The Washington herald., 1910-06-19
NOT AN INTERVIEW.
just n Social Call on Lois EveII, a
Virginia Girl.

Just n Social Call on Lois EweII, a
Virginia Girl.
Georgetown claims Geraldine Farrar.
Lois Ewen is a member of an old Alex
andria family and the best blue blood
Of the Old Dominion runs through her
veins. II is so that Washington is out
rivaled by her older but less pretentous
sister towns But Washington. with her
sheltering arms outspread over Alexan-
dria and Georgetown, may rightfulIy
claim both Of these talented girls.
None of the stereotyped complimentary
phrases seem apt IN describing Miss
Eweu. She met me in her dressing
room with a smile and handclasp that
were as cordial andsunaffected as if she
were presiding at her own tea table and
had just dropped in to talk about the
weather. One needed no opening wedge
for conversation with this bright, laugh
ing. and natural young girl. but there
was one handy, and I asked Miss Ewell
II II We're true that Alexandria was her
home. There was pride in her yes, II is
true" And, indeed, why should there
not be? There is a great deal more to
Alexandria than those who refer TO it as
the HobOken of Washington viii ever
find out by stopping on this side Of the
Potomac
Miss EweIl being a prima donna, one
naturally looked for evidences Of a hob
by. Professional jealousies, the vaearies
Of managers, impresarios, and singers,
and the desperate struggle for the spot
light we know all about. Miss Ewell
cares for none Of these things. She sin
cerely admires Mary Garden and Tetraz-
zini and she Is naturally ambitious that
some day her own name viii be hailed
with equal acclaim.
Her special hobby is in trying 10 make
the public realize that an American girl
with a good voice may reach the topmOst
rung Of the ladder of success without
training under Old World teachers. A
little sadly Miss Ewell admitted that the
struggle is a hard one.
The prestige Of European engagements
seems 70 blind the public 10 a singer
other qualifications. she thinks. and she
is about to give up trying TO demonstrate
her idea. She has never been abroad; her
training has all been right here in the
East. in New York.
Alfred Giraudet, OF the Paris Opera
House, who has a studio IN New York,
is her principal teacher but even he
urges that Miss Ewell accept European
engagements. just as FaTraT, Nordica,
Eames, and other American singers have
done.
Do you think me imaginative when I
put Miss Ewell into this class Of singers
If you do, you haven't heard her sing.
Miss Ewen has sung with the Metropoli-
tan Company in Chicago, and, although
this is her first professional appearance
IN Washington, there are other cities
who count her among their favorite sing
ers
And she is q hard worker, too. When
| she was rushed TO Washington TO sing
Lucia" on Tuesday evening, she had
| Just finished an engagement at st. Louis,
where she had been singing in aida. .
Faust" and I'll Trovatore" She hadn't
seen the score Of Lucia" for two years,
but she was letter perfect when she
came on last Tuesday. Many Of her roles
she sings in Italian, four she can sing In
| French. and has two German roles. Eliza
/ beth in '4Tannhauser,' and Elsa in
''L.ohengrin" Miss Ewell is extremely
| pleased at her reception In this city. and
/ Is delighted TO think that she will be
| permitted TO sing Violetta in ''Traviata'
here One of her greatest successes has
been as Madam Butterfly. and it is to be
| regretted that she will not be heard
as the Puccini heroine during the present
| engagement at least
Che Che San is her favorite role, and
oddly enough. the night I heard her as
Lucia she impressed me as one who would
be an ideal Madam Butterfly.
There Is an expression about her face
which, when II lights up with smile
! still retains a note of usefulness. as OF
dreams unrealized, of fights unfought
and of worlds unconquered.
But, as I told her, she IS young yet
Her career is all ahead of her, and who
| knows but that in Miss Ewell Washing
ton may be entertaining the future prima
donna of the hour?
Indeed, who knows?
II hard work and an answering pur-
pOsefulneSs can achieve It; If a passion
for music, and a keen appreciation OF
It's power TO sway audiences at will can
| do this, Miss Ewell has a good start
along the highway that leads to success
OF the disappointments and the heart
aches she has had her share; of the praise
that turns to ashes In the realization Of
the obstacles to be surmounted, she has
also received & need. But she still has
the confidence of youth; the boundless
ambition to win, and above ali she has
the glorious voice which Is to be turned
into fame and gold. and to bring Joy
and comfort TO many hearts
To sing is TO sound the depths of senti-
ment; 1t is to play upon human heart
strings. and % run the whole gamut OF
emotions.
One IS struck by the womanly sweet
ness of Miss Ewelrs beauty and that
grace Of carriage that betokens race.
I One feels instinctively that she has inde-
pendence and the intellectual equipment
to know what she wants and how to get
it.
The odds are in her favor for capturing
the worlds prima donna stakes.
Wo.