Evening journal., 1912-05-15
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Story Of the Greatest
Mistress Of the Violin
By Holland

Of the Civil War there came to the
United States a girl only eighteen
years Of age who had been engaged
TO make concert tour as violinist.
She was a native of France, although
her parents were understood to have
been Belgisns. Brief reports had
reached the United States which told
Of the amazing talent of this young
woman and her wonderous personal
charm--combining modesty. simpli-
city and freedom from all affectation
or self-consciousness.
This girl came and played first in
Boston. There her triumph was al
most as great as that Of Jenny Lind.
So, also, In New York, Philadelphia
and other of the larger cities of the
United States she gained a popular
favor. a peculiar personal prestige,
not to be compared with that which
any other maker Of sweet sounds--ex-
capting Jenny Lind had secured in
the United States This success was
due in part to the fact that the girl
had apparently conquered all of the
possibilities of he violin.
II was my good fortune in 1860,
when a mere boy, TO hear this Won
derful player of the violin. When she
came upon the platform she stood for
moment with her violin hanging
from her hand and looked dreamily at
the audience She was dressed very
simply in white. She had the face of
Q child. except that when she began
playing there was a wonderful trans
formation in the expression of her
countenance. No sooner did she put
her bow 10 the strings than her eyes
closed She stood like a statue, eyes
closed, face immovible, but with a
sort Of rapt expression upon il. She
made no other motion than that nee
essary for the playing of the instru-
ment. A strange psychological inhu-
ence seemed TO 90 from her as well
as from her instrument TO the audi
ence.
Probably tho present generation
has heard rarely-if at all-of this
greatest mistress Of the violin. but
those who are in middle life and 9TH
ers upon whom old age has come will
remember the charm Of this young
woman and the wonderful music
which she brought forth from her in
strument Her name was Camilla
Urso.
In 1895 il was my privilege to meet
Camilla Urso at a private musical en-
tertainment which had been given IN
/ her honor by friends who had known
her for many years. She was then a
woman OF mature years. When tho
musical entertainment was ended she
went to her room and presently re-
turned with her violin She took her
place by the piano. having given a
piano score to friend who was to &C.
company her. In an instant she was
transformed from the mature. quiet
domestic-mannered woman to the
great artist Her eyes closed She
drew the bow across the strings and
the wonders OF the instrument were
revealed. She played for perhaps hal
an hour without once opening heI
eyes except when a new piano score
was handed to the accompanist
Later in the evening 7 chatted Will
Camilla Urso Again she seemed ;
quiet. unassumng. very domestic
hammered middle-aged woman. There
was dry vein of humor IN her con
yersation. Finally mustered up cour
age to say to her;
Madame Urso, heard you in 1860
I heard you again several years later
and I have heard you tonight. Th'
marvel Of the instrument you plal
will always remain a mystery 10 me
But 7 would like to ask you one ques
ton"
She smiled and said, ~ there Il
anything I can answer. will answer
a."
Then 7 will ask you why you clos
your eyes when YOU play, and n yol
always do it?"
"Ah that Is easy 10 answer" shi
said When ] first began 10 play II
public ! found my attention wa
distracted as ! looked about the audi
ence Now, II you play the violin well
you must have only one thought, AM
that must be centered upon the in
strument
No ! viii change that You mus
not have any thought at all. All grea
playing is practically unconscious, S
I learned to close my eyes after ha
played i'm one or two concerts. An
in all my experience Of nearly fort
years public playing I have never ye
seen an audience except when I wen
upon the platform With my eye
closed ] seem to be embodied in m
instrument as soon as l begin play
ing"
Copyright, 1912, by r. J.. Edward
All rights reserved.
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell {
General Fred Grant and the Weiss
tudes of Politics"
]