The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1899-12-16


Not only was 1t impossible to conceive
you as Santuzza, but az having any sym.
pathy for or understanding Of her. The
music YOU sang remarkably we'll, but
your indifference to the character was
obvioue, and to consider you seriously
10 the part seemed like Offering an In.
suit to we'll bred American woman.
Passional crimes are not rife among the
pine forests OF Maine, nor are they en-
couraged even in Iowa. You have lived
in many countries and have studied the
language and manners OF many peoples;
intellectually you are flee from preiu.
dice. But sentiment is thing Unborn;
1t forms before the psrietal bones have
closed, lie made up Of the first lights and
shadows and echoes Of the great world
that comes to us across the great thresh.
old upon which we play, and education
cannot change it. 70 your credit, you
have remained an American woman, and
1t were easier to melt the stony hills Of
Maine than the proud marble Of your
body. easier to teach the pines sensuous
melody than the splendid Amazon var
rior. full armed and girded for the fray.
Even since you returned to us with
the hallmark Of Beyreuth. We, your own
people, have done you scant justice.
Were you Deutch trau of mountain.
QUE physique, or q raw.boned Russian
giantess, or frowsy. haired Hungarian
Jewess. no doubt you would be very
much the fashion. But since you are
gifted gentlewoman Of our own blood,
with the fresh color and frank eyes that
bespeak such fine things Of your coun.
try, we are prone to neglect you and
take your merits for granted. We find
the gypsies who consume black liqueurs
aud spoil their compilations with tobac.
co more interesting.
The manner in which you have held
your own In the Metropolitan Opera
Company should be source Of pride to
your countrymen. With the exception
OF Nine. Eames you are the only Amer.
icaD woman who has made herself in.
dispensable to that heterogeneous organ.
ization. In that motley assemblage Of
bohemians. ex.cab drivers, ex-innkeep.
era, swarthy beings drummed up from
every corner Of Europe. speaking every
gibberish and dialect, you have main.
tanned your dignity and ours in way
that makes one long to cry, "A health
to the native born!" Great artists. all
of them. these foreign folk. of the aris-
tocracy Of genius, whatever their pedi.
gree. Of blood more royal than that Of
princes, but people Of strange maupers
and foreign sympathies and. withal, OK.
ceedingly bigoted. The overwhelming
importance Of these persopsges has
never abashed you. What you know,
you know. though you came from Maine,
and you have made even the Poles
"Alss," said Cherbuliez. "this sad world,
full Of accidents and Poles!'-feel the
righteous indignation Of the Puritan.
AZ artists, you have given these person.
ages their due. but In your personal and
professional relations with them you
have exacted courtesy, respect and fair
dealing, and have carried your colors
right gsllantly. unawed by titles and
splendors and the favors of kings. In
much TIE same spirit did our great
Franklin, in his coon.s4in cap, walk un.
perturbed through the halls of the
Tuilleries. converting confidently with
savants and princes. the equal of any Of
them; watching with keen interest the
foliies Of the bewigged AID bejeweled