The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-30


You don't know how grand it all
is" declared the famous singer, as she
spread her arms and smiled a smile
that showed the rows of even white
pearly teeth. you don't know how
grand it is to be in the west again.
One gets awfully tired of the east and
of the continent. It's so sober. They
don't seem to get down and do things
like they do out west. It's this ever
lasting way of expression of sentiment
that seems to hold one to the west.
You Just don't seem able to get away
from it,
Then the prima donna apologized be-
cause she had not a fresh cup of cof-
fee to offer the visitor. But Nordica
was not without resources. s. 1
Edward" she said, as she turned
to the colored waiter bring the gen.
tleman a bottle of champagne"
When the request had been complied
with, the great Nordica leaned back
on the green plush cushions and con-
tinued her conversation.
You know the west is great. Simply
great. Why, when people applaud out
here, there is something about it that
is so genuine, so sincere and earnest
that it Just sort of takes you off your
feet. Do you wonder we like it? Then,
people are so wholesouled, so gener-
Gus and kind. It must be that Kansas
language that we hear so much about
back east.
why, do you know, one time I went
to Oregon and spent an entire month
how I couldn't get away from the
green alfalfa fields. the big orchards
and the rich. fresh air. Every time We
are routed for a western tour, I know
there is something new. Things change
so rapidly. The people are so original
and do things so different that it sort
of hypnotizes one and makes them wish
to come back"
Then the diva talked about her
tours. She mentioned her former visit
to Topeka, when she was entertained
at the governors mansion. After that
she talked about her coming trip to
Europe.
81 am going in June said Nordica.
as her steel blue eyes beamed on the
visitor, land a great time we shall
you know and the visitor shook his
head and attempted to appear well
posted on the Paris musical world.
Coronation year is always great. and
I am planning wonderful things for
that trip
When asked about the proposed new
theater on the Hudson for the devel-
opment of high grade opera, Nordica
said:
Eyes, there is something about that.
but I haven't made up my mind fully
as vet You know my husband owns
quit all this, to settle down, as you
people out here say. We are planning
on a 40-acre tract. There will be a
great theater and school for the ad-
vancement of grand opera in general,
but I have been so busy that really
haven't had time to plan it all out
you know, the press is sometimes
very unkind to the beginners Some
times young men and young women
come to me. They come by the score
fry in h
lie Something the papers say about
these persons often turns their heart
against the work. They seem never to
get over it. The papers don't point out
the good things, as they should, but
thew tell the bad and it is hard for
the young singer to forget. 1t is diff
ferent with US who are older. The
press has been so kind to me, but 1
don't know what / should have done
if they had been so critical years
| ago.
Nordica enjoys a joke about her
age. She is So and admits it There
| is little reason for Nordica paying a
press agent She keeps her business
| affairs at her fingers end. Nothing
ever escapes her. She tells stories
from her own lips that excel the work
| of any press agent she ever employed
As the great singer reviewed her
former visits in Topeka, her eyes
beamed and she declared that she was
| glad 10 De Ddck IL Aahsds- MOI ulcd
will spend three days in Topeka this
| trip. It is her first visit to the capital
| city since 1907. With her on the trip
/ is the entire company which is to APP
pear with her Friday night at the
| Auditorium. Her business manager
i remained in Kansas City and will not
| reach Topeka until some time this
| evening.
/ In the private car ''Grassmere," in
| which the Nordica company travel. the
troupe has every convenience at their