The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-02-16
NINE. CALVES FIND


from you altogether She viii be your
daughter still. I want to take her for
only four years and do everything for her
in that time. viii clothe and care for
her as my own child. and also see 10 her
education, which must be OF the best. I
viii place her with friends OF mine-a fine
French family-in New York for the first
two years. With them she VIII study
English, German. Italian and French,
especially French, for at the end of two
years she shall come 70 Paris, there 70
finish her education unGer me person
ally At the end OF four years she shall
make her debut as 'Afichaele' to my Car
men Perhaps she VIII be able to DO this
sooner than four years.
What does the mother say? Can she
give up her little daughter for four years2
May / adopt her-mal.e her the coming
great Carmen Of the new cenTuy?"
The mother cried-and consented.
Then the whole party was invited to
stay 70 dinner with Calve. Between
courses she further outlined her plans
for the child.
Il wiz furnish clothing for the jour
ney to New York; also money to pay her
to come. I would like the mother TO see
where Ia petite VIII live and that every
thing viii be done for her. Then she may
return TO California. feeling the all is well
with her darling.
To the little girl she said IN her glorious
voice: 81 win teach you all winter. You
shah 90 TO matinees and concerts. but
never at night. Little girls must sleep.
TO bed at o'clock but up at dawn,
ready for work. That IS the rule. We
shall drive in the afternoon, and I shall
get pretty clothes and furs 10 keep you
warm, but all VIII be very simple. I like
not 10 grand things for les petite. You
shall play with my big dog that Queen
Victoria gave me, and have a good romp
every day. but you must also work. work.
and work hard. Don't forget that. BY
and by you VIII have money TO buy q nice
house for father and mother and enough
70 spare TO settle nice dot on little sister
perhaps. Then you VIII be happy. eh. ma
petite?
Before parting that evening Madame
Calve placed a gold chain and a hand
some Iocket around Edna's neck and gave
her a very pretty hat Calve also gave
Mrs. Darch a welKhlled purse for the
coming little diva's family
Edna does not inherit her musical abil-
ity from either Of her parents. Her
father, Frederick A. Darch, IS an Eng
Hshman. % years of age. he has worked
as a lumber shower since 10 years old,
and is at present foreman Of a email
lumber yard in Los Angeles. Mrs. Darch
was born in Germany, and. Ike her hus-
band. is comparatively uncultured and
used to a life Of toll. Edna takes most
after her mother. having some Of the
characteristics Of the Germans in her
figure and manner Of expression. She is
remarkably well developed for one so
young. IN conversation she is very bright
and vivacious Although used TO admlra-
ton. there is nothing affected about her.
She is a child that is loved by all who
know her.
Il hope to become as great a singer as
Nine. Calve, if that is possible" says
little Edna IF I 90. I VIII first try to
do something to make life easier for my
parents and my sister. Then I win try to
help others as have been helped. I viii
never forget tie friends who helped me
to get q start
How does it feel to be famous? 1 don't
know. rs I am not famous yet. have
found out. though how it feels to be no.
torious. The sensation Is rather queer and
little embarrassing. Ever since the
papers announced my good luck have
had all kinds of visitors and invitations
to dinners and parties. Photographers
nave been taking snapshots at me and Of
our house and even of our dog. Even
father got 50 excited that he took a day
of from work. and I mean &c get him out
Of that lumber ward just IS soon as can
earn money enough to keep him with
out working or get him an easier joe.
with so much excitement going On, it
is hard 70 do anything but 1 am stick
ing TO my studies just as close as / ever
can. SO that Nine. Calve VIII not ne sor-
ythat she took me up and made me her
musical daughter"