Evening star., 1900-10-06

splendid education" to give herself to him
finally with all her requirements.
In France 1t would be matter for vau-
deville or farce. Even for America it may
be a bit strong. But such were the cold
facts.
Went Over to Music.
We parted with Rosalie at Southampton,
she going to the Berlin medical schools.
By this last springtime she should have
been a full doctor. Judge, then, our sur
prise, taking tea one afternoon at (say)
the American Girls Art Club in the Paris
Latin quarter, to see pop in, bright and
rosy, bubbling with enthusiasm and con-
tentment, this same Rosalie-Miss Rosalie
as ever-now no longer a medical student
but future prima donna in oratorio or con-
cert. She was not going the stage
This she confided to chosen lady friends;
her husband would not suffer it-for she
was married she admitted it to them in
confidence, but she did not want it gener-
ally known.
Now, here was girl who had put in two
good years, romping over Europe. on the
strength of her Studies in medicine and
vocal music and funds faithfully remitted
by the hopeful party waiting for her at
home! Great Scott!
Still, our good girls at home who lead
lives Of usefulness and genuneness ought
not to fret at the picture of these pretend
ers having good time Rosalie must have
had qualmS of conscience Apart from the
uneasy homecoming at the end of 1t all,
lives even during the glamor Of the Eu-
ropean study period? Go to, there are
disappontments and disillusionists! When
the vocation is found not to be real, the
make believe begins.
What Two Young Men Did.
I say 1 do not know whether Rosalie had
qualms. but 1 shall not soon forget the
expedients and scares of couple of
American young men, of whom 1 saw a
great deal in Paris few years ago. They
were cousins, and 1t was the younger who
had the voice to cultivate. His father, a
man Of some means, was persuaded by the
other not to let Percy go abroad alone. He
needed looking after. Some designing girl
might get hold of him and marry him.
So the two cousins came abroad together
the elder carrying the purse, and conf
Dental commission to the father
a home should the studies turn out to be
unpromiSing.
The studies did turn out to be unpromis-
ing. 1t took an honest Paris teacher but
a short time to declare Percy's voice unfit
for anything but parlor efforts He could
never hope to be an opera concert artist.
Did they turn back dutifully, according to
the program? Not a bit Of 1t! The eff
forts that the elder cousin made to get
Percy something like regular supply of
complimentary press NOTES.-THE clippings
to be sent home as much evidence Of
progress-would have gone far to make Sue
cess in any legitimate business.
The Final Outcome.
One year after the other they fingered,
dailying from Paris in the season to En-
g!ish watering places and the Riviera The
musical mask waD never quite thrown OF.
1t made the young man interesting. Still,
the time was drawing near to show results.
Percy's father threatened to come over
for foretaste Of his sons operatic tri-
uniphs. Then. you may believe there was
q h1C 70 md a
old man. The final idea was a stroke of
genius. They announced, by cable, moth
ing less than Percys marriage, to come off
almost Immediately; and the letter that
came to explain 1t detailed such splendid
match with rich English girl that the
fCnd parent was persuaded to give up his
European trip and send over the sum 1t
would have cost to defray Percy's bridal
eXpenses Now, the finale shows how real
life may outdo fiction. The latest news
Is that the young man really has picked up
a wealthy English widow. He has married
her and he Is fixed for life and indcpend-
ent.
For the girls. even more than for the
young men, marriage is the lucky door be-
hind which to retire and hide the artistic
and financial failure of ill-considered Eu-
ropean studies in music and art. But what
If, instead of marriage, the girl-in parttcu-
lar-attains something of an artistic sue
cess? Is 1T really worth SO much risk and
effort after all? Here Is the veraeiouS his
tory Of a girl who has succeeded. 1 Won
der If many ordinarily situated girls at
hCme. leading normal. pleasant lives. would
be willing to change places with her. after
her seven or eight years of hard work, ex-
pense and anxiety?
Does 1t Pays
Today. after spending several thousand
dollars in musical training with the best
Paris teachers this girl Is a serious artistic.
A dramatic soprano Of great range-indeed,
she could sing cOntralto-she unites a con-
siderable stage talent with a fine presence
and an imposing manner True, years Of
hustling have added some lines to her face
that do not make for beauty. She Is not
'charmer." yet no manager would object to
her on the score of personal appearance.
For the great dramatic parts she is even
more than we'll equipped. Now, this girls
voice is SO good, her art is 80 sure that,
after two years of the utmost efforts. in
cluding all manner of rolling in the
American colony, she managed to get
series of minor parts without salary, ex-
cept the cost Of her costumes. two winters
ago at (say) Monte Carlo. There she at
tracted the attention OF a certain wealthy
and celebrated opera composer the chief Of
rather precious school, "greenery-yel-
lowy, pretentious and very much up to
date. To be taken up by this man meant
the certainty of a kind Of artistic and
worldly success. 1t also meant cruel gos-
sip, for the fellows reputation with wo-
nenkind ran that way. She pleased him all
Sne uareu. she might nave just as we'll
gone farther, because she was wickedly
talked about. The great composer got her
certain roles. Then, having satisfied his
vanity or become discouraged at her final
resistance, he abruptly dropped hereafter
the talk had gotten well started
This American girl-a real astste-has
now small engagement in (say) Brussels.
There she sings small parts, at a small
salary. She has had her trial, SO she can
not hope to burst into success She is sim
ply conscientious average artistic, like q
thousand others in Europe. She has not
had an oYer-pleasant time of 1T in the
European world Of art and culture. Per-
haps 1t is because she was all the time
spending her own money. She has also
been sincere. 1t Is the make-beieves, after
all. who have the best time when their
conscience let's them. The make believe
has nothing at stake 1t is all gain for her
STERLING HELLO.
The Hntless Girls Hair.
From the Boston Herald.