The New York herald., 1920-01-11
Will Recall Much.

The secret of a successful book of me-
n,oirs is not so much who writes il as
what the author is able to tell as of noted
people and events. One or the dullest OF
modern biogra plies was that OF Lord Ten
nyson. by his son. The ultra-refined said
the book was delightful-so free from gos-
sip and personalities. So 1t was, but IT
was also devoid of interest. How many
people remember an opera-singer named
Clara Doria, who came to this country
from England in 1872 and settled in Bos-
ton? Her name is unknown TO me, but
have found her volume of "reminiscences,
Memories of a Musical Career" Little,
Brown G. Coz very pleasant reading as
she knew most of the musicians Of her
day and has some entertaining stories TO
tell of them and of others. Her father,
John Barnett, was a composer who lived
in Cheitenham where he taught singing.
He was the first to write an English
opera, though his example was soon fol-
lowed by BaNe and Wallace. CLARA Bar
nett (Doria was her stage name) was his
second daughter. and she and her sister
Rosamond became public singers, study
ing both in Germany and Italy, where they
made their debut
The artistic perceptions Of the Italians
made great impression on Clara Barnett.
While studying in Milan she subscribed to
La Scala. where she went every night,
and as 1t was the custom to present the
same bill for two or three weeks, those
who chose could become thoroughly ia
miliar with every note of the score. On
one occasion Faust" was given for six
weeks and when the bill was changed the
new opera was hissed off the stage be-
cause the public was not yet ready for it.
In 1872 Nine. Doria came to this country
with the Parepa-Rosa Opera Company and
her home has been here ever since as she
married MIR. Henry Rogers Of Boston in
1878. Some of her anecdotes are particu-
larly interesting as showing the changes
that have taken place in social customs.
WheI. going to her first party in Bos-
ton she consulted a friend as TO her dress
and learned to her surprise that it was
not the custom to wear low dresses in
the evening. She has a characteristically
New England snecdote of Mr. Tom APP
pleton, who at that time was the accepted
art critic of Boston. II he thought well
enough Of an artist to own one of his
pictures. the artists fortune was made.
Nine. Doria was once admiring a picture
at his house. and he said artlessly Yes,
saw at once that the artist had great
talent, and asked him for one OF his pict-
ures" and in this way many of his art
treasures had been acquitted. Her stories
OF musicians are too numerous to quote,
but one may be given. Before Adelina
Patti was known to fame, Strakosch took
her to sing to Rossini. selecting an air
from that composers Barber of Seville, y
which Strakosch had himself arranged
and so ombellshed that the original mel
ody was quite swamped Rossini listened
approvingly and remarked:-"B Beautiful
voice! Excellent method And what a
brilliant song! Who Is the composer?
The book will recall much to the older
generation. and is interesting as the record
OF a time when an artists life was simpler
than it is now and touched oftener and
moro easily the lives of those outside OF
the profession.