El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-22


working to secure finer national
standards in evry line Credit IS gwen
TO the musical organizations for their
efforts in this direction In many towns
it is the women who have been instru-
mental in having music added 70 the
course of study IN the pubic schOO4s-
a generation ago the muSlcdl WIN IN
the schools was confined 10 HltdStL
instruction in vocal music IN tne
schools of the, larger tOW rs ramos
were almost uI1leard of until the WON
en- took up the cause, and now IN many
parts of the country, piano IS as gen
orally recognized as a piece Oh sCnOOl
furniture as the blackboard with this
instrument the provision for adequate
musical instruction was comparatively
easy.
An effort is being made TO stimulate
a knowledge Of classic music as wei as
a taste in the selection OF all musical
compositions
More Women Teachers.
The preDOnderance OF women music
teachers over that Of men IS even
greater than of school teachers, ana
there are u girls receiving musical
education for each boy This naturally
places American music largely in the
hands of women and they are working
TO secure higher standards for every
class of American music. The Fedora
ton Of Musical clubs has branches in
every state. 1t is endeavOring to Sc
cure laws providing for uniform stand
ards of qualification for music teach
ers. This can only be accomplished
by examination and the granting OF
certificates similar to those awarded
to public school teachers.
Ohio Adopts Schedule.
In Ohio the WOmeu's musical Organi-
cations have united in formulating
graded schedule Of musical work suit
able for school children from the
fourth to the eighth grades which has
been accepted by the Ohio Music
Teachers association as suggestive OF
the standard OF music values TO be
desired in the schools With this as a
foundation the grades of music
through the different school courses
can be systematized TO the end Of the
university course when the degree doc
tor of music is awarded
1t is claimed that women have a
distinct field for their musical crea-
tive faculties in the production OF sim
pie wholesome compositions for chill
dren which will preserve the purity OF
musical feeling Carrie Jacobs Bond,
of Chicago has become recognized as
one of the most prolific writers OF
children's music in the world and her
simple little melodies are known not
only wherever the English language is
used but some OF them have been tran
slated into German, French and Italian
Another young woman whose songs are
being well received in London and
other English cities is Mrs. Estelle
WillOughby Ions. a native OF New Or
leans. Mrs Ions has been esrecially
happy in the composition Of musical
melodies to accompany poems which
hold her fancy Her work is original
in that il follows none OF the estab-
lished rulings regarding song compO-
sitions-
In religious songs, women have been
very successful in their compositions
The hymns OF Fanny Crosby, the blind
composer, are known throughout the
religious world. while Mary Elizabeth
4 l.
evangelists as the Jennie Lind Of
Sacred sons has rendered her name
well known by the two popular melO-
dies, Glad Tidings," and My Mothers
Hands"
Progress In America.
American women have won world
wide honOrs upon both the musical and
dramatic stage, and despite the com
paratlvely short time IN when Jne
American nation has been IN position
TO develop advanced attainment IN
these arts, an American star now has
quite as much reason to hope Tor rec
oSnitiOn as has one OF any other ma
-tiOnality. There is no branch OF mus
cal or dramatic art in which women
have not won enviable positions as
artists and the number OF musical and
dramatic compositions from woman S
pen are increasing each year
Emma Abbott and Clara Louise kel-
logg were the first American women
to win success upon the musical stage
and their talents and character made
the path easier for the feet OF their
countrywOmen who followed. Miss
Kellogg was best known abroad, as
she sang in grand opera IN. all OF the
more important European capitals
achieving her most notable success IN
St Petersburg.
Miss Kellogg attended a concert /
given by Miss Abbott, in Toledo, ONO,
and was so impressed with the quail
ity of her voice that she supplied the
study. Miss Abbott gave much atten- /
ton to religious music and for several /
years received a salary Of $500 a year (
in a church choir. Afterward this /
church raised the money to send her TO I
Europe where she made a successful J
tour extending over several years One |
Of her closest friends was the baroness 1
ROthsChild. who declared her voice had {
a quality superior to that of any singer Z
in Europe at that period She or
Eanized an opera company in America /
in 1876. and like Miss kellogg, ex-
erted every opportunity to help other /
American girls to musical success
NOrdica Proud Of Nationality.
Madame Lillian NOrdica. whose de-
vOtiOn to the cause of women IS now /
her into the public hmellSht ]
in a new role. is one Of the American \
women singers who have become be
loved both in America and Europe She
always is proud OF her nationality and i
no favor received at the hands of roy
I
the diamond tiara presented to ner by
her own COuntrymen, in the Metro
DOlitan opera house a few years ago,
after her return from a European tour
in which she had won unexcelled |
hOnOrS.
Madame Nevada, who is a Californian
by birth, won her greatest success in
London and Paris although she was
well received throughout Europe, /
while Geraldine Farrar, younger star
whose career may hardly be said to
have fairly begun. made her debut in
Berlin with unrivalled success in the
role Of Marguerite" in Faust" Miss
Farrar has been a member Of the
Metropolitan Opera company. of New
York. since 1906. although she has had
several successful European tours IN
The meantime.
First Great American Actress.
The first really Sreat American act
-ess was Charlotte Cushman, who as
Dired to the operate stage and took
I'D dramatic work when her voice
-ailed. partly. il is believed. from i'm
proper training Her first appearance
vas as Lady Macbeth" in New Orleans
n 1885. when that southern city rep
resented its highest artistic and liter !
Try development. Afterward she went [
10 New York and played many parts,
us-.Tr aTr rfaH IN