The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-28
MELBA's ARRIVAL NOT FAR OFF.
Wichita's Chance to Show the Stuff
She's Made Of.

Since Col. II. G. Toler arranged for
Melba's appearance in Wichita on NO
vember 13. musicians and music-lcving
people of the Peerless Princess have en-
loved much of the pleasure of antici-
patton. All recognize the marvellous skill
of Melba and her fame causes all 10
wish to see and hear the great singer.
Colonel Toler deserves commentator and
something that is still more practical and
important, the support of the people OF
this city. He is bringing to the Peerless
Princess an artist that will not be heard
in another city in the west with th"
exception of Kansas City. Wichita
should show that it can afford such
treats and thus win the admiration and
respect of all the towns within a ra-
dius of hundreds of miles around 1t. Il
will cost from s. to 81 seat to hear
Nine. Melba, but there is a profit at this
price when il is considered that many
people spend half the amount to list IN
to comic stuff, which has no value out
side of its amusement feature.
This is an opportunity also for people
in the surrounding towns and no doubt
they will take advantage of it. Anyone
spending an evening listening to such an
artist can go home feeling that the time
has not been wasted. This fact should
bring out those who care to spend their
time profitably, and no doubt there are
enough of these kind of people to fill the
Auditorium.
Tickets for the concert will be placed on
sale at the box office Monday morning.
The following conversation which was
overheard at Covent Garden, London.
gives the continental idea of the grea,
singer:
4 wonder if Melba calls this an ov1-
ton. 1t is tame compared TO some l have
seen her receive. St. Petersburg people
Will not soon forget the effect of ;.er
singing upon the Russian audiences. On
one memorable night, after the close Of
the opera. they called her before the cur
tain time and again for an hour and a
half. and they had to bring a chair so she
could rest between the intervals of bow
ing stormy applause. The crowd fol-
lowed her carriage 20 the hotel and al
though it was in the depths Of a Rus
sian winter, they stood beneath her WIN
dow and sereEaded her until o'clock in
something hot to drink and a message
entreatng them TO so home for their
own sakes
When she reached the station to de-
part the next day there was the same
crowd of music, lovers kissing Their
hands &c her cheering her waving hand
Eerchiefssr umbrellas hats-anythin~
They sent up To the carriage countless
things for her autograph and when she
had no more time to sign them. as tho
train was leaving. they seized the pencil
from her hand bit it up into tiny pieces
and PASSED them around IS souvenirs
They tool, her gloves and tore them -
En- the same way. ard we foreigners
standing by. were actually afraid they
would seize her hat
All thel is an ovation such as
should Ike to see these cool-heads:.
steady-nerved Brit shers give 10 their be-
loved Melh& Is they cali her
But happened 70 know that in Syve-
cen shey are even more ardent in their
devotion than in St Petersburg. y
Stockholm they say her voice is Ike their
country. wi,h the purity Of their north-
orn SHOWS They tell a pretty story
there. TOO. OF their kings appret nation If
Media art The last tlTne she sang there
he got Up twice in the royal box u bow
10 her. and the next day he decorated
her with The order Of L4teris ct Artibus
She asked bin il he could pin the order
on Pins break friendship he replied.
bat I vii correct il in another way. ana
he kissed her on both cheeks