The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-17

Miss Daisy Rowley, the director of the Academy of Music, has just returned from New York, where she made short visit to her friend. Miss Edythe Walker the American contralto in the Metropoli- tan Opera company. While in New York, Miss Rowley met all of the grand opera stars, and accompanied by Herr Cenried and the members of the company to Phil adelphia in their private car. Mrs. Row ley was asked yesterday to recall some of the incidents of her visit.
 "of course. you will wish me to tell you something of my visit to Miss Wal ker, but where shall I begin? Not hav- ing seen her for eight years and coming again into her life was like-well, like a fairy story of a good child who struggled with every difficulty, when suddenly wave of fairy wand makes her royal princess. How simple are the truly great!
 "On account of the cold weather there were many delays, and when we did ar rive In New York, It was without bag gage and Miss Walker was to take us the next day to Philadelphia, where the Metropolitan company were to give 'Lohengrin." Our trunks never came, and in her own cordial way Miss Walker said Never mind, why here.'-as she opened LID wardrobe after wardrobe of beautiful gowns,-just choose anything you wish Now. what could prove the greatness of the woman anymore than that-to offer her best gowns.
 ",rhe trip to Philadelphia was made in Conrieds special car. Here we met the greatest director of the world-Herr Mottl. Among other were Van Rooy and Manhl- mann. who, by the way, sang Tebrau- mud in Lohengrin when given here some years ago.
 When we arrived in Philadelphia we were driven direct to the opera house and the prima donna took us to her dress ing room, where her maid unpacked the gorgeous costumes of "Ortrud. Then came the dressing. Oh. what fun! We getting into the prima donna's clothes. each one trying to get to the mirror and her poor maid distracted with the three of us Miss Walkers broken exclama- tions of Here, Margaret, wear this; come, Daisy, dear, put on this diamond pin it's such a dear-the crown princess of Austria gave 1t to me
 Then we left her and took our seats in front Do you know 1t was the first time I had ever heard my friend in grand l her debut In the Imperial Grand Opera house in Berlin, but l was with her in her dressing room
 Miss Walker sang Ortrud as I never heard 1t before. Gadsky sang the Elsa, Krans was the Lohengrin, Van Rooy the King, and Meulhmann the Herald
 Tt was magnificent, but the only member of the company who received any applause during an act was Miss Walker, after the big aria. At the end of each act there was long and thunderous ap- plause
 Ut is very strange that not one of the music critics have mentioned one point that I think would have been most domi- nant Of course Schumann Henik having sung the role last season, the critics are constantly comparing the two this sea- son. Does any one know that the part was transposed one whole tone lower than, the original score in order that Schumann Heink could reach the higher tones? Also l am wondering how many of the so-called music critics have intel ligently studied the part enough to know that Miss Walker sings the role of Ortrud as Wagner wrote 1t and expected it to be sung without transposng sin gle tone This was subject of much criticism (and just) among the artists who went over to Philadelphia. Artists, as a rule, are not overly gracious 10 eacn other. and I listened with interest to this excited argument in French, Ger man and a little English thrown in. Why is it. suggested the big basso, that a man is allowed to become a critic of an opera or of singing when he is not a musician? How can he give correct to say nothing of intelligent ideas, to an unknowing public who depends upon the critics for judgment when he, the critic, knows nothing of theory or practice of the subject he eriticises?
 And why,s suggested a non-musician present, swhy are not the people who pose as critics, made to study and pass an examination on their different subjects just as the music teachers, school teach CTS, lawyers, etc, must pass their exam inations?" Yes" we all chimed In, Why? Why? WhyY'
 ''The remainder of the week we spent in New York and on Saturday witnessed a magnificent performance of Wagner's