The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-07-20

rough laundry and the rem of the
piano. 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 S. singing lesson, or when
1t is stormy. One must not catch
cLld-that is another ruin! Our fine
laundry costs us each IS 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 q
smart evening gown and a 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. | have been in
Paris three years and still have some
Of the things l brought with me. l
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 a
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 It. Breakfast must be only
a 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
a business proposition. In the after
noon more singing.
The first concert Is a great scheme;
there are men students who repeat 1t
annually. l confess, the girls employ
1t less.
The only expense is printing and
mailing the complimentary tickets.
You send them broadcast 20 the rich
and famous Americans, English,
French. South Americans, Russians.
Germans, Italians and Spanish of
Paris-with the word Compliment
tary" rubber-stamped in big letters.
Such rich folks are unwilling to &C
cept a complimentary" from an I'M
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 a postal order for the price
of each, $2-Si in all-and never at
tend your concert.
Once a year the precious voice must
be heard by the real critics. For the
m~eritorious, this long-dreaded, long
wished-for addition believes is a 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 a swell opera house
as the Monnaie of Brussels, as ! have
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
idulouS pub hSSii6Cht Oiu tLoihSio II
| 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 we'll as the professional pa
pars. The i%mpresarios of all the
world will know of them by magic.
1t Is to this sort of thing Paris owes
| It's vogue as a voice center. Fewer
new operas are brought out in Paris
| than In many a German city. Paris
| engagements are VIGOROUSLY 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 1t suflces.