The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-22
Fly DOLLY DALRYHIPLE.

You just can't imagine anything as lovely and informal as 1t all was. So like making an afternoon call on your best friend. She was so queenly and so lovely and so much at home in her pretty apartment at the Hillman, and so "unopera like" So much prettier and younger and lovelier than her pie lures even make her out; so unafraid of the frank sunshine that streamed in upon her through the filmy lace cur tains, and so devoid of anything lil1 @ affectation, when she held out her hand
 cordially to me and said in the sweet est way: T am glad to meet you,' that I scarcely realized that I was speaking g
 to Madar Q Emma Flames, at whose feet the wcis d has bowed in homage and acknowledged as the "queen of song" And who could have ever imagined she was cold? Her nature is almost south- ern, so gracious and so friendly is Madame Eames-indeed she Is like some beautiful stately flower of the southland-what prettier tribute could I pay her?
  magic spell of Madame Flames glorious voice at the Metropolitan, and whether as the savage Aida, the saintly Eliza beth, the dramatic heroine of La Tosca, or the charming Juliet, there was an opulence and lusciousness of tone and emotional fervor that was simply thrill ing. What golden purity of tone-all so beautiful, and then the real Wagner voice. the voix de soliel so the voice full of sunshine and beautious effects.
 All this, and more, fitted through my brain yesterday afternoon when l met Madame Flames, and I said to her.:
 Tt is really lovely to meet the wom- an today have long known the art ist; and to think that it should be way down here in Alabama"
 "Yes," said Madame Eames, T am really delighted to be here, and l have enjoyed my southern trip tremendously, !"
 And is it really true that we are not to hear you in opera again?" I asked. q think not" she laughingly said. "You know the last 17 years of my life have been given practically to the pub lie, and while the reward has been rich. at the same time it has taxed my strength terribly. I have had my ideals. and in them I have consumed my strength and resources, and so I feel that it is fitting time to mak @ my adieux."
 You will miss your opera roles
 though, won't your" I queried "Oh yes" she responded, T have studied and worked over each one of them and I love many of them dearly "Which is your favorite?" I asked. q really have none," said Madame
 Flames. "Of course I love Wagner-I have sung Wagner roles under Scidl, Mantellini Mottle and many other conductors, and am very fond of Elsa and Elizabeth"
 "You have never done Brunnhilde,' suggested.
 "No, I sang sieglunde with Lilli Lohmannas the Brunnhilde. and won derful cast.
 q remember your charming imper- sonstion in Mascagnis Iris winter before last at the Metropolitan" l re- marked.
 "Yes, thoroughly enjoyed it, and shall never forget how amazed every one was at the Japanese makeup had. Even my mother did not recog- nize me-
 "And did you study the role from the Japanese customs and people?" inquired.
 "Yes,". said Madame Flames. "Sada Yacco, the Japanese actress, Is a great friend of mine and I was with her a great deal and learned from her a lot about the Japanese. And speaking of the Japanese I must tell you funny little story about friend of mine, yiscount Kanetro Kaneko. You re- member he was in this country on special mission. Well, had at Christ mastide postal from him from far away Japan, with a picture of his house on 1t, and few words on the card told be that he was enjoying my so-