The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-01-11
MAKING THEIR DREAM COME
TRUE.

Wnen Lillian NOr0ica was little
girl up among the Maine pines, poor
and entirely without influential
friends. she dreamed gloriously OF
achieving great things through her
golden voice, which was even then
wonderful but wholly unframed She
knew that many other girls had sweet
voices. quite as sweet as hers, in
fact, but even at very early age
she realized what very, very few
girls with golden voices consider In
their youth. that to attain notable
success would require more than
ordinary training, more than musical
influence or professional backing;
that to reach the heights she dream
ed of she would have to climb and
climb and climb with untiring pa
thence and courage, to suffer all
kinds of disappointments in silence,
to refrain from many of the delights
so dear to the heart of universal
girlhood in order that all her ener-
giles might be made to count in the
long fight.
She did not stop dreaming, but
while she dreamed she worked to
make her dreams come true. The
story Of her early struggle is a gall
liant one, still more inspiring is the
tale Of how She accepted her first
defeat in Italy, without a tear, full
OF resolution to win against all odds.
She went back to her native America
after that and her compatriots re-
ceived her cOldly after a polite but
perfectly unenthusiastic hearing.
ut is not the fault of my voice."
she said to her few intimately SYM
pathetic friends 81 have not pre-
pared myself uficiently-have not |
trained my voice thoroughly enough"
She returned to Paris and plunged |
into study, heart and soul, and mean
while she grew in strength and grace
and understanding. She learned that
great success comes only through
great effort, sacrifice and indomitable
courage.
Now, after years of valiant en-
deavor, she has reached the heights,
and her dreams are fulfilled In New
York she was crowned with a. mag
nificent gift of diamonds, the acknow-
lodged queen of American song, but
it is doubtful if that exultant crown
ing meant half as much to her as
her inward JOY in her personal
Far more humble but quite as in
spring is the story of Emma Will
sons fulfllment of her dreams. A
good many years ago little colored
girl was born in slavery, just at the ;
close OF the war. Hard times OBJ
pressed her parents so sorely that
they were hardly any better off for
their freedom than they had been in
slavery, and for years little Emma
lived life OF extreme poverty. But
abe was not unhappy-far from it
Tor she treasured q dream that filled
hrs heart with splendid visions. She
wanted to be the means Ct educat-
Ing the very poor Of her then almost
helpless race, and she worked prodi-
giously to secure the initial means
personal training-worked early and
late, among strangers who cared little
or nothing about her bodily fatigue
Or comfort, only for the labor that
she could accomplish.
In those days OF reconstruction the
South was very poor and the labor
sr's wage was pitifully meager and
opportunities small indeed. Emma
Wilson had not even the advantages
Of the ordinary laborer. In that she
no manual training of any
sort, but she did possess unquench-
able enthusiasm, courage without
measure, and great love for her
race, So she spent the best years
Of her girlhood toiling tremendously,
and finally she scored. the first vic
tory necessary for the materializa-
len OF her dream. In attaining the
equipment that fitted her to
AXE hold OF the coveted project.