Arizona republican., 1914-05-11
Journey to South Pacific Islands in Search of Health Fails and the Famous Singer is No More
WELL BELOVED BY
 AMERICAN PEOPLE
Prominent in Operatic Cir cles for Years-Starred in Many Great Companies Enthusiastic Worker for Woman Suffrage
ASSOCIATED PRESS DIsPATcHl


 BATAVIA, Java, May 10.-Madame Lillian Nordica, the world-renowned soprano singer, died here today.
 Lillian Nordica was an American singer of worldwide fame. Her ad- mirers ranged from the men of the Bowery section of New York, where she had sung at mission meetings, to the most critical box holders of grand opera houses in all of the worlds great musical centers. The purity of her voice, employed in many tongues, had delighted hundreds of thousands since the day, 40 years ago, she first appeared in public as soprano soloist at Grace church in Boston.
 Nordica and Eames-although the latter was born of American parents in far off China-Were of old New England stock, both claimed by the state of Maine, and they made up notable American contribution to the operatic world. A farm house built by the prima donnas great grand father on a hill just outside the vil- lage of Pennington, Maine, was Nor dicas birthplace, in 1859. Her true name was Lillian Norton. She changed it to the Italian, Nordica, 20 years later when she began to study in Italy for an operatic career.
 After her graduation from the New England Conservatory of Music at Boston, and successful singing of the l leading roles in several of the ora- tories given by the, Haendel and t, Haydn society, she went to Europe, | in 1878. as a soloist with Gilmores band She clung tenaciously to clas- sical music and was well received | by great audiences in the Crystal palace, London, and the Trocadero. Paris She decided to remain in Flu 1 rope and attempt an operatic ca reer. She went to Milan and became pupil of Sangiovanni, and within l six months she had mastered ten operas.
 1 Her debut in opera was at Brescia | in 1879 in La Traviata. After trip to St Petersburg she appeared for trial before Ambrose Thomas and the impressario, Vancorbell who en- gagged her for the Grand Opera House in Paris Her first appearance there in 1882, as Marguerite in Faust
 was a triumph The critics observed her American accent, but said it gave piquancy to her tone, and her acting was lauded as equal to her singing.
 She returned to America and toured this country with great success. In the succeeding years she appeared in opera or concert in almost every city of musical culture in the world. Her repertoire included more than fifty operas. Her success with Wagnerian roles became the pinnacle of her fame At Bayreuth in 1884 she ap-
 peared as Elsa in "Lohengrin' and
 she is. perhaps. best remembered in
 that part She received decorations of various sorts abroad, and gifts
 without number from friends at home. The stockholders of the Met
 ropolitan opera house presented her with a diamond tiara.
 Her matrimonial ventures numbered
 three. She was first married in 1882
 to Frederick A. Gower, wealthy electrician, and a native of her state 1, of Maine. whom she met in Paris : Shortly after she had begun separa-
 tion proceedings in 1884; Gower dis appeared He attempted a balloon
 trip across the English channel. Al though the balloon was later found , nothing was ever heard or seen ol
 him.
 . In 1896. Nine Nordica married , Zoltan Doeme, a Hungarian army of
 ficer and singer, from whom she SC iG.ar, i1,,,oA Nina