The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-06

despite the intense interest In the intelli-
gence displayed by war bulletins" the
enthusiastic support of every music lover
In the city and its surroundings, the coun-
tenance of our exclusive social environ
ment and the hearty support of the gem
erai amusement-go going public to a degree
never before known in the History Of our
musical annals.
Mr.. Ellis came directly from San Fran
ciseo. where Melba achieved a triumph of
really astonishing proportions. He en-
Enthusiastically describes the greeting given
by the Californiaus of the state TO the
supreme mistress OF the realm OF song.
and the sensation caused by the beautiful
Australian when she-moved by an excess
OF sympathetic patrlotisrn-sung the ma
tienai war song al the performance Of the
"Barher of Seville. In the California the
alter on Thursday Eenins Mr.. Ellis SAID
yesterday:
Those who witnessed the enthusiastic
out-pouring of patriotic spirit al the Cali
fornia theater upon the occasion of the
performance OF the Barber by Mime. Mel
ba and her company. will never forge: the
scene. Melha's deepest sympathy has
been exercised with the United States and
the boys IN blue during the excitement in
cidentai upon the declaration of host!ii,ies
between the United States and Spain
She Is an English woman and has voiced
the strongest sympathy of her nation in
the present crisis. Whatever moved her
To sing the Star Spangled Banner during
the performance % the Barber on Thurs
day night no one but Mime. Melha herself
can tell.
1T was at the close OF the lesson scene
when the holse--shieh the critics tell me
was the most brilliant ever assembled
within the walls OF the California theater-
had almost overwhelmed her with ap-
plause after she had sung the quaint cid
southern air Way Down Upon the SUI
wannse River that Media. moved by the
impulse of the moment and her deep feel
ing for the boys I'm blue wno tina same af-
;ernoon she had seen depart for the south
ern frontier seated herself a. the piano
and struck the first chords Of the glorious
and inspiring national war song,
Those who witnessed the enthusiastic
out-ponring OF patriotic spirit the moment
that Melha sounded the deep chords OF the
Star Spangled Banner will never forget
the scene. Her voice gave forth with as
tonishing ci,aTneSs the first notes of the
great seng and YOU must imagine IL yo0
can, she tremendous cheering, the rising OF
the house en- maSse. the sea OF delicate
iace handkerCh!sfs waved through the au-
aitortum the fragrant flowers fiutfered In
the air by the beautiful and enthusiastic
women. ana in fact the utter abandonment
OF the vast audience TO a veFitabls narde-
menium of patriotism. II was several mo
ments before Melba could proceed or, 20
he frank before she coald even Recover
herself so electric Was the force OF the
spirit which evidenced itself az the first
notes OF the inspiring war song. When she
did 40 on IL was 4 wonderfully spirited
rendition Of the song. her brilliant high
notes shooting through the sneRter like
neseSrs az sound and ar0uSing the audi
enee as she closed - , outhurst OF cheers
and braves fhat made a spectacle THAI wilt
ever resisln In the minds of those who wit
Messed e..
Then Melba. completely overcome, COW
cred her face with her hands and Was led
90 the rear Of The ssH&e by SaliEnac and
tarbane The audience cheered ard
eheerwst but the singer Was too much over
come IN respond 60 the applause and IL
was a slln Ave minutes before she could
prerged wlth the opera,