The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-04

hard and did not mind it in the least un- til one, to me. most important day stopped when reading letter from my sister, Hazel. who was appearing in this country Right there I made up my mind that was soon to be seen here. She had mentioned in the letter what she was receiving for her work here, and when l compared my income with it. my ambi- tions began to crumble lbit and I de- cided that, much as loved grand opera, I could not afford itl"
 ''Then came across the seas-home again-and my voice was heard and a part was arranged for me. and whether I was wise or foolish to make the change was not decided until the curtain had fallen on the last act of The Midnight Girl in which I was starred. I was not certain even then. and I'll tell you hon.
 estlv that I did not see those reassur ing press notices until late the next af- ternoon. l had just exhausted myself, was nervous and rested all day long"
 And when you did see the notices?"
 "Well, I just thrilled all over" swered Miss Romaine. q didn't know l d dc with criticisms and I knew that what
 was eaid-all the nice things that were
 said-were nearly so. I began to think that had really done something to show
 that I belonged to the fam Oh, there
 I go again. Well, anyway, I was de-
 lighted"
 Miss Romaine. who had become some
 what enthused as she told of her met
 ropolitan debut. began walking up and
 down the room. appearing just as delight
 ct as a schoolgirl who had recited piece so that the audience could hear it.
 Dressed in a pretty purple gown
 with a filmy waist and rakish toque with bobbing prickly pair of straws upon it. she appeared in the tasteful set i, ting of the room quite as though per : forming. although she was totally uncon- scious of the fact.
 ) "You said that you play the piano?" "Oh, yes, I do, and will What would
 you like? I'll play something for you, for I have not thing to do now and } haven't played since morning" The interviewer paused There are SC 1 many things that one would like to hear, ? and here was girl who could play any | thing Miss Romaine did not delay.
 You think" she said. and started to | play Denza's May Morning. It would |, have been mistake to have selected j, anything else Miss Romaine sang as she s played, and before the last note had : been sung it was indelibly impressed upon
 the writer that any one who fails to see n 'The Midnight Giri' is, to say the least, Il careless Other songs followed, and be- . fore the writer left he had good con
 ception of what the play is like and a r splendid opinion of the abilities of the t new prima donna that has come te B Broadway.
 6 Miss Romaine had shown the writer < to the door and was saying how wei n come he was to the little afternoon q entertainment when thought made r. her almost pale.
 /, Wait" she said. q had almost for m gotten
 She hurried away and when she re. ' turned she had three members of th' u family to be introduced. It was mar
 row escape for her.
 Y Isn it an interesting story-and :, isn't there many an American girl wht
 envies this beautiful singer her for :, tunate career?
 In the mean time, Miss Romaine hur < ried on to fame and that King of i'm
 pressarios, MT. Gatti -Casazza, who ha ,e steered the barque of the great Metro a I politan into the most splendid O If channels making of it The Temple O
 Music" in America, heard beautiful d Margaret Romaine sing in concert on' r evening in New York, and asked for al e introduction to this wonderful yount i'd singer and she was invited to sing a d the Metropolitan Opera. = Miss Romaine accepted MT. Gatti
 years has been valued member of tn
 Metropolitan Opera household. -I Truly Miss Romaine's first appear he ance here will be a brilliant one a ou she will include a number of her mos ill famous successes on her programme. Among the most beautiful of Ell nd Wheeler Wilcox's poems is the one il eo which she immortalizes:
 THE HARP" ac The Harp is dual natured; heaven an ply earth
 in Are parents of it's birth; ch Heaven inc radiant nother earth th be
 h. siie
 err whose uhappeaseu uosiie as Reverberates and rings
 Along it's throbbing strings