The San Francisco call., 1904-09-18

warrant Tor alOlDeT 4dPSS AANN F-
vincial patriotics. Miss Francisco, once
Fannie Nicholson Of San FRANCISCO
came home last week after an absence
Of twelve years. She went away an
inconsiderable amateur; she returns
from q prima donna reign OF three
years at the Royal Opera-house in Am
sterdam. Paris has sanctioned her.
Berlin has approved her. Now only
remains for the Californian to make
good" at home.
Not always does this happen. We
have here a wayward FASHION OF dis
regarding the Paris or any other ca
cbet. Belize, Ike Chinese tea, they
lose flavor in crossing the ocean. Still
more likely we are gloriously uncon-
scious Of them. IL is so IN Miss Fran
cisca's case. Not until the singer made
up her mind 10 slip a season in Am
sterdam IN order to sing a little So
prano at home did one hear that she
had won renown in Paris. Not until
then was II considered essential that
we should know OF her triumphs In
Deutschland, so not by these achieve
ments, but by her ''Lalme." Mig
non" and the rest OF her pro-
grsmnes OF next week will she be
judged. I venture to prophesy the
Judgment favorable. at least vocally.
Within the range OF the speaking voice
I have heard no more charming note
than that OF Miss Francisco Honey,
the LIQUID. aching sweet Of the flute,
the plaintive clutch OF. the oboe-dear
me, I do hope she sings-are all hers
for the use. Three years and a half
- TNoI
fornian was fortunate enough TO have,
should. however, insure at least some
control OF her resources. They have in
sured an exQuisiteness OF enunciation.
a beauty OF pronunciation, that makes
even Francisca's ''how-dye-do" delight
70 hear Temperamentally, OF course,
one cannot yet venture to catalogue
the singer. found her IN my chatting
exploration this week, e woman Of ex-
ceptional charm, OF soft, unconscious
coquetries OF expression, OF gentle and
gracious nnanner-above all, a woman
Of the world.
Miss Francisco was 'at home to
me in a comfortable fat on O'Farrell
street. A rather small woman. round
~ made and with Paris stamped all
over her gown, it was that met me. Her
"hcw-dye-dO" was as foreign as Sem
bIioh's The dog barking at her heels
was as tinily absurd as the usual prima
donna dog. Her hair was-generally
is ] should say-the conventional pri-
ma donna gold. And she is the usual
Trima donna age, you know II for your
self
You would not at first call Francisco
~ fE he hW Ia ar
one lies in wait for expressions, a pi-
quaint arch Of the right eyebrow, the
shutting in laughter Of the bright
brown eyes-the left with a delicate
japanese slant. a characteristic moue.
and one is momentarily under the IL
lusion OF beauty. Add the voice, the
enga ging little foreign stutter and ac-
cent and one capitulates completely.
rather hoped Miss Francisco would
not say that she was glad to come
home-twelve years, it is so long. But
she did. She said that she found the
place transformed. She said IT was the
most beautiful city she had ever been
IN. and that she had Travelled much.
There were raptures for Golden Gate
Park. with its four miles Of loveliness,
ending in the climacteric splendor Of the
ocean. There was appreciation for the
new ancestral castles Of Pacific avenue
Above all, there was delight in her CAL
ifornian welcome.
And how long are you going TO en-
Soy these things2' I asked.
"Oh, Indefinitely" said the singer. 'I
have tried 10 get home many times,
and, now I am here, shall not hurry
back. Couche-toi, vite," this to the dog
Jumping about and barking an accom-
paniment. Romeo" speaks only
French 7 shall not be so very long in
California, but my concert tour viii last
for some time. sing all the way from
here TO the East"
Il hoped TO hear you in opera
Il am desolee-desperated sing
er laughed at her tongues entangle-
ment IN her home speech-~in despair,
] mean, that I cannot sing in opera
here. love to play. One can give
themselves so much more IN playing.
And this year, OF all years, they tell me
that the Tivoh has no grand opera sea-
son Why, oh, why must this be2'
Just because you were coming
horne.~ laughed II fancy, though, it
was really because Mr.. Leahy thought
that II we went hungry for a season
we should better appreciate the rare
stuff the Tivon provides"
But this year" the singer pouted,
and felt somehow personally respon-
Eible as that piquant, protesting right
eyebrow went I'D. She went on: And
Trey tell me that they do such good
things there"
] did my little usual best here as
press agent for the home "Metropoli-
tan"
But why" asked Miss Francisco,
do they not, instead Of bringing over
the Italians, give grand opera in Eng
lish, say with the people they have
now, and perhaps engage an extra
singer now and then for particular
parts, as Henry Savage does? 1t would
be OF tremendous value TO the Ameri-
can singers, for Savage cannot engage
them ALL"