New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-12-28
A Singers "reminiscences

Mrs. Henry Munroe Rogers, of Bos-'
ton, otherwise Clara Kathleen Rogers,
who in the days of our childhood as an
operagoer was Clara Doria, has written
the story of her professional life, and
it has been published in a sumptuous
manner by Little. Brown & Co. under
the title, "Memories Of a Musical Ca
reer.' Mrs. Rogers in an Introductory
apologize disclaims the conviction that
She is a person of such Importance in
the eyes of the world as to demand the
writing and publication of an autobiog-
raphy; her justification for a narrative
which fills over 470 pages of handsome
letterpress she finds in the reflection
that 1.-THE story of any life, however OBJ
scure, would be interesting if all the
thoughts, feelings and influences which
shaped it were faithfully recorded"
As much has often been said, and, of
course, it is true, though the measure
OF interest will always depend upon the
manner, as we'll as the fidelity, of the
narrative. The story of tnkers life
may, and has been, more thrillingly
told than the history of kings, yet
the latter's ought to be more informa-
tive and consequently more valuable to
the world if told with equal skill.
Mrs. Rogers's book is deity and
smoothly written, for she Is no lit
erary novice - neither the habit of
thought nor the experience Of putting
thoughts into words are new things
to her. She has interested us be-
fore with books concerned with the
technique of singing Interested US,
and instructed US as we wish she
might interest and instruct tho hun
dreds and thousands Of men and wom-
on encumbering our stage and concert
platforms) with her treatses on "The
Philosophy of Singing" "The Voice in
Speech" and English Diction in Song
and Speech"
A Timely Book
Tho last work is Of a special time
Illness just now when the use Of the
vernacular In opera Is occupying crit
ical as we'll as popular attention.
She Is woman of character and
culture who has long occupied a So
ciaI position as the wife of pros
porous member Of the Boston bar. and
retaining love for the art in the at
mospherc Of which she was born and
bred, has had time and opportunity to
discuss Its mysteries from a different
point of view than that Of the many
authors Of textbooks" and methods"
whose writings are put forth for the
purpose Of attracting pupils. Her ex-
periences as student, singer and teach
er are therefore entitled to attention
even when they lack the element of
novelty. New many of them may sound
to the generation whose acquaintance
with opera and concerts is limited to
the opportunities offered for observa-
ton by the institutions which have come
into existence within the last three
or four decades, and its members may
learn from her pages some things
which differentiate the musical life of
tho present from that of the not re-
mote past. Older people will meet with
names Of musical personages who are
not mere traditions, but living mem
cries which are cherished with ro-
nance and affection.
The father of Mrs. Rogers was John
Harnett, once popular composer Of
English operas, of which one, "The
Mountain Sylph," achieved the dstnc-
ton OF being designated by Professor
Macfarrsn 40 "the first English opera
constructed in the acknowledged form
OF IT. age since Arne's time -honored