The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-08-04

" IRLS preparing TOT opera III
Paris have got to be comfort
- able. THAT is why we live in
A an attic" They laughed glee-
fully as they told 1t, two
bouncing American girls from Kansas
and Alabama, high-hearted, ambitious.
bubbling with the Joy Of life, yet
keyed down to the specialists clear
seeing intent by two or three years
study in the French capital. They
have learned the need Of money in
lyric Paris. Their experience Is valu-
able to dreaming home girls.
1T has cost me all Of $1,400 a year
to cultivate my voice In Paris; and l
live cheaply in an attic apartment
to do the heavy work." affirmed the
Kansas young woman. while the Ala
bama girl has spent nearly $1,000 q
year" including very few new
gowns!" Both have tried every way
of living In Paris-to arrive at the
mansard apartment and the charwom-
an.
"All of which brings us to $1,000
for four years voice preparation and
the comfort" that must characterize
them. OF course there are profession
ais and semi-professionals who run to
Paris and do great deal Of work In
six months. We are not. dealing with
them. Even the failures for lack of
time and money go back to America
and earn better pay singing In church
es and teaching on the strength Of
their Paris training. We have nothing
to do with them either.
Zone year lived on $780," unused
the southerner. Il was taking only
two singing lessons per week from -
(here she named famous name). I
paid IS per half-hour lesson in class
of three other girls.
Il was living in a pension boarding
house for francs per day-$42 per
month. That had to be paid regular
ly. The rest took as regularly as
the money would permit. There were
two singing lessons per week at IS
each; two French diction lessons per
week with a coach, at 81 each: two
mise-en-scen (acting) lssons at 81
apiece: and 81 once week with a
German, learning Schumann and Schu-
bert heds! It would have brought me
to $500 per year without cab fares,
opera. theater, laundry, clothing.
books, postage. hats, shoes. soap. mu-
sic, textbooks, rubber shoes, quinine.
headache powders or pennies for the
poor! l had to cut out some of the
lessons.
Too many people to bother you In a
pension boarding house; too much
time lost talking; too much second
class society. People are all the
time going OF to see the Paris sights.
1t Is annoying to be asked and have
to always refuse. In the evenings
they ask you to sing. You never do,
but you hate to refuse again."
Again. there are too many con-
genial people at the American girls
clubs. The girls clubs Of Paris have
the disadvantages OF great pension,
only more SO. They are Immensely
more luxurious and honey. They pre-
sent great advantages. They are
clean. smart, art-furnished, with
steam heat, baths, afternoon teas, IL
braries. information bureaux, free
medical attendance, entertainments.
charming society-and all for IS or
So per week!
! but we quit them. It was too con-
genial. too agreeable. Instead of hur-
rying to my room to work, would
stop In the salons. chatting with the
girls.
From girls clubs to light house
keeping. In Paris, Is, thus natural
evolution. Two tiny rooms and Z BIZ
Jou kitchen. There is scarce space for
tea table and plano. That chints-
covered diyan II my bed Ny compan-
ions room, not having the piano. con-
tains our mutual dressing table. OBJ
servo how the wall slants az it goes
up. It = the mansard and makes the
rooms rather warm. ut times. In sum-
mar; but the evenings are always cool
and We do not have the excessive heat
q America IN Paris"
Cost Of Living.
with the charwoman three times 4
week to clean up. 1t costs US shout $50
per month. SIS apiece. including gas,