Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-30
NINE. cALvE AND HER PRoTEGE
Fortunate of 14-Year-OId Edna Darch. OF
Los Angeles Cal

with a great gift and then, just at
the right moment, to have fairy
godmother appear.
In this story Edna Darch, of Los
Angeles, is the good little girl and
Calve-capricious, captivating, quick
pulsed Calve-is the fairy godmother.
The Darches are poor, but Edna
has a voice, and Mime. Calve has prom
ised to see that she has future. In
other words, Calve is to do for the
child what her parents would gladly
do for her if they could-have her
voice trained by the best masters and
fit her for the operate stage. More
than this, Calve herself will take her
for a time under her own tuition.
And it has all happened so suddenly
and unexpectedly that Edna Darch
feels as though she were afraid to
open her eyes wide lest she find she
has been asleep and it was only a
dream.
She knows how that feels, for she
tried it once-just the night before
she sang for Calve. She had dreamed
that Nordica heard her sing and had
taken her away to Europe and made
her Il great artist. Just she was
singing. with all the world at her
feet, she woke up.
do you believe in dreams?" asked
her older sister when Edna told her
of the beautiful dream.
mo. But l wish they came true"
Even then, unknown to the child. n
letter had been written to Calve ask
ing her to hear Edna sing.
Not that Edna's teacher hoped for
anything more than word of praise
that might be used to advertise a
benefit concert which it was pro-
posed to give in January to help lit
tie with the expense of music lessons.
The wages of a clerk in a lumber
yard do not warrant the training of
nightengales.
Calve, seeking rest at Pasadena.
had shut herself away from all Wis
itors. and that she should take time
to listen to an aspiring child singer
was almost a vain hope. But Edna
had a teacher who knew that her pu-
pill was a genius ana for more than
year her one wish had been that the
child should sing for a truly great
artist.
Something in the letter struck a
chord in Calves warm heart. She
consented and on the very day of
Edna's dream the vision of the night
partly realized.
Edna Darch, in plain little cotton
frock, with voice that faltercd just
the least with excitement, sang for
the great song goddess, the unrecoS-
nized fairy godmother.
beautiful, ravishing. magnificent"
whispered the artist the child
sang. 1t took but one look from the
deep, wonderful eyes of the diva 10
tell the child that all was well, that
the soul of the other understood.
After the song there were more
hugs and kisses and more adiectives.
And then all in moment Calve
made her plans. She must take Edna
with her, teach her, have her study
and hear other great artists and
have pretty frocks and furs-but
simple, mind you, for la petite. And
then Paris, and then-the world.
No wonder the child blinked hard |
and pinched herself to make sure she
was really awake.
Edna Darch has always loved music |
always lived for it.
When n baby, tied in her little rock
ing chair and left to amuse herself,
she sang and sang, rolling her eyes
far back and rocking vigorously to
help make the high notes come.
Her mother had the love of music |
and an ear for il without the knowl-
edge of it, and her father had a voice.
Edna's gift was a natural one, and
when she was old enough both par
ents meant that she should have the
best help they could give her.
But the best is not to be had for
the least money and it was not until
n family friend came to the rescue
with an open purse that Edna could
have instruction worthy of her art
For n wear or two she studied only
for piano, but that other longing
would not cease. Still she must sing,
stretching her voice from its highest
to it's lowest pitch.
Then, when she was nearly ~, she
began to study voice culture with
Miss Elizabeth Carrick. There were
no more wild, unstudied bursts OF
song She must sing not higher than
ID for whole year, and not more
than an hour n day in fifteen-minute
periods.
When she was just slipping into her
teens there was a short est and she
was not allowed to sing note.
In those days Edna was restless
and unhappy, but she obeycd her
teacher. Yet the music must out ard
the child would shut herself away n
a room and whistle until her over
burtlened soul found relief.
When she went back to her lessons
again her tones were rounder, fuller,
more mature. But now she must not
GO higher than +, with an occasional
+ with Miss Carrick by way OF
treat.
Not only must Edna thank Miss
Carrick for her first training, but for
this great opportunity that has come