The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

20 interview a Schumann-Heink or
wen. one OF the other kinds Of con-
traltos, when you are conralto-h hunt
ing, certainly adds fascination All 1
knew OF Miss Rita Newman when I
went TO see her the other day was that
she was a San Franciscan; that Henry
Savage considered her sufficient unto
an Ortrud, and that she sang here nine
years ago before she left with the
Scheel Symphony Orchestra, and at the
ever-to-be remembered Carr-Beel
Pop" concerts. 1t added interest to
know that when Miss Newman went
away she departed as a coloratura So
prano. returning, Jean de Reszke fash
ion, under an entirely new vocal ban
ner.
1t is amusing, but unsafe to guess
what people can 90 by what they say.
1t is a hazard. perhaps, still more en-
tertaining and still more chanceful TO
picture what they viii say by what
they DO. I know an artist here who
talks like Michael Angelo and paints
Lke-well, that is another story. 1t
was a modest, Unas ssuming, brown-eyed
Young woman that met me the other
e afternoon at the ST. Francis at my re-
Guest for Miss Newman
I was referred TO the 'parlor hate
fal word. and why are hotel drawing
rooms always thus stigmatized? Still,
10 the hopeless. immaculate, green and
GOLD hardsomeness of the room the
word stuck closer than a brother I
sighed as j sat down, and Miss New
man, as she came in, took the edge of
-, I 1rranrrr 41-n in
for talk 20 match the room.
/ said Miss Newman must be glad to
come home under such charming aus
pices? She said she was. I told her we
had been having delightful weather for
more than a.week. She hoped that 1t
would continue. 1 remarked luminous
y that san Francisco must have
grown enormously during Miss New
mans absence? She replied with meas
ured enthusiasm that it had. I in
formed her that we had just had an
extra ordinary season Of grand opera at
the Tivoli. Miss Newman politely had
heard so. And then 1 yelled: Isn't
there q convenient garret somewhere? -
The singer jumped to her feet, laid a
relieved hand on my arm, and on the
way 10 the elevator said she didn't
mind If ! didn't, but the maid had not
made up" her room yet. And up, up.
we went. TO where, under her window,
san Francisco stretched her great jew
eied lengths in The sun. We fitted our
selves before il into a couple Of cozy
rockers and then began to talk.
We had just begun when a knock
sounded on the door-about at the top
OF it-and to Miss Newman's Come
in. ." entered a very tall and bass person
who was introduced to me as Mr..
Bennett" and whom I then recognized
as the LudOvico of the -Othello' Of
the evening before. Mr. Bennett had
come TO ask Miss Newman to permit
him TO leave a valise with her. He did
not like The hotel where he was stay
ing and was going to migrate TO the
st. Francis. And then, somehow, Mr..
Bennett settled down into the inter
view Just as Il he belonged there.
Again I cid not mind If Miss Newman
did not. and she rather seemed to like
il. Indeed, I should not wonder If she
had invited the giant basso to defend
her from the terrible interviewer
Miss NeVman rocked quietly as she
told of being a pupil Of Nine. Julie
Rosewald here, Of going to Europe
and dropping Immediately into a
leads" in a grand opera company in
Hamburg. where for a year and a half
she sang coIoratura soprano roles, her
debut being made as Rosina in I'll
Barbiere."
And just about that time" the
singer recOunted, I sang for-whom
do you think? Heinrich Conried,
and he made me an offer to sing col
oratura soprano roles at Irving Place
Theater."
And now" I asked.
Not just yet" said the quiet young
woman before me, and 1 could not
make out if it were in mOdesty or con-
fdence.
But you had an appointment TO
sing for Mr.. Conried not long ago and
did not keep it," Mr.. Bennett
prompted
She reminded him and explained to
me that her voice was not then in
good trim, but she hoped some
day"
I suppose all Mr.. savage's people
hope some day?'"
We 40 rather consider ourselves as
in q kind Of school," Mr.. Bennett put
It. we are all pretty young singers,
the Oldest between Sb and 40, and hop
ing some day TO graduate into further
distinctions
It was IN Berlin with Kempner. Miss