The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1921-03-03

opera, ana is regular subscriber at the
Metropolitan Opera for all matinees. and
very frequently stays down for evening
performances, which brings her back to
her home In Norwalk at about half mast
one O'Clock in the morning, quite feai.
when one realizes that she is now SEVENTY
eight years of age.
Every week during the opera season.
since returned to Maine, she has writ
ten to me her own criticism of what she
hears Letters that value most highly.
She is most discriminating, but always
Just, and l have never yet heard her
speak slightingly of singers who were
singing her old parts, but would always
speak we'll of their efforts.
Miss Cary, as are many other great
singers, was very nervous Immediately
before the beginning of an opera, and has
told that when the curtain went up she
often could not recall the slightest line
OF what she had before her, but that as
soon as she heard the first note from the
orchestra, it would all come back to her.
Madame Gerster, with whom she sang
several seasons, had the same trouble
and If, before the opera, they had occa-
sion to speak to her, they always called
her by the name of the character she
was W Idhc III the opera.
For the past three or four years she
had motored from Scarborough Beach,
where for many years she has spent her
summers, and has made me call at my
home in SearSport. During one trip she
got stalled at Bucksport where she spent
two very pleasant days at the quaint old
Robinson House, liking it so we'll that
she plans return for longer season.
These few rambling bits may give a
glimmering of her traits of character as
woman, and | will now try and give an
outline of her life and career as an artist
Annie Louise Cary, the youngest child
of Nelson Howard Cary, M. D., and
Maria Stockbridge Cary, was born in
Wayne, Maine, Oct. %, 1842, and lived
there until the death of Mrs. Cary in
1850, when the family moved to Var
mouth. At about this time she entered
boarding school at Gorham. She came
naturally by her superior voice, as both
her father and mother were GUILTY. vated
vocalists, and the entire family were pas
sionately fond of music. In this small
town there was little opportunity for
progress. Her ambition was great, and
her longing for musical instruction was
keen.
In 1860, she spent the winter in Boston,
taking her first real vocal lessons, and also
singing in church. She made her home
with married brother, but after a few
months, unfortunately had to return to
school in Gorham, as her brother went
into the army at the time of the Civil
War. Her mind was made up as to what
she would do with her voice, so she re-
turned again to Boston, where she secur-
ed another church position.
She also sang in the chorus or the Han
del and Hayden Society, and became
thoroughly familiar with the oratorios in
which she was to sing the solo parts in
the years to come with such distinction.
AT this time she did not think for a
moment of opera, for the reason that the
New England prejudice was strong in re-
gard to the stage, but looked forward to
qualifying herself for oratorio and con-
cert only. She now realized that she
must broaden her ideas as to musical art,
and with her innate courage and strong
faith In herself, decided to 60 to Euroed
for term of years for serious study.
Being without the necessary means for
such N undertaking, but with fixed de-
termination as to going, she, IN 1866,
through her own efforts. organized and
gave d SOhCClJ III M uSlC I1dlI.
Here began the career which is better
known even in her home State than the
years that proceeded them.
OF her later private life Prof Sweetser
says:
"W hen Miss Cary retired she married
Mr.. Charles M. Raymond and for many
years lived at Hotel Berkiey on Fifth
Avenue, New York, where they enjoyed
an ideal life among a large circle of
friends.
She of course sang no more in public,
except occasionally for some charity;
but, with three other ladies, formed a
quartette, calling themselve, the Berkeley
QuaTtette, and for years sang together
for their mutual pleasure; also going about
to the hospitals in New York and singing
for the shut-inS. thus Frightening the
hours for many.
Once in a while she would visit the
choir of DR.. Paxton's church, and would
sing solo unexpectedly, to the great de-
light o. the congregation.
She had experienced all of the bril-
liancy of operatic life; had been feted as
few others have been; and had made
hosts of friends throughout the musical
world; but she chose to withdraw while
she stood at the very highest point in her
career What void it caused, and what
beautiful memories we have of the bright
faced woman, who had the gift of draw
ing all listeners to herself, and making
them friends.
{ She remained firm in her determination
to sing only in private; but did yield once,
when she was urged very strongly TO
sing at concert rendered Mrs. Flora
Barry, an old musical friend living in
Boston.
! She took the Berkley Quartette on, and