The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-07-13

Latin, teeming with memories OF the rich.
est periods Of French history and romance
- not Just political hitory alone, but higher
things as well. When ! got my first glimpse
of the towers Of Notre Dame the asso.
ciatlve memory that came with quickest
sportGuety 20 my mind was that OF victor
Hugos hunchback, Quasimodo.
Other thoughts In connection with the
history OF this great old cathedral came
afterwards, of course, but | brought them
by nm effort OF the Will II Is many years
since | read the "HunchhacB of Notre
Dame" and my experience when ! hrt
saw the old church was another revelation
Of the hold d takes Is Il not said that
Hugo wrote all but the first chapters OF
that hook IN eleven days timer ! have
an invitation "a go with friends tomorrow
aud visit the tomb of this greatest of
French writer's In the Pantheon
Even my limited knowledge of French
has been Invaluable TO me. / enjoyed vast.
Is short morning lecture at the Sorbonne
on the subject OF French literature and
several other things that most people would
not miss have been great JOY 70 me.
Now something about uHlsic, Maybe |
was n little disaI9uinted IN the music
heard IN the Grand opera house. but the
unmiXed delight of my FIRST evening at
the Opera Comique more than made up for
It, | looked and listened entranccd 20
Massenets superb .'Manon," perfectly
mounted, sung and played. Notices are
posted about In the foyer and halls Of
the building to the effect that there Is
no claque I'm the opera comlque, aud from
ment Is true. The applause was certainly
spontaneous NJ. sllvnin is a prominent
Partisan teacher Of those who wish to
become great lyric artists, so ! ind the
reports Of the competitive examinations
and the final exercises OF the members Of
his class quite interesting and / hope 10
prom sre3uy by the experience; for such
taste, but form and mature ones iudg-
mrnt as music critic. AS the Young
aspirants for operate honcrs they are not
"a n q har In M IT,. ala
are too FAR away from our home TO hold
any personal Interest for us, ] VIII not
give the names ~ the successful candi
Nine. Marchesi, who has trained ~
many celebrated singers, received me mOsi
klndly-indeed, so far, everybody have
tried to see In Paris has been SO gracious
and easily accessible that ! have fallel
| In love with everything Partisan and oh
| how ! hate to leave! have not yet need
ed to show my newspaper credentials, bu
| It's great comfort to know that / have
them.
Nine. Marchesi quite scolded me for no
! coming 10 her as soon as I arrived i
| Paris for had ] done so | might NAV
| attended the musical soiree she, asslste
| by her pupils, gave last week for the ben
/ eft OF the sufferers Mt Martinique.
have seen several people who did attend
and they all tell me the scenes from va
rlous operas presented at the Marches
| soree were superb
| | was allowed TO enter madame's class
room while she was giving a lesson. an
! was, OF course. much interested and edi
| Ned by all | saw and heard. After a ~
| tie Madame took me into the next rooI
and while she talked with me, her pupils
left behind, began TO move about an
| chat; once she called 10 them sharply
'Madamoselesr and then, MS a sienc
fell. she said 10 me- In an undertone an
with sympathetic smile "'rhe bird
VIII twitter."
She spoke most tenderly Of EulalIe Ri
ley. a pupil OF hersf who became a d
tngulshed opera singer. and ded SON
years ago over here In Europe. Miss ri
ley WAS Houston girl sister OF Mr.
C. c. BeaVens. We older lIoustoniaI
knew her well and stlll remember ne
wonderful voice After singing the pri
cipnl roles In the finest operas given
Vienna aud Budapesth for several year
Miss Rlsley had Just signed contract
he the leading eontralto in the opel
7 Comique here In Paris, when her deaf
occurred.
60 tomorrow 20 Strasshurg- simply
break there the journey 20 Munich III
statue 81 the city Of Strassburg drap'
l IN mourning, covered with memoir
wreaths and other tributes usually SCI
on the graves Of the beloved dead, Is
c striking thing 10 see In the Place de
d roncorde, amid the hurrying crowd.
r course &c was before the Franeo-Germ