The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-15
Work in City
Recalled by
Mrs. Talbot
Musical Teacher Now in
New York Remembers
May Festival.
New York. April Il. 1885.

New York, April IA, 1885.
Dear Beatrice Burgan:
I called on Mrs. Ona B. Talbot
last week. She is living at the
wellington Hotel. W. 55th-st ana
Broadway.
L loved Indianapolis she said,
when I introduced myself. The
first work I EVER did was in that
town. for the May Music Festivals.
Theodore Thomas was with me-
7 followed her into the bright,
neat little apartment, which she
had made hers by hanging up one
OF the first oil portraits her daugh-
ter, Myra Reynolds Richards, paint
ed. putting a couple Of bronze can
dlesticks on the bureau and tack
ing some strip Of embroidery on
the wall.
I don't know what I'm going TO
do, or how long I'm going to be
here" she said, as We sat down.
MY grandson, Wallace Richards,
IS in washington. II you can ever
tell me what governmental depart
ment he works in. you have a
better knowledge Of the alphabet
than 1 do. All I know is that he
isn't in the MIRA
Mrs. Talbot's daughter died re-
Gently. In addition to Mrs. Rich
ards work as a painter, she
achieved much distinction as a
sculptor.
we lived in Paris for five years."
Mrs. Talbot said. "Myra r. sick
when we returned to America last
year."
The studio they had in Paris was
Just of the Rue Vanguard. over
looking a tabac shop 500 year old"
said Mrs. Talbot. France is fasci-
natingl My friends want me to
come back. But I think there is
such a thing as staying away too
long from home! This country is
my hOme!'
She leaned forward. her thin
form at an eager angle. out in
the West we still have a semblance
OF A~mericanism. That is where
we have to look for talent. We
need a leader from the United
States in music. Wen find him
in the Westl"
Among the famous European mu-
,Sicians Mrs. Talbot has handled in
this country are Schumann-Heink
Lillian Nordica, and PaderewSki. L
took him on tour to Indianapolis,
Dayton, Toledo. Springfield. louis
willie and Nashville" she said. When
Charles Ellis. Paderewski's manager,
we called him The Prince'-wired
me from Boston, if I would go on
10 Nashville with PaderewSki, I tel
egraphed back Yes, to Africa
Rachmaninof. Walter Damrosch,
de Pachman, Sembrich. Caruso and
Melba also appeared at the Ona B.
Talbot concerts.
Indianapolis needed a good con-
kert hall" she said. Cincinnati had
the n Mr.. Singer gave. His hall
made Cincinnati the great music
center of the country!"
DO you think you'll we go back
30 Indianapolis" I asked.
Il don't know" Mrs. Talbot
sighed. It's a beautiful place. But
things have changed. I went there
when a picket fence hedged in Uni
versity Park. and the Circle was
open ground"
Just now Mrs. Talbot is interested
I'm producing a Negro opera. Il have
one in mind" she said, written by
Cameron White. If Otto Kahn
hadn't passed away, he would have
had 'Ouanga' put on"
There are Congo dances and
Haitian folklore songs in the story.
"Roaul Laparra, the French COM
poser, thought it a great piece" Mrs,
Talbot said. Il first heard it at his
studio
I think Mrs. Talbot might be glad
TO hear from some of her Indian
apoliS friends. l hope they write her,
Perhaps they do.
Faithfully yours.
HELEN WORDEN.