Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-17

tHC SiSol SiiSSlo VI bHlS SSucI-
alton. You have the voice. Yes, and you
have the force of character. But will you
be happy, I wonder7 1 am not. Singers
seldom are. And | feel that you will not be.
But go on and triumph. If you are not
happy, be strong. That is real victory"
1t was Nordica who spoke. Nordica, the
magnificent, the tempcstuous. the tragic, who
never succeeded in reconciling life with her
high ideals. Nordica, whose three maria ges
we're unhappy. and who, dying amidst a tenn
pest of the elements in Batavia. Java, left
the legacy of a bitter family feud which cul-
minated in an acridly fought contest be-
tween her husband and her sisters for her
voice-earned possessions.
Nordica. world-taught, and pain-taught,
said to the girl, Edith Virginia Stiles, who
had sung for her: Il don't fear for your
voice and your power to push to the front.
But the tempest inside Of one and the TEN.
pest without collide, as do counter winds.
And the end is destruction" She kissed the
girl lightly on the forehead. Don't look
so sombrc, my child. They say that who
ever is loved by Nordica shares her misery.
Perhaps YOU will he the exception"
Strangely prophetic were these words by
the great, Inflated prima donna. For the
1IAiti ' IL SIIho DGilCo VI lla a ldS III
voked the aid of the courts in n wretched
tangle Of matrimony and maternity. To Sc
cure their aid she has been forced to bare her
heart and her life to the public.
Stormy from its beginning was her career.
A little girl with long, black braids, brilliant
dark eyes, and checks like glowing, dark
red roses, went about the mining camp at
Ouray, Colorado. She played on the dumps
at the mine in which her father worked.
The rcd-shirtcd miners coming up, blinking,
into the upper twilight Of earth after the
lower twilight of the mines, said 10 John
Stiles:
"You should be proud of that girl. She
will make your name famous with her
voice.
Blu the miner looked sullenly at her.
More like she'll bring disgrace on us.
Singers often To-" TO the child, who would
rise and look sullenly at hlm:'Run on nome
and help Your mother in the kitchen. If
you don YOU know what you II get
A glance at the hard. carth-soiled hands
and the child fed. Her memory of her
childhood is q long one Of flight from her
sullen fathers wrath.
To her mother she always went in these
flights. She found hiding and sympathy.
And thus she struggled up TO womanhood.
She contrivcd that one Of the flights from
her morose father should be to Denver. She
raped tlmldly at the door Of Mrs. Hoyt's
studio. Mrs. IIoyt listened while the awk.
ward girl of fourteen sang.
Yor. have a big, fine voice." she said.
But YOU have nothing else except force of
character. You must be grounded in the
rudiments Of music
SO the child S music lessons began. Kindly
Mrs. Hovt, who is the wife of former Chief
Justice Charles ID. Hoyt, of the Colorado
Supreme Court, taught the girl for four
years. Within that time her voice was
raised from one octave to three. She sang
in local concerts. She rented a piano and
taught other girls to sing and p1av. She
was eighteen when she called upon Nine.
q Nordica, while the diva was filling a con.
Encouragement in Denver. 1t was after
eight attempts that she was admitted to the
great singers presence.
Madame Nordica sent for her accompanist.
asked him to play for the girl and listened
attentivcly while she sang.
My dear, there is no reason why You
should not be one of the greatest singers of
this generation" she said. But the bodeful
half prophecy followed.
Lillian Nordica's words were an abiding
inspiration to the miners daughter. With
their echoes in her ears she arranged for
concert exhibitions in New York and in
Cuba. She stayed TO seek her fortune in
New York. She taught and sang. teaching
that she might study still more and sing the
more. dulded by the advice OF the Chief
Justice wife, she avoided the French and
German methods and followed closely the
Italian. Twas that that first attracted the
attention and admiration Of a member of
q noble Italian fnily.
Adamo Rodolfo di Monda is a cousin Of
the Duke of Marigliano, of the Province of
Caserto, near Naples. His brother was a
Mayor Of the Brusciano. in Cascrto province.
Three sisters living in Naples are Of exalted
social position.
When the miners daughter from Ouray