The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1911-07-28

mer; but the evenings are always cool
and we do not have the excessive heat
of America in Paris"
Cost of Living.
with the charwoman three times
week to clean up, it costs us about $50
per month, $25 apiece. including gas,
rough laundry and the rent Of the
piano. We have good steaks and
chops and an American variety of
ure. freedom. silence-and pocket
money!
THE distances are great in Paris;
but we take cabs only when we are
late for SIS singing lesson, or when
1t is stormy. One must not catch
c,ld-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
tiers, 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
L
out their old clothes. 1 have been in
Paris three years and still have some
of the things | brought with me.
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 roll. Then you
read the society columns of the Paris
Herald, Mail and American Register
important to girl whose life on the
edge of high society becomes almost
a business proposition. In the after.
noon more singing.
The first concert is 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 to 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 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
mali you a postal order for the price
of each, S2-s4 in all-and never at.
tend your concert.
Once a year the precious voice must
be heard by the real critics. For the
meritorious, 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 Inn
| presarios After such a hearing the
girl may be offered an immediate en-
| gagement in such swell opera house
as the Monnaie of Brussels, as l have
| known to happen to American girls
| nine times in the past ten years.
One reason why our girls pay SIS
| 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 we'll as the professional pa
/ pars. The impresarios Of all the
world will know of them by magic.
It is to this sort of thing Paris owes
its 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
70
voice; and 1t suffices.