Omaha daily bee., 1908-08-02
WOMEN IN ITALY
Remarkable Quartet is influential in
Torentine Affairs.
ONE IS WELL KNOWN TEACHER
Another 10 Only Woman PhysIcisn In
the city, Third Does Charity
work and Fourth Runs
Art school.

women st. Louis woman who stands
among the best voice teachers in the italian
city: a woman physician from San Fran
cisco: a daughter OF Brooklyn. who. when
barely out OF her teens. founded and main
tained by her own energy and funds an
institution which asplres to be called The
American Industrial School for italian
Working Girls" and a Philadelphia woman
conducting an Arts and Ctarts.'
The first Of these. Madame Barracuda,
as Kate Bensberg. achieved an enviable
success in Italian opera, appearing for
some years as prima donna in the chief
Italian cities and In Montvidso and Buenos
Ayres with the celebrated Ferrari Opera
company.
"A a young girl she was sent to Stuff
CART. where she studied under Madame
Schroeder. under whose patronage she
made her debut at Kroll's theater in Der
lin, while still in her teens. After a season
she went 10 London. There she studied
o~ratorio and appeared with the Carl Ross
Opera company. After two years she went
to America. where for three seasons she
sang in operate concerts. With the object
Of further study. Madame Barracchia then
returned 10 Paris. where she became a IA
vorite pupil OF Madame Marchesi. During
her studies in the French capital. she was
often heard as a soioist at the American
church in the Rue de Berry. The Paris
Figaro, speaking of her voice, called It the
voice OF an angel" sonzogno. the famous
Milanese publisher and impresario, saw in
her an ideal prima donna for Italy. and Of
fered her an engagement which she
promptly accepted. Uuder his management
she appeared with great success in Am
broise Thomss' Hamlet "Rigoletto,'
- 49,
operas. She also created the chief role in
Leoncsvsllo's "Pagliacci.'
Advice TO Girl students.
y happy marriage interrupted her career
for a time. and when she reappeared it
was IN London In the Queens hall con-
certs under Henry Wood. After two years
her work was again interrupted. this time
by the death Of her husband. and she re-
turned to Italy. She settled in Florence
as a teacher OF singing. Madame Barrac-
CHA has very decided views on the Ameri-
can girl students abroad. Speaking to me
recently she said;
AS a rule the American girl comes
abroad for voice study too late. Three to
four years OF study ought to fit a student
for a public career, and she should be
ready. speaking. Of course. on general
principles. when she is about Is or rs at
the latest"
do you lind the American girl student
industrious?"
Madame Barracuda smiled
II once heard a wen known musician in
Paris say that there were only two kinds
of American girls, one the serious Ameri-
can and that she was the finest woman in
the world; the other the frivolous Amsri-
can and she was the most frivolous; there
was no medium species. l don't know that
i am exactly Of his opinion, but 1 have OBJ
served that the American student some
times warts To accomplish too much in a
short time and then o~verworks, for she
comes over kere and wishes 70 combine
study and the so-called having q good
dime. It means waste OF time and ruin to
ones future prospects every time. The
young student must remember that art is
an e~xaetlng mistress and many sacrifices
must be made IN her favor"
Americas Girls Coming Alone.
And what is your opinion OF her coming
abroad aloneT'
1T is better. Of course. for q girl to come
with some older and experienced person.
II possible, but there IL no reason why a
sensible and we'll brought up girl with a
just sense Of her own dignity should not
NENN' WV W ~ @AtA'N~ - NCA6 - 3Nt
behaves herself no one will notice or mo-
lest her. She must observe the ordinary
standard of what Y proper IN any respect
able walk Of ME. II would be well for her,
however, 70 remember that conditions OF
life in a large foreign city are not the same
conditions peculiar to a little country town
in the United States. and she cannot bring
the freedom Of American gtrLhood into for
eign cities and not pay some COST
And another thing. / cannot protest too
strongly against girls offering money to
secure engagements. II 10 not necessary,
4 good voice always commands q price,
even II little IN tha beginning. and the girl
who cannot secure an engagement without
paying must persuads herself that tiserS -
somsthins wrong In her musical outfit and
had better 50 back home and save hsrseif
years Of bateF experiences"
DR.. HARRIS Has Different Views
DR.. Mary HArriss. Florenee's American
woman physician. does not agree with
Madame Barraeehia about the American
giri nvtng abroad. when ! found her in
a pretty apartment IN the Hotel Berchieni
on the Lung Arno. che replied to the
question In the negative. She has con-
siderable experience to base her opinion
on. since. after praeticing m san Francisco,
she came abroad. studying in Vienna and
Berlin. Last year the earthquake In her
city left her the poSsesSor OF four front
stone steps In place of a splendid apart
ment house. and after q visit home she
decided to settle permanently IN Florence
The worst thing tho began In answer
TO my inquiry. lis that our girI-students
come abroad with too uttls capital. IL was
quite right years - when living over
here was really cheap. But things have
changed here as well as at home. Prices
81 all kinds have gone up particularly in
Italy. In Germany one can still live
cheapIy, but hardly a. the rate theoe girls
expect They hear OF the cheapness abroad
and come expecting to live on money on
which they would stArve Al homa Now,
Tor instance, / have met q girl who arrived
with $50 10 last her eve years Some one
had told her that teaching could be found
for her support How can that b true
when teacher ae everywhere willing to
give lessons for even 80 low as a few
cents an hourI In Germany there are
women giving lessons for half . mark OF
twelve an Oas-half cents an hour. Here
In Italy the usual price for English les
sons IL q hra twenty cents an hour. An
other gif had 500 for a year 10 include
passaae mOnoy, Lessons In mfato and IAN