The evening world., 1910-12-31
All II Needed Was the
Chance, Coupled With
Miss MacD Donald, to
Make "The Spring
Maid" the Talk of the
ToUn.
That's HoW She Comes to
Have a Story Which She
CleefuHy Tells Singer
Not the Least Bit Like
Other Prima Donnas.
DARNTON

y OU'VE heard the latest deiini-
" ton OF a grapefruit-a lemon
thai has had a chance? Well,
this Ia another story OF the same
kind. The point 10 that It's the best
story Miss Christie Macdonald tells
She thinks II 50 good, in fact. that
when she mas u few friends in for
breakfast and the maid asks, Shall
/ serve grapefruit" Miss Macdonald,
with a Scotch sense OF humor rather
than a Scotch sense OF thrift, invaTi.
, ably replies. NO, I'll tell my lemon
story instead" Believe this or not.
you must believe the story.
"Sow, this lemon" related Miss Mac
Donald, with a twinkle In her eye
didn't come from Italy. 1t hailed-or
should say. hoched"-from Germany,
and for months lay hidden In the bottom
tray OF Andreas Dlppel's trunk. Then
l.one day the former director Of the
Metropolitan Opera-IIouse took II out
and landed II to Charlie Dilling-
ham. After looking at IL With the hope
fui eye Of a manager. Mr.. Dillingham;
thought It might be turned into some
thing that would be good for Fri,zi
Schen's throat. But Miss Scheff shook
her head. and so Mr.. Dillingham;. look
ing a bit foolish and feeling more so.
was left with the Tenor on his hands.
Finally. he consulted George Marion. a
connoisseur OF stage fruit. who looked
very grave until Mr.. Dillingham; in
formed him hat two young managers
had asked for the fruit that they might
present tt 10 a Scotch lassie. Where
upon Mr., Marion smiled, and Mr.. Din.
ingham smiled. and the deed was done.
And Oh Christmas night the two young
managers unloaded the lemon on little
old New York under the name or THE
Spring Maid'-and 1t proved to be "A
grapefruit
Not Like Other Prima Donnas.
Miss Macdonald had left out the best
part Of the rtory-hsrself. Although her
success in The Spring MAID II the talk
OF the town. she WAS inclined to remain
silent on the subject. one OF the nice
things about her Is that she doesn't pat
on any prima donna airs. She talks as
naturally az she sings,
~ could sin. when | was no higher
,h,n , ,bhi :, ala. .,ld 81 want In hon
All IN. GRAND singers ,bat c,m. IN
Boston, and then one day / slipped Off
and tiptocd into Francis Wilson'S room.
An. little girl ne remarked. you are
no, biy enough ,n. IN. st,y.. nn, he
y,ye ma a cbapr. 4, tho charms"
And sb. ro,. f,op, IN. chorus IN IN.
eyal,.d uositlon az prIma DOM, In
.ln-le night No. Ger,ldIn. an. did M,
Miss Christie Macdonald is an excsp-
INN ia tb. general r,I. foIl,w,d Il, .in-
.arvl,ws"
II worked Ike A beaver" She de.
cared, and before Mr.. Wilson smoke TO
me again [ could sing nil fine prilna dan.
mas music. But l didn't become famous
overnight. never was famous But
one day MISC Lulu CHASER WAS unable to
20 on, and Mr.. wilson gave me a shove
And II seems az though some good fairy
has been showing me ever since. For
three years / was with Mr.. Wilson.
Then sans IN ever 90 many pieces
Princess chic The Toreador,' and
rbout q hundred otneia.'
And Why Not Grand on.r.7
Yes. she mentioned "1h. Niksd, .
though. AS worm agree thor. w,s -,
need for her TO mention II Eysn N.w
York remembers acme thing,
i've been on broadway more ,,mss
than | nave fingers ana toes" Mis-,
Macdonald recalled, hut nobody ever
seemed to care much about II, I've
never had my name on broadway IN
electric letters. though I'm told II can
now be seen from Broadway with u
fountain playing all over II. What next,
| wonder
Grand opera
Maybe, when / grow up to he as
handsome as my favorite prima donna. -
Meaning"
Madame sembrich, Of course. have
a host of friends among the opera folk
The late Gilbert was one OF my frs,
coachers. | have always studied in
tina French gchnoi N,han I u,a,, .h,aoI