The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-11

Who Died in Java Sunday Night.
The Tasman was floated in three
days. and put in at Thursday Island.
There, Nine. Nordica was placed un-
der the care OF a physician who re-
manned in constant attendance upon
her until April /, when she sailed for
Batavia. 1t was against the advice
of her physicians that she made the
trip.
Arriving here. the singer seemed
very i'll, but recovered somewhat, at
ter a stay of three weeks. The i'm
provement, however, was only tenn
porary. and when a relapse occurred.
the physicians gave up all hopes of her
recovery. 1t was the intention Of
Nine. Nordica, when she came here
to sail for Genoa, where she was to
meet her husband, George w. Young.
taken passage for the voyage when the
relapse occurred.
Forty Years a Singer.
Lillian Nordica was an American
singer of worldwide fame. Her adj
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 Eng
land stock, both claimed by the state Of
Maine. and they made up notable
American contribution to the operate
world. A farm house built by the
prima donna's great grandfather. on a
hill just outside the village of Farming
ton, Maine, was NOrdica's birthplace in
1853. Her true name was Lillian Nor
ton. She changed 1t to the Italian,
Nordica, 20 years later when she began
to study in Italy for an operate career.
After her graduation from the New
England Conservatory Of Music at
Boston. and successful singing of the
tories given by the Handel and
Haydn society. she went to Europe, in
1873, as a solOist with Gilmore's band.
She chung tenaciously to classical mu-
oic. and was well received by great
audiences in the Crystal palace, Lon
don, and the Trocadero, Paris. She de-
cided to remain in Europe and at
tempt an operate career. She went to
Milan and became a pupil OF Sargio-
vanni, and within six months she had
mastered ten operas.
Her Debut in Opera.
Her debut in opera was at Brescia
In 1879 in La Traviata." After a trip
to St. Petersburg she appeared for trial
before Ambrose Thomas and the i'm
presario. Vancorbeil, who engaged
her for the Grand opera house in
Paris. Her first appearance there. in
1882. as Marguerite" in Faust" was
q 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 American 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 Hell
repertoire included more than fifty
operas. Her success with Wagneriar
roles became the pinnacle Of her fame
At Bayreuth in 1894 she appeared as
haps, best remembered in that part
She received decorations Of variou.
sorts abroad, and gifts without number
from friends at home. The stockhold
ers Of the Metropolitan opera houst
presented her with a diamond tiara.
Her matrimonial ventures numbered
three. She was first married in 1888
to Frederick A. Cover, wealth,
electrician and a native Of her state o
Maine. whom she met in Paris Short
" after she had begun separation pro
ceedings. in 1884. Cover disappeared
He attempted a balloon trip across tn
English channel. Although the bal
loon was later found, nothing was eve
heard or seen of him.
Her Marriage to DOeme.
In 1896. Mime. Nortica married
Zoltan Doeme, a Hungarian army Of
ficer and singer. from whom she Sc
cured q divorce in 1905.
Her third marriage was in London
IN 1909. to gorge w. Young.
wealthy New York banker. 1t wa
announced at that time. that Nordic'