The Jersey City news., 1899-10-13
WOMAN'S WORLD.

The following advice to young singers
is credited to Nine. Patti says the Con-
cert-Goern Whether or not it really en-
anated from the great diva-and there is
no reason to doubt its authentieity-t is
entirely sane and wholesome, with the
possible exception of the chocolate cara
mel item, which may be termed a HARM
less but unnecessary idiosyncrasy. Ma
ture does not let ones throat parch for
the lack Of a caramel. Had it been es-
sential for us to induce the generation
of saliva by extraneous agencies, we
should no doubt have been provided with
cuds. as are our bovine friends. But.
on the whole, this is very good advice,
young singers. Read and remember
Il don't believe In coddling myself and
making my throat too tender" said Nine.
Patti. Il kept my vocal powers at their
full by extreme care, but you will notice,
if you have been told Of my rules of life,
that I'VE never made myself sensitive to.
slight exposure.
"Of course, a great deal of rubbish has
been written about my dread of taking
cold, and have been Informed of the
eccentric means I use to avoid it. 1t has
been said that I have all my clothing
marked with cabalistie signs, and that
variation of few degrees in the weather
will cause me to add to or take from
my clothing, so and SO many ounces OF
underwear. ] read also in one crazy pa
per that never pass from heated room
to the cold air outside except by easy
stages, and that to go from the concert
room to the corridor stairs, then to the
fT1,19r rA
finally TO pass into the street. is an ops
GRAFTON which takes me half an hour.
'aeelimatizing myself as I go!
'sAll that is rubbish. of course-that is,
it is rubbish to say that ] took any such
time I'm careful, as every singer should
be- to avoid sudden and violent changes;
but, ON the other hand, / would warn
you not to make yourself too tender, and
invite cold by the inexperience of slight
exposure.
Harden youself; build up your consti-
tuition; don't occupy overheated rooms at
any time; live out of doors at least for
two hours every day, and walk and
drive. That's my advice. Then don't be
afraid to breathe plenty of good, fresh
air, even if the weather is cold. The peo-
pie who go about with nuffled throats,
overburdened with wraps-men singers
who turn the collars of their coats at the
slightest breath of air and women singers
who hide themselves in mass of car
riage rugs and cover their faces with
laces and woollens when carriage driv-
ing-are the ones who first begin to
cough.
son the other hand, don't go to ex-
tremes and expose yourself in raw, damp
air. especially at nightfall. Be sensible,
and preserve a happy medium between
wish caution and foolish coddling.
IF there are any special rules by
which I have preserved my voice they are
pretty well indicated In what have just
said. and in my invariable rule of spar
ing my voice when it is not in perfect or
der. There lies the real danger to singers
not In exposure to cold air SO much as
singing when nature says THE voice is
in need Of rest" and when the delicate or
gan should not be fatigued or even used
Where one voice is injured by exposure
to cold. twenty are hurt by singing when
the voice is not in good condition Even
when I've had to lose 1000 by missing a
performance I have invariably pocketed
the Joss for greater gain. and my voice
has outlasted twice over those who began
their career with me
1.-The little things of life make up its
total. and a little preeautfon in a singers
career is what counts and adds to the
span of her stage Mfe. For instance. one
should never allow the throat to become
dry. Keep it moist. The hot. dry air of
an oyerheated room is very bad for it,
parching it and tending to encourage in
hammation. And when out walking or
driving it is apt to become dry and hard,
in cold as we'll as in warm weather. Let
me give you piece of advice It's lit
tie thing, and yet effects big results
When you are out of doors always keep
a bit of candy in your mouth-not to eat
but to dissolve slowly in the mouth, to
moisten the palate and the throat and to
keep them moist.
II never go out. summer or winter, rid
ing. driving or walking. without choco-
late caramel in my mouth, letting it dis
solve as slowly as possible"
Perhaps the newest fad of the winter
will be the long girdles which have come
into prominence through the Introduction
of the Princess style of costume. These
girdles are at their prettiest and smartest
mace
many pendants of jefted fringe, balls and
pretty faneies.
other girdles show great links of the
new French fad of vert de'or effect, and
are intended to fasten round the waist,
knot and have one dangling end loaded
with charms, coins. souvenirs, good luck
trophies and the hundred and one fads
which are displayed for tempting unwary
woman today.
Then, again. another style shows gun
metal links and a jingling bunch of
amethyst, turquoise, garnet or emerald
pendants. in size TO correspond with the
jewel hearts worn last year on the Cy-
rano chains.
Jetted belts are also extremely fetch
ing. A new feature of these pretty
centuries is the beaded fringe which
hangs below the waist. forming a sort
of peplum. Some of these fringe pep
lums are pointed, some are certainly
very effective and very smart in their tout
ensemble.
The clasps are also Jetted and form in
some cases large butterfly; in others
pretty buckle. The belts can he made of
beads to match any costume, such as
blue. brown. steel or green but the smart
est and certainly the most serviceable are
those Of finely cut Jet beads, as they can