The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-14
and the Tragedy Tho

Laughing. she departed with the yell
low. eye-lilte pearl.
But before she left she asked another
question:
"Just where did the pearl come from?"
From one Of the atolls in the Gulf Of
Borneo, madame. I'VE have traced it's
history. warn madame that it is super
sttion but it is not happy"
The singer laughed.
Hitherto Lillian Norton's life had been
one Of poverty, Of hard work, Of grim de-
termination and unflagging resolve. But
she overflowed with Yankee grit. Born
on a farm in Maine, the granddaughter
of Camp meeting John. a revivalist
whose resonant notes shook woods OF
shores where he camped and sang Of q
Summer; shopgirl in Boston until she
was discovered by a vocal teacher who
heard her singing as she re-arranged
the goods on the counter; too poor to
rent piano, practicing with the aid Of
a pitch pipe for two years; three years
of transforming concert work, these had
been her experience when she came to
Paris to study and fell in with the rest
less pearl. But her face was turned to
the East. In her soul was an uncon-
Querable resolve.
Yet from the moment OF her purchase
Of "the restless pearl" troubles beset her.
She made her debut in village in north
Italy anu INC BTOdIeu Ut ueT
Bruised but not beaten she returned to
Boston. Boston refrained from Kisses,
but not from severe criticism. To new
York she went and sang in the Academy
of Music New Workers were q shade
kinder, but they, too. lacked enthusiasm.
II was far from a triumphal entry into
her own country.
To Europe she returned, taking a new
name TO hide the old defeats. No longer
ILL n
Lillian NordCa.
To Paris came Fred Cover Cover
was young American whom Professor
Bell had sent to France to introduce his
telephones. a countryman told him Of
the struggles Of a beautiful and talented
young American and her mother to keep
their brave heads above the waters of
debt and penury while the daughter
strove for grudging recognition from the
aTbiters of musical destinies in Europe.
fred Cover met the Widow Norton and
her daughter and with the daughter he
fell in love in the rash, headstrong way
Of his temperament
They were married. Soon they dis.
covered themselves TO be unhappy.
Friends of both diagnosed the case as
one of hopeless incompatibility. The
artistic temperament and the bent Of the
inventor and promoter formed clash
ing discord. The discord rent the nerves
of the singer. 1t set the temper of the
inventor and promoter out Of tune.
There was Tumor Of continued differ
ences, Of q possible separation. But
chance or fate strangely interviewed.
Fred Cover was an amateur balloon
ist He had made several successful
journeys in the upper airs. In one Of
these he had crossed the English Chan.
nell Yet from the tour of the upper
currents conceived and carried out at
this time he never returned The col
lapsed balloon was found floating in the
channel.
But, as though the oracle Of the rest
less pearl had spoken truly. triumph
came soon after for the singer. She was
permitted to sing at Bayreuth. She was
the first of the American prima donnas
to be permitted the honor. The Germans
applauded her. With the stamp of Ger.
man recognition upon her she went to
England and sang 1t Covent Garden.
Again success! She went to St Peters
burg and sang for the royal family.
Among the million dollars worth Of