The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-06
MRS. ROWLAND TO SING IN MUSl- GALE AT A DATE NOT FAR DIS TANT-THE WEEK IN SOCIETY. DINNER PARTIES AT THE CLUB. COMING EVENTs-NoTEs.

Mrs. John Hastings Rowland. who was the center of an admlring ceterie at Mrs. J. Norman Brooks usual Saturday ssat home" is not only charming to know socially, but is a young woman of dis tinction in musical way. As Allie Hoitt she has given pleasure to eastern au- diences for a period of years-almost incredible when one considers her grlsh figure and youthful face She is spend ing a brief period here. while her hus- band, who is representing the national board of fire underwriters of New York, tests the city water pressure, and those who have been fortunate enough to meet both MT. and Mrs Howland can but hope that his task will be prolonged. He, too, is quite musical. His voice is a deep, rich basso, and he is quite generous with it except as to singing before large aud fences, for, as he explains, being busi- ness man, he has no time for voice training. However, he quite delighted a little drawing room group of congenial folks few evenings ago with group of songs which an attractive personality made all the more enjoyable.
 Mrs. Rowland has consented to sing to- day at the church of St Mary s-on-the- Highlands, and next Sunday she will be heard at the Advent. When I called yes terday morning for a chat with the young woman about whom all musical Birming- ham is talking, l found her sitting, a cool looking shirt-waisted figure upon the shady veranda of the home in which she is domio3ied. Her personality appeals to one at once. Her charming mouth is always smiling, and there is merry expression in her sweet brown eyes that tells she is a very, very happy woman. An author of one of the late t.best sell CTS breathes frequent and fervent thanks that heaven has sent him a .'laughing heroa One likes a laughing singer, too, especially if she has such fascinating laugh as that which ripples from Mrs. Howlands musical throat. When l asked how long she had sung in public she said Since l was 7-sort of an infant prodigy story, isn't it? 1 played my own accomplishments, too, and my childish treble was very much of so- prano. It really continued so until I was almost grown, then my music teach CTS, of course, discovered that it was eontralto voice. My range, though, is two and half Sctaves
 How did you manage to retain the Strength and resonance of your long range, Singing as early as you did?" l asked. My mother was very careful. an- swered Mrs. Rowland, "and as a child for a long while she would not allow me to sing lest l oyertax my voice. She Thought when l was a tiny girl that l would some day sing well, and my teach CTS were required to see that I kept it in Hfrl.a 4H,as., l.rzrF larHr singing is as natural as breathing. and could not altogether stop though l for tunately did not oVerstlsn.'
 Your work has been principally in concert, has it not?" l asked.
 Yes, in concert and church. l have lived always in Boston, and there received my voice training with Gertrude Frank lin Salisbury and Franklin Whyte. l started my career as a church singer, in Lynn, Mass, singing there for nine years in three churches. My latest work was done. however, in Boston"
 Were you not the contrato soloist at the late Henry Rogers church for a time Mrs. Howland?'
 Yes for two years' she answered. and smilingly added, You know l am to give a concert here for the benefit of St. Mary's Kindergarten, and one of the clev- CT women who came to interest me in it asked mischievously if there was not some scandal that one might tell so that people would be interested enough to come l told her that there is none whatever except that I have sung in the Rogers Memorial church, and accepted tainted money
 Do you not miss your concert and l- choir work?" I asked. T should think sthat one who loves so well to sing would deplore any condition that would take her away from an accustomed musical niche
 ''T don't have time to miss it. she said quickly. ''Wherever I go it is found out that I sing. We spent about two months 5n New Orleans and I sang at seyera large muscales."
 "oh, yes" said q heard. too, of q musicale in Mobile at which people went quite wild over your voice.
 Those in Mobile were smaller and had more of the social nature," was hel reply. "I found Mobile people charm ing and so responsive"
 It was at this juncture that I asked Mrs. Rowland to sing for me and witt her ready smile she consented and let