New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18

A little while ago, one Saturday morning. Miss
Kitty Cheatham CIrs. Cheatham-Thompsom
gave what she called "a morning of songs Tor
children" at the Berkeley Lyceum Theatre. Her
friend. Nine. Nordica Cvho. year ago at the
Lyceum Theatre, it will be remembered, stepped
out of a box TO assist Miss Cheatham at her re-
cital when Nine Blauvelt was unable TO ap
pearl, David Bispham. Maxine Elliott Edwin
Milton Royle and others we'll known in the
world of art and song We're present, but the re-
citaI was not for them. 1t for the children.
who filled the house in goodly numbers Mr..
and Mrs. Royle's little girl sat on her fathers
knee and listened with open moIthed attention,
and when she was asked which song she liked
best replied. "An of them" Miss Chatham
began her recital-no. not recital; that word is
too pretentious. too grownup. for the occasion
her morning Of songs, with setting Of William
Blake's Little Lamb Who Made Thee?' She
sang sweetly, soemnly. the closing stanza:
Little lamb. I'll tell tell thee i.
He is called by thy name,
For He calls himself lamb
He is meek and He is mild
He became little child;
/ Ia chi child d and tn thou H,s lame lame:
Little lamb, God bless thee!
Little lamb, God bless thee!
II was exactly as if she were beginning her
entertainment for the children with a little invo-
sang Edward Germans merry setting Of HIGH
ems Little Lovers Ga poem that caused one
still thinking of Blake. to eXclaim. Did he who
made the Garden of Allah make thee?'D, and so
slipped into the gay and delightful programme
OF childhood songs, which she sang, as always
in her own inimitable fashion.
There are of course. in this city in the COM
pass of a season hosts of song recitals. mono
logue entertainments and the like, but this
morning Of songs for children of Miss Cheatham
was yet unique Nothing quite like it is being
done by anybody else nor even If she should
now have initators. is IT likely TO be rivaled.
She has made for herself 1t would seem. field
quite her own, apart from the beaten tracks
alike of the singer and the 'elocutionist" (hate-
full word. 1t is a field particularly ingratiatins
TO all who love children or enjoy Peter Pan"
and certainly 10 the children themselves. and
hence IL comes that a word from Miss Cheatham
herself about her new venture in entertainment
can hardly fail of interest. Miss Cheatham is
not an accomplished vocalist; her tone is not
large and its production not always impeccable.
One guesses that she sings largely by nature.
But she is wise enough 10 leave The Miller and
the Brook ''Traum durch die Dammerung''
severely alone in public, we'll 20 avoid large
euditoriums. She has for the last three years
been singing the real negro songs OF the South
as they should be sung. for she, of course. knows
how that is: and lately these songs OF childhood
For her voice is sufficient. and her skill as
an actress. her innate delicacy OF feeling and
humor. her sympathy with the matter in hand
and her personal charm have raised her per-
Torrance into the realm of art, have given IL
style and grace
1T was three years ago. at a chateau IN
France where was staying with old friend
of my mothers. that the idea first put into
my head that could sing to advantage in pub
lie" Miss Cheatham said the other day. II had
been casting about vainly for something TO do,
and one night while looking into the fire fell
TO singing an old negro song that used to hear
my black NANNY sing. / suppose I was SAD.
NY friend cried out, There, you have I'll Go