The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-02-06
NINE SCHUMANN-HEINK
VERY HUMAN PERSON
Interesting Interview With the Fa-
nous Singer Who Visited Twin
Falls Last Week.
In Jessie Warringtonl

traits are necessary to greatness and
fame are illustrated wildly in the
character of Madame Schumann-
Heink. And because of the fact that
these traits hold no place in the life
of this great singer, and that the
qualities of indebtedness, of sin
cerity and kindness are predominant
combined with a magnificent voice,
Madame Schumann- Heink holds a
place in the hearts of the people of
the world seldom granted any one.
These facts constitute the human in
terest points in the character of this
great woman. To see her and to hear
her in conversation are equal priv
ileges with hearing her magnificent
voice, and people are the better fo~
having sat in her audience, whe.her
or not they are lovers of music.
A note was sent up to the Madame
some two hours after her arrived IN
Twin Falls, asking if she cared to
give an interview and she immediate
ly sent word back that she would be
glad to see the interviewer in her
room in the Hotel Perrine after the
concert.
Madame opened the door herself,
smilingly held out her hand and said
Come in. ] thank you for the nice
note and for coming to see ne"
Madame drew her chair close to
mine, smiled kindly and began to talk
She speaks with a German accent
that is pleasing and interesting ana |
renders her English the more delight
full. Her kindly face shows strength |
of character and is crowned with !
beautiful, soft, gray hair most becom /
iEgly arranged
Madam asked how I liked the con
cert-and her gown, which was of
white and a beautiful shade of blue, |
trimmed with silver "My voice was
in good condition tonight" Madame
remarked "and / gave one of my best
programs here. When I had pneu |
monia three years ago thought that
if l lived I should never sing again,
yeti am singing, and / am told there
is practically no loss in my voice"
you say I have wonderful express
sion and feeling? All. yes. one must
live, and suffer, to sing or write to
touch others. I sing from here" and
Madame laid her hand over her heart.
81 sing always from here put my
soul into my singing, and besides, I
love all people and sympathize with
them in happiness and sorrow
Madame then spoke of her family
and her boys. These facts are inter
esting to note: she has been singing
for 80 years; she has had eight child
rem, five boys tone of whom died last
year, and three girls and all are mar
ried but one; she has nine grand
children; her oldest child is a man
"a years old and the youngest is 10
years of age.
AS she sat talking of her home, her
early struggles and the sorrows of
her life, one almost forgot that she
was a wOrld-famous singer who has
been honOred by all people, including
the crowned heads of Europe: she
was now a loving mother and lonely
probably, thinking of her home ana
her children. AS she spoke of the
son, who, telling her he was not
worthy of such a wonderful and brave
mother if he did not answer the call
of his native land, went to join the
German navy and from whom she has
not heard since July of last year; and
as she told Of the son who died just
a year ago and who must have been
a favOrite she bowed her head in
grief Her strong face worked with
emotion for a moment, but clasping
her hands she said 81 must not" And
when she lifted her head and smilel
her eyes were trimming with tears
and two big tears we're on her cheeks.
40 not oelleVe our ioNeu ones
are so lar rom US Wheh 1lley are 1aN,
en- ny uealh' Mauaile Iesuiileu.
thihk always or the boy lost. When
am Singing 1t seems TO me ne Is
STANDING beside me ana When lhihk
trouble Is coming always II seems lla'
ne puts MS hand, TINS way, and oushes
it from me- And again Madam bow
ed her head to hide her grief. But
you have had sorrow, too. and ] must
not talk or these things she said
kindly
81 ann "a German. But I am also
loyal American. love America ana
American people are splendid to me
But J cannot keep my heart from ach-
60. r--.....-. ,1-r co.. tf,.