The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1910-12-15
DIVA IN DISGUISE
SINGS IN STREETS
IN new YORK CITY
Public Pays Little Attention to
Efforts Of One It Pays Large
Prices Nightly to
Hear.

singer who gets 81, 800 a week was able
to make only 1915 dag. She played
trick on the public and the public
tricked itself, for large part Of 1t
didn't take the trouble to listen to
music free that 1t gladly pays dollars
10 hear when 1t is labelled with the
operas and the singers name.
| Few singers who have appeared in
New York In recent years are better
known than Emma Trentini, who
gained the title of the little devil Of
opera" when she sang at the Man
haitian opera house. When Oscar Ham
merstein decided that the Manhattan
| moved over to the New York theater
For three hours the other dav Tren-
tini was street singer. She sang real
opera. She gave the best she had-and
who were those who rewarded genius
with pe-7nx7 Who remembered full,
sweet voice. which carried more than
| sight stories, singing!
Quando men vo'
Soletta per la via genie sosta.
Six Cents for One Song.
That's the waltz from La Boheme."
She sang 1t Friday afternoon at
o'clock In a yard behind 315 West
Ninety eighth ST., which forms court
Tor six apartment houses facing
on Ninety-eighth and Ninety ninth
streets. And the darling Of Broad
way" whose salary for one week IL
81 800, received cents for her enter
tainment.
Around her head was a red silk
shawl. She wore q short gray dress
which made her look even smaller
than she usually does. Her delicate
throat was protected from the raw
wind by a gray sweater. The shawl
pulled over her forehead almost con-
cealed her round face. and she re-
sembled a gypsy fortune teller or
street singer.
1t was a baby that first discovered"
the great artist In the street singers
garb. From one Of the windows came
penny wrapped In a note. 1t said:
The baby won't sleep while you
sing. Please 80 away"
1.-THE baby, 'eeh weel not sleep, no,
yes" said Trentini, a roughish twinkle
IN her big black eyes. mo 'eeh weel
not sleep. I weel sing heem a loolo-
by"
And here the tiny diva. who stands
little more than four feet high, was
Grooming the softest Of melodies in
italian. She sang for only a minute,
but woman's head was thrust from
one Of the upper windows and a nickel
sinkled into the courtyard. Trentini
picked II up and waited for more.
There was no more!
Then she tiptoed out of the court.
Policemen "Guards" These Rich.
At the Apthorp apartment house,
where single apartment rents for
10000 year, stern policeman barred
the way. He was there to see that
mono OF the guests was disturbed even
by an 81 ,S00-a-week voice.
At the Ansonia the little troubadour,
Instead of asking "by your leave,".
brought out her tambourine and sound,
ed the first note OF La Colombia
1.-THE Dove"). which was dedicated to,
her by Kurt SCHNEIDER
Trentini looked neither to the right
nor to the left. She did not turn back
but straight through the swinging
doors and into the sacred halls OF the
Ansonia. w. e. d. Stokes, proprietor
OF the Ansonia, was passing through
the hall when the notes fell on his ear.
He stood rooted to the spot and then
rushed to the door.
my dear young won.an," he said,
you have a wonderful voice. How did
you get into my hotel? Come into the
ballroom; I want you to sing for my
guests"
A few women. some dressed In furs
and diamonds, gathered around. Again
Trentini sang "Boheme" and danced
hpOut TIC piB bAiiTOOHl. TeOple paused
in their establishment. Chatelaine bags
were opened and out contemporaries.
Yes. and some nickels, and dimes, and
quarters, and one man gave a dollar!
Call for Colleagues Friehtens.
A woman went to the little singer
and asked her II she wouldn't come to
her rooms. She was really interested
in this talented "waif" The Ansonia
Is the home of many opera singers.
among them Slezak and Bonci, both
of whom have sung with Trentini and
know her well. 1t occurred to Manager
Stokes that these guests OF his would
be interested In the little "waif' and
he sent for them.
Trentini overhead the order. Her
song stopped short, and before any
one could realize what she was going
to do she had bolted out through the
doors. Then she got in her automobile
and went to Mulberry street, the Ital-'
ian quarter. Here, too, her music was
appreciated. She sang only few notes
before the people In the park and in
the neighboring tenements were throb-
bling with excitement. and she was al
most mobbed by the overjoyed Ital-
ians before she could get away.