The Washington times., 1915-03-02
Madge North, Who Sings Here
Tonight, Trying to Gain
Musical Training.
so Confident SHE MUST WIN
Driven Out of England by War,
She Came Here Practically
PenniIeSS.

Are American music teachers as capa-
BILE as those Of Europe? Those defend-
ing the American teacher have been
gratified at the increasing number OF
Americans who have preferred to COM
plete their musical education here. TO
these were added students Of other ma
tionalities when the. European war
called their instructors to arms.
One Of those who have come TO
America with full confidence that they
Will be able to receive the training they
wish is Madge North. of Yorkshire,
England.
II came to America because I wanted
to learn to sing and the war took away
my chance in England" she explains.
AS she spoke. this rosy-cheeked. dark
haired girl, as British as her own York.
shire. moved about the room putting
things to rights hepe and therefor she
is Of the type that must always be busy.
My one desire has always been to be-
come a singer" SHE continued. "Why.
when | was ten, years old. ! was a real
leading lady in an amateur production
Of the light opera. Rip Van Winkle,
and I've sung in ever so many other
amateur theatricais. Just year ago |
had my chance with George Thorne in
The Yeoman of the Guard. | was al
ways looking to America for my OPP
portunity. however, and when the war
broke out I knew ! couldn't get the
training l wanted in my own country.
Lost Her Position.
THE war seemed to hurry me over
here in other ways, too. l lost my posi-
tion as governess because the family
with whom l worked couldn't AFFORD to
keep one any more. l engaged passage
for America at once. on August 13. to
be exact. I didn't have much money
nd 7 lfIn't knnW how I tn take
lessons when l reached your country,
but at least | knew when ! was to
start My elder sister was still teach
ing for a Scotch family, and my mother
to leave them both. when America was
calling.
Il was extremely lucky at first: On
board ship happened to sing at oene-
nit concert for aged mariners. sing.
ing teacher OF Nashville. Tenn. heard
me and engaged me as her private sec
retary in exchange for singing lessons.
"Of course. ] was delighted with my
good fortune for / felt that II / made
a start in the South. could work my
sons Of the best teachers In your coun-
try. When we reached Nashville. how
ever. my new friend was taken Ill and
remained SO broken In health that our
question. And there I was. in strange
city. with scarcely any money and but
couple of acQuaintances.
"Here it seemed that America came to
my rescue. for she is kind. unfailinRly
so. Before knew what was happening
1t was arranged that should appear In
several concerts at Nashville. Then I
had the cheering idea that. even though
l was to lose my training in the South.
I would be able to study in New York
just 50 much sooner.
Easy To Sing Here.
II thought Americans would be hard to
please. but It's easy to sing for you.
Just little Scotch ballads and bits from
Su'livan's operas and some OF the old
folk songs from our part Of England
seem to be most popular, many Of them
songs that We wouldn't think Of giving
in concert at home. they are so
simple and well known.
Il surely wouldn't have stayed in
England so long IL I had dreamed that
America offered such opportunities.
don't blame those who praise 1t for ]
love your country already.
"Washington appeals to me the most
OF any American city I have seen. for
IT is very like London. All the little
parks and statues and open boulevards
are most homelike indeed to me. But
mercy. l haven't had time to be home
lust as soon as I get my start and
Miss Norton Is supremely confident that
New York will give It to her, II can
crafty my second ambition and send
for my mother.
These two things have kept me from
disbursement more than once I don't
lust know how l am to get to New
York. but III manage somehow. for
am here In Washirgton and two months
ago ! wouldn't have believed il. Then
when have my mother here to help ma
and encourage me, l know | must sue.
cecd"
Miss North is to sing this evening al
the New Willard at Sis She has ar
| ranged typical program of English
and Scotch airs, specially suited to her
| contralto voice, and will be assisted b,
Myron W. Whitney. \ representative
list Of patrons and patrOnesses has JUS
tilted Miss North's confidence in Amer
ica's interest In her.