wealthiest Scotch families.
Miss FarqueiIar desired that her protege
should enter Gerton and take degree
Her education was begun with this end in
view, but W hen still quite child, Estreta' s
sight began to fail, and it was at once
clear that she would be unable TO under
take so severe course of study.
Music was her one thought, but her
aunt objected to her taking il up as q
profession, and she was denied further
| musical training than any school girl
| might have.
During the summer OF 'S4, when Estreta
was with her friends, staying at an old
Italian villa, which was the property of
Lord Craven, and which adjoined the old
Church of San Rocco, the little girl
| used to listen to the chanting Of the monks
| with great interest.
This was the terrible cholera year in
Naples People Were ying by thousands, and
| every day the old monks chanted their
prayers to the protecting saint One lay
Estreta saw them bring the huge image Of
| the saint out of the church, piece by piece
| and set il up in the church yard. Then
| the monks marched around it, chanting
| their dcep-toned prayer.
| Estreta did not understand what IL all
meant and was much amused at the pro-
ceedings. Running to an old well which
| had, as she says, "a most beautiful echo"
| she began to initiate the deep voices and
| the chanting of the monks. The people
| of the villa gathered about in amaZement,
! saying, why, where in the world does
| she get those notes?" A s she had never been
heard to sing in anything but the childish
| soprano before, no one had realized, as
| they then did, that here was the foun1a-
| tion for cne of the worlds greatest con
| traltos.
| So much was said to Miss FaTquehar,
| who was called the signorina's s aunt, about
| her niece's wonderful voice, that this lady
| finally realized that the girl was intended
| to lie a singer. But it was three years
! after the episode at Naples before she
| was allowed to enter the conservatoire at
| Naples After this she also studied al
Florence, Milan and Vienna.
| Meanwhile, she had sung with such sue
| cess In concert that her masters were eager
! for her to appear in grand opera. This
| she did at the age of seventeen, in Naples,
| andin few months all Italy was wild about
| her. The subsequent failure of her sight
was considered as a national loss, as 1t
| deprived the grand opera of Italy of a
! contralto which was everywhere compared
| to that Of Scalchi.
! A years most serious illness resulted
| from an attempt to end her life, when the
| young prima donna found that she must
reIinqush her career at the very moment Of
her triumph.
| Miss Farquehar, who had almost en-
! tirely deserted her Scotch home, in order
| to travel with Signorina Belinfante, now
| decided to take her on u sea voyage to
| Japan. This charming dylavished every
thing that wealth could procure upon heI
adopted niece, to whom she was completely
| devoted Every desire of the young girls
| heart was gratified. No country was tos
distant TO visit if Signorina Belinfante de
| sired it.
From Japan Miss Farquehar accompanied
her niece to San Francisco, W here she wa.
| married to Mr.. Willis Edminister, well
| known New Yorker, whom she became
| acquainted with in Japan.