The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-05

A celebrated writer has asserted that
genius and talent are hereditary.
The pedigree Of thousands Of clever per-
sons living and dead We're studied by him.
He showed concIusively that the eminence
Of their lives was due. not TO their own
exertions. bat to the abilities OF certain an
cestors who had planted the seed which en-
vironments had ripened. nurtured and i'm
proved.
He proved his theory with all classes.
The ancestors Of the Lords ChanceIlors
OF England. those OF the famous prize
fighters. those Of the great artists and mu-
sicians were resurrected under his search
ing examinations
Had he gone into the ranks OF the Ne
~tropolitan opera chorus and searched the
pedigrees OF the singers he would have
found even there the most convincing proof
OF his theory.
The dashing. beautiful women 80 much in
evidence on the stage Of comic operas are
not engaged for serious operatic prOduc-
tons. Their absence has often been the
subject Of remark and regret at the Metro
politan Opera-house. Many a disappointed
lounger of the boxes has scanned the stage
with his opera-glass in vain TO receive the
enchanting smile so often IsvishIy bestowed
aAHfNA AAAAA - y TIC was eNoN1A III $50 AAN-N
row Of the theater. Tell me. pretty maiden.
are there any more at home like your
would be a sarcasti question in the opera
house. He does not understand why the
maideps should not be there. but he does
know that such a question would be satir-
cal, and he refrains.
ALL PAINSTARING ARTISTS.
Let no one. however. speak otherwise
than with respect OF the real opera
chorister. They are patient. hardworking,
painstaking artists. who earn their salaries
and perform their duties with spirit. en-
thusiasm and conscience.
They have been principally recruited
with the exception OF the American choris-
ters-from Italy or Germany. and In most
cases have been on the stage since they
were children
Nearly all are sons and daughters OF
those who have spent their lives in musical
circles. The operate chorus singers voca-
ton calls for a variety of accomplishments.
II demands experience. good health, vocal
culture. steadiness OF behavior. as well as
intelligence. industry and talent These
requirements are necessary to bring about
the effect so often a~pplauded at the opera
house productions.
When 1t is remembered that the chorus
singers have acquired a repertoire OF fifty
TO a hundred operas. IL can easily be under
stood that many years have been spent be-
fore they becoms valuable In their calling
Those who have achieved regulations in the
ranks are mostly sons and daughters Of
these who have been either ~soloists or
chorus singers.
There are mothers and daughters singing
on the stage together. The daughters have
attended the rehearsals from their infancy
and know the operas as well as their pa
rents.
In Italy, where the cares OF life are taken
so easily. and where the business or pro-
fession OF the parent is generally followed
by the children. nothing is more common
than 20 have the sons and daughters take
up their fathers or mothers calling as a
matter OF course. and the ranks of the
chorus are filed from one generation 10
another. 1t is an easier life there than
here
The majority OF the old Italian opera
choruses are not as difficult to learn as