The Indianapolis journal., 1904-04-24


EoX1&I way, of the home life of two OF
the worlds greatest singers
Madame Sembrich. the soprano. and Mad
anne Schumann-Heink, the contralto. The
soprano, he says. dwells in Dresden, on the
Canaletto strasse. and the contralto lives
half an hours journey from that city. in
fashionable suburb known as Koetschen-
broda, in Villa Tene. No Meissen strasse
Continuing, he writes as follows
Nine. Sembrich's husband confesses that
the Dresden mansion cost $4,000 marks. 1t
Is said that the singer. who has been pru-
dent. has fortune of s2.OOO.O0O. so that the
house Is not an extravaganza for her. Ii is
situated in the center of a large park and
overlooks beautiful walks and fountains.
Nine Sembrich is fond OF outdoor life, and
she Is never happier than when walking
about her own garden giving directions 10
her gardeners or lending hand in trim
ming a plant or watering a pet rosebush
The interior of the house is beautifully
decorated. No singer. with the exception of
Mime. Patti, has received so many decora-
tions and wreaths as Nine. Senbrich. On
the walls of one room are hung ribbons
that were attached TO wreaths and decora-
tions. In another room she has placed all
her gold wreaths. There are more than
twenty of these. from Emperor Wilhelm L
of Germany, the Emperor Frederick Gun
ser Fritz'), the Car of Russia. the Grand
Duke of weimar. Count Hofburg, Anton
Seidl and his orchestra, and others Nine.
Sembrich has a large collection of paint
ings, including many portraits of royalty
and great musicians. In her music room is
American grand piano. She also has a
fine library.
The queen OF song is early riser. She
studies an hour before breakfast, which
consists of eggs. fruit. toast and coffee.
Immediately after breakfast. providing the
weather is at all propitious. she drives to
King Albert's Park. where she walks for an
hour. Returning home. she sees her serv-
ants and gives directions concerning the
housework. Dinner is served at o'clock.
At night cold supper is served at Z. Nine.
Sembrich lives as the rich in her station
live. Everything about the house is done
elegantly. She and her husband often dine
at the restaurants of Dresden. Both have
many friends and many visitors, and every
one likes them. They do a great deal for
charity. They have one son, now nineteen
years old..-He cannot sing at all, and is ar
art printer
Nine. Sernbrich's husband is Prof Will
helm stengel who was her teacher in vi
emma. She has studied the violin and the
piano, and plays both instruments excep-
tionally well. In Europe she is as much a
Spr~ctically much in the old country as
she can on this side Of the Atlantic In Ber-
lin she is idolized.
In the house of Nine Schumann-HeinE
everything is more homely. There are eight
children in the family, and all save one are
at home. Nine. Schumann-H -Heink is the typi
cal German housewife, taking as much
pride in her linen closet she does in hel
beautiful voice. She is happiest when she i.
at home, with her children about her anC
presiding at her own table. Her home is in
the mt1st OF a park in the little suburb witt
the big name All about there are noun
tains. for the village is in what is known
as the Saxon Switzerland.
In the summer time the entire family in
Guiding the mother. go about in their bar,
feet. There is no hint of style in the house
II is case OF early rising and early to bed
and plenty of physical exercise. Mime
Schumann-Heink does little with her voic,
when she is at home. She has entire charg,
of the family. and with eight children. tn,
youngest only four, there is always plenty
to do. The youngest child, by the way, wai
born in America, and bears the name O
George Washington Schumann.
In explanation of her hyphenated name 1
may be added that the singer was Marie,
twice Her second husband. Herr Heink
was formerly stage manager at TIL
Stadt Theater, in Hamburg where he me
her. She was then Nine. Schumann. Afte
the German custom. she added his name Il
her own. Mr.. Heink had two children whel
he married her, and she had one. Togethe
they have five more The children all low
one another, and there is never a sem
blance of misunderstanding.
Mime. Schumann- -Heink is fond of Ameri
CO and things American. This is due in
measure. to the fact that her real pros
perfty began when she came TO this countr-
TO sing. Her house is furnished almost en-
tirely with American articles. She has no
only many souvenirs and bits of bric-a
brac but also has an American tea service
china service. bathroom, and even an in
haling machine. which she shipped acros
the water. She also has an American plan
In her music room
All the children in this family are musi
cal They have been strictly and religious
brought up. When the mother is away tn
eldest daughter, now seventeen. keep
things In order about the house The fam
ily has the American breakfast food habit
the first meal OF the day never being com
tplete without some kind of cereal with
patent name.
One odd feature of the house is the par
set aside for the of Nine. Schumann
Heinks mother-in-law. She is rather ole
and in order TO please her there has bee
reserved for her a sitting room, bedroom
and kitchen on the second floor. She ha
her own servant, and can live all alone
she cares TO.