Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-07
ONE WOIN-AN- the Price of Her Fame.

faces and the expression on them which tina
binding footlightS Of the opera prevent Whena
I sing lullaby, for instance, 1t does not tak9
long to establish the identity Of young fathers
and mothers there; when sing the aria Pace,
Pace cPeace, Peace'), from "The Force of
Destiny" whose refrain Is Lean on God for
peace and solace," it soften and irradiates tired
faces; in annie Laurie" sing to the young,
who regard one another with tenderness;
20 Sole Mic" will bring to some face, maybe
up in the gallery seats an expression as OF
seeing in a vision his beloved Italy.
To act in song on the concert stage is un~
forgivable in the artistic sense. But one cans
not stand stolidly and sing such a song as, for
instance, silent Tears" by Schumann. 1t is
through the attitude in which one stands and
by the play of facial expression that one can
heighten the meaning of song and bring 1T
more intimately near to the listeners.
When song after song strongly contrasting
In mood follow one another in a program after
each is ended and before sing note Of tho
next to follow put myself in touch with its
particular mood in heart in attitude. in facial
expression.
I cannot sing sad song with a smile on
my face; 1 cannot sing a tragic aria and lek
my eyes rove about the hall. When sing a
lullaby my arms are folded as II my own blond
baby were in them, the baby should so love-
If singer would impress her hearers with
the reality of her songs, she must feel them in
actuality in every fiber Of her being.
Delightful kindnesseS are shown me on my
singing tours; they brighten the way as greatly
as does the appreciation Of my audiences.
At Greensboro, in North Carolina, recently the
hotel at which stopped was at the intersec-
ton of several streets. The traffic at that
point was controlled by shrill bell instead Of
silent lights That bell kept ringing all day
and all night. r.
T Unable to sleep because of it and my con-
cert there on the next evening, tele-
phoned the Office in despair, saying unless the
bell were stopped could neither sleep nor
sing. 1t was stopped not only for the balance
Of the night, but all the next day. had
heard and read much Of Southern chivalry;
then I experienced It,
Another of those charming incidents came
at Keene, N. H. When I went out on the
stage, not only the chorus with which I was
to sing stood up to greet me, but the whole
audience. In Washington, where I sang in
Norma" last Spring with the Metropolitan
Opera Co. on tour, President and Mrs. Cool
idge were in the audience. They left after the
first act. Next day the President received me.
Almost his first words expressed appreciation
and regret at leaving so early because Mrs.
Coolidge had been i'll from anxiety over her
mothers illness.
those which touch me most are from patients
in hospitals and in homes, who can only hear
me on the records or over the radio
Through enforced travel and hard study I
have got education. The element Of girlhood
has developed into the vision Of the woman
q woman with a woman's heart. love to give
happiness by my singing; love my career:
am thankful for Gods best gift to me, my
voice; but there is hunger that is not APP
peaSed by these.
look about me in the isolation of my home
and fancy what different scene 1t would
present with husband and children Of my own.
look with tremendous tenderness at other
women with these blessings. Yet would be
absolutely happy if married and gave up my
career? To marry would mean to divide my
interest. The role of wife and the role OF
prima donna would both suffer.
To sing as a career is strenuous. It requires
an energy, mental and physical, as great as !.
though strong, can command to carry on. As
wife I should want to make o real home for
my husband; should want to train my chill
dren myself not intrust their upbringing to
strangers.
Since was Is have known only the sing
ing life, no other. It has grown to be my sec
ond nature. am chained to it. The links
were forged by time, by the ardor Of hard
study, by constant appearance before the pub
lie. am given what other and normal living
girls are denied: they are denied what anS
given. Therefore, what price career?