Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-10-18
7 EEATR f.
Schumann-Heink Is
Great Artist as Well
as Wonderful Woman

Madam Ernestine Schumann-
Heink. contralto. who appears at
Augustana gymnasium Oct 80 I'M
der the direction Of Amoo grotto
is the subject of an appreciation
written by Beatrice Fairfax, who
IN part says:
1T is impossible to reckon years
In connection with so magnificent
ly vital personality as that OF
Nine. Schumann-Heink. Some sea-
sons have passed since / stood in
the wings Of the Metropolitan opera
house and waited for the prima
donna to leave the stage after an
unusually brilliant performance.
She had promised me an interview
when the curtain went down, and
had all young reporters nerves"
on the occasion. But when l met
her and we began to talk, forgot
nerves" elf-consciousness and
everything but the magnificent
woman before me. She was gay,
laughing, triumphant as she talked
with me. the unworried. perfectly
poised, perfectly functioning hui
man creature. 1 like to recall the
cello like notes of her wonderful
voice. Free from the slightest
wagering, and her bubbling. al
most mischievoUs good humOr.
There was distinctly a sense of
madame's having gotten ahead. in
way I didn't fully understand at
the time, of the group surrounding
her, understudy, family friends,
whoever they may have been. But
the reason for all of this, Il told
you so" jollity on her part became
evident to an admiring public two
days later. when the singers first
American son was born. and George
Washington -Heink lift
ed up his voice in the role of citi-
zen of the United States and de-
manded the essentials of life from
his admirable maternal parent.
Ct still recall her face as it rose
before me that memorable night in
the Metropolitan face of a
strong, normal woman with a per-
sonality so wholesome that it can
weather storm, disappointment,
tragedy and end by being only
more wisely loving and more nObly
tender. One would know it would
be her destiny to live her life to
the fullest measure, as We know
she has lived Her double destiny
of woman and artist keeping al
ways the delicate balance, deter
mining that her glorious art should
make her only the more human
And that her splendid motherhood
should make her-as millions of
thralls to her singing have wit
nessed-infinitely greater artist
Could she have sung as she does,
had she not known what it was to
love children of her own-a fear
for them. And she sings it, lives
it, the physical, audible embodi-
ment of parental love and helpless
ness. Her voice and face and
every motion recreate for the audi
ence the tragedy of the parent who
is stricken through his child, borne
down upon by the figure of death.
The chill Of the pursuing phantom
strikes true to the hearts of her
hearers through the hushed organ |
of her voice. This famous singer |
found in this land hospitality and
the success that was not so frankly |
given at home. She has prospered |
here. Whenever she has sung she
has made thousands of friends |
The American public has for her a |
deep personal affection that knows
no bounds. She has Enthusiastically |
proved that her allegiance is not |
for tha country that haDnonad IN |
be the place of her birth, but for !
the country that has made her |
splendid achievements possible"