Evening journal., 1910-06-07

Annie Louise Cary. who retired 10 pri-
vste life in 1852, following her marriage
10 the late Charles NJ. Raymond. was ono
Of the first American girls to give Maine
fame as a mother Of operatic song birds Of
the first order. This she did in the late
sixties and from then on until the day of
her marriage hers was one of the famous
contralto voices Of The civilized world,
more than realizing the prediction James
O.. Blaine made when hc heard her sing on
the day OF her graduation from girls
school near Portland. Me.-that. with her
voice properly cultivated, she would have
a greater career as a singer than as a
teacher, which vas the vocation her
friends had planned for her.
Encouraged, If not inspired, by this
praise from one who was growing daily
in public power in Maine. Miss Carey de-
cided TO cultivate her voice She studied in
Port and then in Boston, and finally
there came the inevitable day when she
bade her friends goodbye and sailed away
to continue the study Of music abroad
For two years she applied herself in
Milan, under the direction Of the cele-
brated instructor Giovanni Carsi, at the
end Of that period receiving her first op-
portunity 10 test her voice before the
critical publc-she was cast for the con-
tralto part I'm the company which was
TO sing for the first time Ncrdis "The
Masked Balr'-using the English transla-
tion of the Italian tlte--n the opera house
in Copenhagen in the presence Of the royal
family of Denmark.
When Miss Cary's friends heard Of it
some Of them alarmed. went to her.
Annie. they said, "dor't you think
you are a little too ambitiousg Don't YOU
think you are risking your entire career
by essaying TO appear for the first time
in grand opera in the highly critical capi-
tai OF Denmark with the king ana tho
other members Of the royal family look
ing on?"
Why do ] risk anythng?" Miss Cary
asked in turn. Wouldn't you, il you
were in my place. be glad OF the oppor-
tunity to sing in the royal opera house OF
| Denmark, and with the king and his fam
lily in the royal box TO hear your
But, Annie" was the reply, "see how
much you risk The part You are Planning
to sing is an ambitious one. and YOU are
also planning to make your debut before
royalty. Suppose YOU fail in such part
and before royalty in so public manner
what then? II would be much better for
you to make simpler beginning-for you
to make your debut, say. i'm one Of the
little towns of Germany and so feel your
way until you know exactly what you car
do with yourself and your voice in public
Don't risk your future by being too am
bilious at the start"
Miss Cary turned to her friends. an sim
oerely anxious that she should make no
false step at the threshold Of her career.
You don't know what YOU are saying"
she said firmly. 81 have got to sing in this
opera in the royal opera house i'm Copen-
hagen, and before the king and all his
family. I must make a success Of the
part. and ] will tell YOU why I owe six
thousand dollars. That money / have bor-
rowed to pay for my musical education. /
am getting anxious 70 pay il back So
have taken this part you do not want ms
to take, and / tell you now I am going "a
succeed in It. for then shall be able n
earn the money with which TO paw off thi,
debt that is beginning to bother me.
simply have got to succeed. Don't talk tc
me about failure"
And So with the knowledge Of the deb
hanging over her. simple Annie Cary. OF
Maine made her debut in the royal opera
house in Copenhagen and sang so glori
ously with that wonderful contralto voice
of hers that royalty applauded vigorousl,
and enthusiastically. She had triunphed-
and through tho success that night II
Denmark capital and The other success