The sun., 1903-09-13

But her task was also uncommon. She
was to be the prima donna or one OF the
prima donnas Of company that gave per-
formances in the Wallachian language
| IN grea outburst of national feeling
this opera company had been formed
She had 10 learn twelve operas III this
strange language. But she was to receive
| for that salary on which she could live
She had obtained the engagement because
| no woman of experience or reputation
would for the salary have undertaken
the work. But she took it and act herself
at work to learn Marguerite. Valentine and
Santuzzd in the language, expecting to
learn the other parts after the season
began,
She was to receive $3.50 a month, large
! salary for beginner and paid only In
view of the unusual nature of her work
Before she went to join this company,
she sang Ldkme at the Opera Comique
in Paris, and the usual reports Of her
triumphs travelled to the United States.
1t would be a difficult matter to find an
American singer who would not be allowed
to sing Ldkne at the Opera Comiqre-
almost as difficult as to find a JuLette who
would not be allowed to try it on at the
Opera.
Appearances at these two theatres long
ago ceased to have any Significance for
Americans The last woman to have a
debut al the Paris Opera made failure a
little more than year ago here in very
unpretertious English opera performances.
The expected happened with the Grand
National Wallachian Opera Company, 1t
disbanded after three Improbable weeks
that showed the national spirit to be very
untrust worthy when it was relied on to
buy opera tickets.
The leading soprano then found herself
back in Paris visiting the agents, They
hau nothing TO offer. At the end of six
weeks place was found for her in French
company going to sing in Cairo. After
three weeks that engagement ended be-
cause the manager took advantage Of a
clause in the contract that enabled him
to cancel it if the singer was incompetent.
In order to get the engagements and at
the suggestion Of her teacher, who wanted
to get some of the money owing to her
for les SONS, the girl had undertaken parts
for which she was not suited, so she found
herself in Cairo after the season was half
over with little more than enough money
to get her back to Paris. Half her salary
of $500 month had been paid by the man
agement to her teacher.
This closed her European experience.
She cabled for money to come home. and
went back there so soon as 1t arrived.
Here she had q few engagements in con-
cert The first of these was in her native
town, the second in Chicago. They were
we'll attended, for the desire to see what
the young woman had accomplished was
keen. The stories of her career abroad
that reached her friends here told only OF
her triumphs.
few more engagements followed. but
there was little demand for her services
She could not afford to pay for appear
ances, so after a while she gave up the
effort to remain concert singer and started
the rounds OF the church choir agencies
She had light soprano voice not well
suited to the declamatory, oratorio style
of music she would have been called on
to sing, and it was uphill work to get en-
ployment. She found place after while
however, at suburban church that paid
her $500 year There she is now
That was the end Of all the years Of study
abroad, the prize bought with all the money
| spent, the climax of all the long months
of struggle and ambitious toll, One con.
| ISOLATION remains to her. She believes tt
| this day that she was the victim of fate
Her natural talents she considers equa
to any in the world. And this is char
| acteristic of most OF the musicians Of he
| kind They are always satisfied as Il
| their talents, even though the world vii
not take them OF their own estimate.
This is the story Of one girl who wal
| flushed with the ambition to follow a caree
! for which she had no especial qualification
/ 1t might be told with only varying de al
concerning seven out Of eTery ten Ameri
can gills Who g abroad 20 study.
And it is just as true Of the piano player
| and the vioinists. After several year
Of study they come back here to enjoy
brief season before they disappear alto
gether. They usually teach if they ar
compelled to earn living
In one of the orchestras Of women player
several years ago in Bowery music ic hal
! was girl VINO had Deeh regarded Whei
Il pupil al Liege as the most promisin,
violinhL in the conservatory there. Sh
found nothing to do OIL her return 10 thi
country, had to earn living, and preferred
playing in an orchestra to the uncertain
profits Of woman violin teachers calling.
With The men tie ion is not so bad
as most of them find it much easier to ge
employment Most of the yiolinists, a
lealt the younger ones. who play in the cit
orchestras came back from Europe expect
ing TO be virtuosi. They never counted
on earning a living by playing in the wa
that nine out Of ten eventually do.
Tho most that the American pianist cal
expect is to get pupils. He is delighted
if he succeeds in that.
Lost Fifty Seconds.