The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-04
NORDICA'S PALACE
THE FAMOUS PRIMA DoNNA's BtX-
UREOUS HOME on
WHEELS
DISADVANTAGES OF GREATNESS
Singer Longs for the Freedom of Or
binary FoIiS-Chat With 'Brun-
hide" and the WoHder-
full Canary .Robbic.''

Prima donnas have nerves, diamonds
temperaments and private cars. Not al
of them have canary birds, called Bob
be." Distinction is lent Lillian Nordica
by the possession of a live ball of yellow
fluff. a ball with wicked black eyes that
look like shiny pin tops, and an m
pertinent stare that is decidedly Amer
lean. No one can visit Nordica without
meeting the flippant "Bobbie.'' There
fore, when T G. o b had the pleas
IRE of exploring the great prima donna $
private car yesterday and of exchanging
n few words with it's famous owner.
Boobies acquaintance was made. Nor
dica has all the reserve of greatness and
the North Bobbie is deVil-may- re-
hail fellow-well-met anxious to please
and to be pleased. He hangs in a gau3
lily gilded cage in the dining room, which
is also the living room of the "Brun-
hide Could one imagine a more APP
propriate name for the great Wagnerian
artists travelling home than 'Brunhilde?"
And Nordica fits into the SpaciousneSs Of
this "Brunhilde'' as easily as she fits into
the character of Wagner's northern
giantess But Bobbie-well, it's different
with Bobbie. What does Bobbie care
that his surroundings are solid mahog-
any, if you please? What is it to him
that the rugs on the floor are priceless,
that their colors combine d rare harmony
of tints that would make an artist blink.
Therefore when T h G b e paused in
front of the cage yesterday Bobbie
Winked, yes literally winked. as if he
would like to say, "All this show is ali
very we'll and she may like it, but, cor
1identially, give me the life out there
Say, look at that cocky sparrow doing
the tight rope walk up under that shed:
lingo, but that's life
And nNraN m a GlCf1nnttV
Brunhilde length, clad in a gorgeous tea
gown, her blonde and very Brunhilde
features set in a thoughtful frown, was
Boobies mistress. And wasn't Bobbie's
mistress saying very much the same
thing that Bobbie's eyes expressed?
Disadvantages of Greatness.
eff I could do things like other people"
sighed this woman of snow and fire.
But one must keep always in good phys
ical condition! One must be always
mindful of ones health, ones appear
ance To run out without a wrap-to
take the least little bit of a step from
the train to ones carriage-these are
luxuries not permitted q singer
But even so successful Brunhilde as
Nordica cannot dwell very long on the
disadvantages of being a prima donna, so
she talked of the Black Forest where
she to use her own Americanism,
'loafed' last summer.
The mention of the Black Forest evil
IDENTIFY aroused pleasant "reminiscences in
Boobies yellow breast. He tilted back
his speck of a head apd trilled a pensive
ballad. Brunhilde on the couch listened
to him admiringly.
Yes, Bobbie remembers the Black
Forest she said. "He did not have to
spend his time in a stuffy cage t..ere."
Brunhilde's voice was sympathetic and
Bohbie assumed a misunderstood air
and fixed his eye with moody disapproyal
were shrieking near the window.
MY present tour, which is entirely 4
concert one, will end April TO- when |
shall said for Europe to sing at Convent
Garden. This recital work is relief
after grand opera, and by spring I expect
to be thoroughly rested for my work
abroad. At Convent Garden / shall sing
the leading Wagnerian soprano roles
AS T II e o b withdrew Brunhilde
composed herself for a sesta. Bobbe' S
eyes were still fastened drearily on the
wintry landscape and the quarrelins
Sparrows.
Nordica has piano and an organ in
the living room of her private car. The
organ is a fixture in the car eBsioes the
spacious dining room there are three
private bedrooms three or four sections
an observation car and an ample com
missary department. Travelling with the
prima donna are her sister Mrs. Walker
of New York; Mr.. Romayne Simmons
the pianist; and Mrs. Stuyvesant Pea
body of Chicago.