Evening journal., 1912-12-20
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Romantic Career Of An
American SOnGbird
By Holland.

Sometimes me late Thomas Ball,
the distinguished American sculptor,
was prevailed upon By his friends to
tell the romantic story of the Countess
Edla, the American girl who married
Ferdinand, the titular king of POrtu-
gal. and who was regent of Portugal
during the minOrity-of his son, Pedro
V, grandfather on the recently de-
posed King Manuel.
1T was some time in the year 1854
II remember correctly" Mr. Ball
used to say, that was engaged to
sing in an oratorio that was to be
given at Springfield, Mass was at
that time an oratoria singer
MY professional engagements had
brought me in touch with several of
the men prominent in musical life at
Boston, and among them was an ltal-
ian who was accustomed to 90 to
Springfield two or three times a week
in order to give singing lessons.
when he learned that was to be
in Springfield a day or two and that
he would also be there at that time
he asked me to come to his music
room and hear "A young Springfield
girl Elsie Hensler, sing. He told me
that this girl had "a beautiful voice
and that if She made music her pro-
fession she had a great career before
her
Il did hear Miss Hensler sing She
was, ! should say, a girl of seventeen
or eighten years of age. She had
beautiful voice, but il needed cultiva-
ton. Her parents were in moderate
circumstances and they could not
very we'll afford to eXpend what was
al taHtN Y.N It4aIfT
daughters voice.
81 told her that she ought to get a
choir position in some church and
then save money enough to take les
sons from a competent teacher. as
surod her that her voice was worthy
of most assiduous care and cultiva-
ton.
'I should say IL was a few weeks
after this meeting that as / was walk
inc across the Boston Common
heard some one calling me by name.
! looked around and I saw Miss Mems
lor, and with her q girl, /, should say
of fifteen years of age, Whom / re-
cognized as a younger sister. We
walked along until we got to the
Park Street Church at the corner Of
the Common Miss Hensler told me
that She had come to Boston hoping
that she could find a church choir
position, for what I had told her at
Springfield had convinced her that
she could do something of that kind.
Fortunately had heard only a
day or two before that the director
of the choir OF Kings chapel, at the
corner OF fremont and School streets.
was Looking for a good solOist for its
Quartette. told Miss Hensler that
] would speak to him before the day
was over Of her and recommend him
TO hear her voice recall now the
flush of excitement and pleasure
which came to her checks as ! spoke
of this possible opening
Later in The day 7 was able to
make an appointment for Miss Hens
Ter with the Kings chapel choir di-
rector. lt did not take her long TO
satisfy him that she had just the
voice he wanted. She was immed-
lately engaged at a pretty fair salary
for those days.
Her beautiful voice, her refine
ment of manner, her complete un-
anectedness and a certain charm of
manner and appearance gained her
the confidence and friendship of
many members of that congregation
Therefore. when Il was learned
that she was anxious TO so to Europe
and receive the best voice training
| 80 be obtained there, a sum of money
was gladly subscribed by these
church people. sufficient to pay hel
expenses for two or three years.
81 heard of her two years later as
having sung successfully in opera in
! Italy I went to Italy little later
and hoped that / should be able tC
meet her again, but ! was told tina
she had gone TO Lisbon to Sing in the
Royal Opera company there. Later
! learned that she was married tc
King Ferdinand-hono married
! but that as she was not of noble
birth she could not share the throne.
Copyright, 1912, by e. J. Edwards
All rights reserved)