The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
Called on Phone at Her Home
Here, Young Woman Rushes to
Theater and Sings Title Role of
Aida" in Place of Nine. Carmen
Melis, the Missing Principal.

Miss Alice Eversman, returning from a
trip to Philadelphia at noon yesterday.
hurried TO her home, at 1401 Girard
street. Two hours later she was on the
stage at the Belasco Theater, creditably
singing the role of Aida, when she had
not seen the score for a year. opportun-
ity had knocked at her door and she
was ready.
The Chicago Grand Opera Company
was scheduled to appear, with Nine.
Carmen Melis, in Aida" but the soprano
had failed to appear when the musical
director. Ettore Perosio. arrived at the
.theater at 100 o'clock There was no un-
derstudy. Signor Perosio. at his wits
end, remembered that Mise Eversman.
who had sung minor roles in the COM
rany, lived in Washington. He called
up her house on the phone.
Yes" said Mrs. Eversman. you can
speak TO my daughter as soon as she
has finished her hath"
1t Was Perfectly Lovely.
The impatience Of the director led Miss
Eversman to respond as soon as possi-
bic. Il want you to get down TO the
Belasco as soon as you can and sing
Aida" said the director. will you
do it?"
IlO" perfectly lONtlg. MISS 6NCTS-
man replied. '.Of course, will, but I
haven't read {he book for more than a
year"
The girl turned to her mother and in
vited her to accompany Der to the Be
lasco Theater.
Come" she said, 'and hear me sing.
II you are there. 1 know 1 can get
through it all right
Rode Down in Street Car.
Then Miss Eversman snatched up a
volume of Aida" from the library table,
intending to study it on the street car.
She laughed at the idea Of an opera star
journeying TO the theater in such
vehicle and studying on the way, but It
was no laughing matter when she found
that the car was crowded and she had TO
stand up all the way. So she waited
until she was in her dressing room, and
then, gIancing through the score, was
ready for the stage.
In the meantime, the management of
the theater announced to the audience
that Nine Carmen Melis had failed to
make her appearance, and also begged
the indulgence of the audience during
the performance of Miss Alice Evers-
man. a Washington girl, who would ap-
pear in the title role. Subsequent devel-
opments, however, demonstrated that
the apology was unnecessary.
Delighted with the Opportunity.
Miss Eversman's version of her sudden
occupancy Of a niche in the operate hall
of fame is girlishly interesting. To a re-
porter last night she said:
II have waited So so long for an oppor-
tunity, but 1t seems that American girls
are never given a chance to make q
name for themselves. The opera-goers
prefer foreigners. ,and are won't to feel
apprehensive when they are notified that
one OF their own countrywoment Is TO
sing for them.
II must say that I want TO thank my
audience for its indulgence. The people
were very kind, indeed. Ny only trouble
was in stage carriage. was not at all
nervous. and after 1 had read the book
through once I knew that / was the
master OF the lines. The other members
Of the cast assisted me, and managed
to go through with II"
The new star has been cast in minor
roles so long that she declared the ex-
perience was Interesting. exciting, and
The audience called her out repeatedly,
and after the performance she was con-
graduated by every member. Of the COM
pany.
Miss Eversman first studied music in |
the Georgetown Convent. when she was
sixteen years old. After two years in |
that institution she attended the Balti- |
more Conservatory OF Music. So promis- |
ing was her future at the conclusion Of !,
one year there that she was sent. to Ber- |
lin. where she was trained for five years |
by Ferguson.
She is the daughter of Mrs. Alice |
Eversman. and her brother Is John c. /
a.
william Mckinley They are elated |
over her success Miss Eversman is but |
twenty-five years old