Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1911-07-19

| Ai FGTlS nave SOL " UC SOhlISAS
u able. THAT is why we live in
U III an attic" They laughed glee-
fully as they told it, 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 oS three years
study in the French capital. They
have learned the need of money In
lyric Paris. Their experience is yalu-
able to dreaming home girls.
TT has cost me all Of S1,400 year
to cultivate my voice in Paris; and
live cheaply In an attic apartment
with a charwoman at cents per hour
to do the heavy work." affirmed the
Kansas young woman, while the Ala
bama girl has spent nearly S1,600
ear-"including very few new
gowns!" Both have tried every way
Of living in Paris-to arrive at the
mansard apartment and the charwom-
an.
Studying for opera in Paris is a
long story.
II hoped to do everything in year"
laughed the first. 81 had worked four
years at home. l expected to get
the repertory I wanted in Paris-and
hurry back l have been here two
years and have another year before
me, certain, perhaps longer"
II the work were all, it might be
shorter; but three girls out of four
lose half their time changing teach
ers. There is no remedy for this; no
suggestion to give newcomers. Hunt
ing 'the right teacher" who can 10
cate" their voices and push them at
the same time is the problem Of each
individual girl She must work 1t out
for herself.
You meet girls who have been
working seven or eight years in Paris
and done nothing yet! There are
$4,000 music teachers in Paris. And
only ten good ones"
"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.
"One year lived on $780," mused
the southerner. 81 was taking only
two singing lessons per week from -
(here she named famous name). I
paid SIS per half-hour lesson in class
Of three other girls.
II was living in a pension boarding
house for francs per day-s42 per
month. That had to be paid regular
ly. The rest 1 took as regularly as
the money would permit. There were
two singing lessons per week at s5
each; two French diction lessons per
week with coach, at 81 each; two
mise-en-scen (acting) lssons at 81
apiece; and 81 once a week with a
German, learning Schumann and Schu-
bert heds! It would have brought me
to $1,500 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! I had to cut out some of the
lessons.
TOO many people to bother you in
pension boarding house; too much
time lost talking; too much second
class society. People are all the
time going off 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 a 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, H.
braries, information bureaux, free
medical attendance, entertainments,
charming society-and all for S5 or
Sc per week!
But we quit them. 1t was too con-
genial. too agreeable. Instead Of hur-
rying to my room to work, I would
stop in the salons. chatting with the
girls.
Light Housekeeping.
From girls clubs to light house
keeping, in Paris, is, thus natural
evolution. Two tiny rooms and a bi-
jou kitchen. There is scarce space for
tea table and piano. That chintz-
covered divan is my bed. My compan.
ions room, not having the piano con-
tains our mutual dressing table. OBJ
serve how the wall slants as it goes
up. 1t is the mansard and makes the |