The age-herald., 1900-10-21
SHE TALKS INTERESTINGLY
Her Concert at the Jefferson Theatre Promises 10 be the Musical Event of The Season.
 News of Society
BY ANNIE KENDRIoK WALKER.


 Carrie Bridewen arrived in Birmingham yesterday from New York. She received me later in the day in her apartments al the Morris Gretchen. her German maid, who opened the door of the apartment. un- derstood English perfectly but there was little use for words. since Miss Bridewell herself turned a pair of blue eyes in my direction and assumed as charming an air of hospitality she was able to do under the circumstances. She was in the hands of Madame La Coiffeure, for whom she had sent the moment of her arrival. Her beau- tiful dark hair fell loosely over her shoul- ders and Madame La Coiffeure was lifting the long wavy tresses and drying them by her flaming process Miss Bridewell wore pale blue dressing gown, and seated In front of a long mirror, bending her pretty head to the stroke of the brush in the hands of her maid she chatted first of hef happiness of returning to Birmingham, of New York, of Dresden, of the grand opera season, and back again to her school days in Birmingham.
 T am very happy to be back once more" she kept repeating. T lived in BirminS ham just al the age when one would be apt to become greatly attached to place, and nay heart always grows very tender at the thought of Birmingham. 1 shall never forget how very kind my friends were to me. When I left Birmingham the MendelsUhn Club, of which MT. Burbank was director at that time, gave me ben eft concert. You know that I went first to Chicago and afterwards to New York, and it does seem strange that after all these years l have come back to sing In concert"
 m November the Metropolitan Opera Company will open an engagement in San Francisco and in the late spring will go to London while 1 will study again in Dresden
 Mss Brideweu in recalling her first ac- qualntance with MT Grau said that it was due entirely to Madame Sembrich. The lat ter had heard Miss Bridewell sing in the Maine festivals.
 "Aou must sing in opera declared Madame Sembrich, and while Miss Bride well uttered a protest, an interview was arranged for MT. Grau. The moment that he heard Miss Bridewell's voice her fate decided. Mir. Grau recognized that she was to become one of the greatest artists of the world.
 Her first furor was created when she ap- peared in "The Magic Flute" in the role assumed by the great German contralto Madame Schumann Heink, and while the prestige of being protege of Madame Sembrch and appearing in role assumed by distinguished artist gave great eclat to her first appearance In grand opera, some thing more was needed to satisfy the critical New Tor audiences that filled the Metropolitan Opera House on grand opera nights. But the story of Miss Bridewelrs success on that wonderful night was told the next day by the New York papers. Then the newspapers throughout the coun- try printed the story of her contract with Mir. Grau. The terms provided for three consecutive summers of study abroad, Miss Bridewels expenses to be paid by the Metropolitan Opera Company.
 This practical evidence of Mir. Grau's faith in me-" said Miss Bridewell yester- day, made me feel that I could not dsap- point him in any way, and especially when he emphasized over and over again that I Was the only singer whose expenses for a musical education he had ever offered to pay. Then, too, I felt the responsibility of fulfilling Madame Sembrich's expectations so while l was naturally ambitious from a selfish point of view, I was continually thinking of MT. Grau's generosity and of Madame Sembrichs great kindness and in- terest and of how dreadful I should feel If l were to disappoint them.
 Madame Sembrieh is very dear to me I am devoted to her, for she is personally very lovely woman, besides being one of the worlds greatest artists. I saw her every day in Dresden. She lives very eharmngly there. and her home is most ideal. Her hus- band and her children are charming
 'tI do not know what should do without Madame Sembrich. She gives me such good