The Washington times., 1915-11-05
Miss Ruth Townsend Be-
lieves That Money Must Be
Waiting For Child by Time
She Is Five or Six to Insure
Successful Career.
Impossible to Teach While
Training, She Finds-Mu-
sic Is Life Career and Will
Tolerate No Rival Occu-
patton During Arduous
Training Period.
Py FLORENCE e. YODER.
s(-RAINING for an operatic

s(-RAINING for an operate
career or for concert work
requires lifelong applica-
tion and lots OF money.
Tho poor girl has little chance for
success"
Miss Ruth Kinsbury Townsend,
who sings with Oscar Seagle at the
National Thestcr this afternoon,
didn't mind being asked questions
about the financial end of the sing
Sr's career. and frankly but regret
fully stated without hesitation that
the poor girl simply does not have a
chsnce at all.
THE money must be there. Thou
sands OF dollars are required for
lessons. and during the time when
the young girl is studying. she must
have the proper environment and
care necessary for her unquestion-
albe physical well-being.
In. my own case someone c1se-my
two uncles-provided the necessary
funds. Unless there Ia someone who
Will awe the girl the money outright
or back her financially through the
long period OF preparation. there is
practically no chance for her in the
music world 1t is one OF the most
expensive careers which one could
possibly choose.
The Proper Training.
The training begins with the
child. II the mother wishes to have
. career OF singer for her little
sirl, after she has demonstrated
musical talent-and the signs are
unmista kable-at Ave or six years of
age, the study Of languages. mathe-
matics. history and music itself
should begin.
'I was born in America. but
spent mos. of my life in Berlin,
and had my schooling there. I
learned several languages. and re-
eeivcd the benefit Of their marvellous
system of teaching children that
which they actually need"
The strange part about the words
Of Miss Townsend. who Is really
Mfs. is that she f. Very Fortunate.
and not at all the kind of person
one would think capable OF appreci-
ating the plight of the girl without
any money. At nineteen. after hav-
ing studied piano for many years
in Germany, she began her training
for the concert stage, with George
Ferguson, in Berlin.
Her next teacher was the famous
Juliani. with whom she worked In
Paris. At twenty-four. she came to
America and began her work with
teachers in America today-Oscar
seagle. In all of that time she had
no financial worries. and yet last
night with her chin cupped in her
hand. and her wide set eyes, look
ING out from her calm face very
that she had fought her way
through christening world beset
with the money bugbear.
Began At Nineteen
Her actual vocal training did not
begin until she was nineteen. when
Mrs. Lawrence Townsend. OF this
city. who Is her aunt told her that
she had a voice and that she should
cultivate IL
Up to that time her musical edu-
cation had been confined TO the study
Of plano alone.
But do not say all OF that about
the poor girl not having chance
Just because l happened to have hud
something myself" she continued.
''It Is only necessary to tako the
career Of any famous star in the
world Of vocal music to find this
ont. In every case money-and lots
OF it-hss come from some source or
, other. Either the girl started out
with parents who could pay for her
training or else. after she had got
start. someone interested in muse or
In the woman herself gave the neces-
saIy financ support
'In the study of vocal music.
unless one II endowed with a natural
organ OF such SURPRISING wonder and
beauty that II is o fnancia! guaran-
tee in itself. 1t Is almost impossible
to get proper training while work.
ing St some other occupation at the
same time. a girl who Is studying
mdsic should not try to teach. and
the Ncars of prcna RI tion prior to her