The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-03-29
ONCE A RESIDENT
OF MINNEAPOLIS

Vi MlNNEAIULlO
MIME. LOUISE HOMER, PRIMA DON
MA, VISITS OLD FRIENDS.
Was the Daughter Of Rev. William
Trimble Beatty, at one Time Pastor
of Plymouth Church-Has Studied
Abroad, but Retains Warm Spot in
Her Heart for Minneapolis.
While grand opera has been giving
pleasure to thousands of Minneapolis
people this week, at least one member
of Mr.. Conried's company has been
enjoying Minneapolis keenly. Nine.
Louise Homer has been reviving child
hood memories, in company with her
husband, Sidney Homer, and their pleas
ure in these memories cause their Min
neapolis callers to straighten up with
beaming local pride.
Nine. Homer sang in Minneapolis just
once during the last visit Of the Metro
pohtan opera company, but she was
obliged to. stay in St. Paul and saw
nothing of her old home. This week
she started out Immediately on her
arrival with all the eagerness of a child
to hunt up old haunts. Her inquiry for
St. Nicholas street having been inter-
Mrs. Homer ne were re Surprised TO- find them
selves at Eighth street in a minute.
Beatty Seat wi Window at Plymouth church,
and Nine. Homer arranged at once to
have a photograph made for her. On
Ninth street Nine. Homer was almost
convinced that her memory had played
her trick, for she was certain that
the stone tenements which formerly ad-
joined the Hampshire Arms were di-
rectly opposite her home on Ninth
street, and she was relieved to have
her impressions verified by learning that
they had been moved.
Meeting Old Friends.
Nine. Homer told with much enthu-
siasm that lighted up beautifully her
fresh, girlish face. Of her delight in
meeting group Of her former school
mates at a luncheon at the home of Mrs.
Charles Wood, close friend of her
parents. Two tintypes Of. herself, not
much over an inch in height, were pre-
sented to her, these collections being
d SChool cHl1Gie1 cldAo WAeH SAo o'
tended the Washington school.
Recognizing and appreciating the
friendly interest Of - the old family
friends and the kindly feeling of Min
neapoIis people towards her, Nine.
Honor talked in charmingly unaffect-
ed way of her life since leaving Mime
apolis, it's climax being her love and
pride. in her children, whose portraits
were proudly brought out by Mr..
Life for Nine. Homer differs 50 strik-
ingE from the popular conception OF
the life of an opera singer, that it is OF
more than local and personal interest.
The life Of Mr.. and Mrs. Homer does
not differ in any important particular
from that Of other Americans Of artis-
tic professions, for Mr.. Homer is also
mpS eaa x1enRs s of dsSSngS RGPqas
one Of his pupils. They have a perma,,
nent home in West Ninety-second
street, New York, and after the musical
season closes, 20 to some quiet country
place for their summers. This year
they take their children and 90 abroad
for the summer.
Wrong Impressions.
"People get altogether wrong impress
sions of the way grand opera interferes
with home life," said Mr.. Homer, my
wife has less occasion to be away from
home than nearly any cultivated class
7of: American woman, her tours only
The grand opera tour is short and in ad.
dition to that she does no work outside
of New York, except short concert trips
to the festivals spring and fall.'
~ am very fond Of concert work, ,!
said Nine. Homer. and expect to con
tinue it. It is much less exacting than
opera performances, 50 I Ii have a much
gagements. One of my causes for sat
isfaction is that I had an opportunity
Of singing with Thomas. My engage
ment with his orchestra was in Novem
Der, only a short time before his
Nine. Homer was the daughter Of DR.
William a., Trimble Beatty, pastor Of Ply
She left here n ste as soe ehe t %a
entering the high school, the family
moving to West Chester, Pa. It wa'
there that her beautiful, rich contraltt
voice was discovered. After some ex
perience in large choir in Philadel
phia she went to Boston to continue he:
musical training, one Of her masters be
ing Sidney Homer. After her mar
ana Nine. Homer studied Voice ind" unde
Fidele Koenig, and acting under Pau
Lehrie In Paris.
Her. First Appearance.
Vichy was the place of. Nine. HON
er's debut and the select audience mum
bered some Of the most distinguished
musicians and critics of France. He
work that season met with immediat
recognition and the roles Of Amneri
in Aida" and Delilah in st'Samson an
fDelilah = are still among her favorites
She made here first appearance il
I Covent Garden, London. in 1899, an
sang at Buckingham palace for Quee,
Alexandra, then Princess of Wales
After a. second season at Covent Gar
den, in which she made her first appear
j for the Metropolitan Opera company o
/. New York. She at once made hersel
Indispensable and her engagement
there have filed all of the time sh
cares to give to professional work.
Among the later roles which she ha
J added to her "repertory are Laura i
J, Ella Gioconda,'' in which she has e1
joyed fattering triumphs this yea,
| Magdelena is another of her great role
and she is equally successful in tn
) great Wagner contralto roles, Ortru
and Brangaene.
Children Like Music.
: Little Louise Homer, as she calls he:
, self, pretty 9-year-o1d, gives promis
!: Of inheriting the musical abilities c
t her parents. She has clear, swee
: voice, and is a clever little pianist. III
l little son, Sidney, is not years old, br
3 even his baby tastes show strong MI
I steal bent. ~ -.