The Ordway new era., 1911-07-21

rOugn laundry ana the rent Oh tne
plano. We have good steaks and
chops and an American variety OF
fresh vegetables. warmth. light. leis.
ure. freedom. silence-and pocket
money!
THE distances are great in Paris:
but we take cabs only when we are
late for a IS singing lesson. or when
1t Is stormy. One must not catch
c,ld-that is Another ruin! Our fine
laundry costs US each rs cents per
week-much cheaper than in America.
Our economies go to opera and thea
ters. cabs. music and books.
And clothes? One must have a
smart evening gown and fancy tailor
for afternoons. when invited out. That
Is all. For the rest. most American
girl students come to Paris TO wear
out their old clothes. I have been in
Paris three years and still have some
OF the things | brought with me. I
wear them still. Students are not ex-
pected to dress"
The daily routine OF the songstress
Is full OF pleasant activity. Care Of
her physique Is OF capital importance.
Her chief cares are not to catch cold
or grow fat.
On rising. the future Patti takes q
tub-unknown object in the Latin
Quarter. though there Is said to be
one in the Boulevard Montparnasse.
but as the girl lives very retired. few
have seen 1t. Breakfast must be only
cup Of coffee and a roll. Then you
read the society columns OF the Paris
Herald. Mail and American Register
important to a girl whose life on the
edge OF high society becomes almost
business proposition. In the after
noon more singing.
The first concert is a great scheme:
there are men students who repeat 1t
annually. confess, the girls employ
It less.
The only expense is printing and
mailing the complimentary tickets.
You send them broadcast to the rich
and famous Americans. English.
French. South Americans. Russians.
Germans, Italians and Spanish OF
Paris-with the word "Complimen-
tary" rubber.stamped in big letters.
Such rich folks are unwilling to ac-
cept a complimentary" from an un-
known singer: but they think you
must have met them somewhere. and
hate. also. to throw back the offered
seats in your face. Therefore they
mail you postal order for the price
OF each. $2-$4 in all-and never at
tend your concert.
Once year the precious voice must
be heard by the real critics. For the
meritorious. this long.dreaded. long.
wished.for addition believes Is con-
secration. The voice Is heard by the
critical Paris public. 1t Is Judged not
only by critics. but by gathered i'm
presarios After such a hearing the
girl may be offered an immediate en-
gagement in such swell opera house
known to happen to American girls
nine times in the past ten years.
One reason why our girls pay IS
apiece for half-hour Lessons from the
famous but negligent old trainers who
receive social callers in the class
hour is that they make up for all neg
lect at their additions. great functions.
In which they have the power of draw
ing the elite of the profession. Less
famous trainers-better. perhaps. for
the voice-cannot get that crowd to-
gether
Each student sings two pieces. and
into their rendering Is put the train
ing OF long weeks. The hall is packed.
The hour has come. One by one the
girls pass to the ordeal. And 1t is
finished. They have been heard. They
have sung in Paris. Their perform
ances will be noted at length In the
daily as well rs the professional pn-
pars. The impresarios of all the
world will know of them by magic.
1t is to this sort OF thing Paris owes
its vogue us a voice center. Fewer
new operas are brought out in Paris
than In many n German city. Paris
engagements are notoriously Ill paid.
The Paris public does not love music.
Some Of the great trainers are Ger.
mans. some Italians. some Spanish.
Yet they must teach in Paris. Paris
is the center for the cultivation OF the
voice: and it sufiices.