Evening star., 1936-10-25
DISTRICT PROUD OF MISS MACNICHOLS OPERA FAME
GREAT STAGE PERSONALITY
Washington Woman Was Known for Her Personal Character and
for the Beauty of Voice Which Carried Her Into the
Highest Ranks of Performers.

This was in 1888 and was her first ap-
pearance in opera, and of this eventful
occasion, Harry L. Knapp said at the
time of her death:
"Macnichol was very nervous on
that night. aside from donning boys
attire for the first time in her life.
And that entrance-well, no more en-
trancing or charmingly beautiful pic
ture was ever seen. As she came
through the door into the (supposed)
prison cell of Don Cesar, her friends
in the audience gave her reception
which frightened the little song bird,
and, feeling very much abashed at her
unsuited (as she thought) attire. she
tried to draw the voluminous folds
of her ballet skirt around, as II try
ing to hide herself. Never was more
maidenly modesty seen upon the
thoroughly frightened face OF any
one or more naive and truly beau
tiful picture presented on any stage.
Now it was that the holding of
thumbs came into good stead, for
every one behind the scenes threw
her the cue,' and some even ventured
to sing the first bar of her music
until she composed herself and fin
ished amid applause the like of which
I have never heard in any theater.
mo wonder Franz Vetta fell in
love with her and afterward sacri-
feed his life for her Cbut that's another
Story). They were married, and a
more truly happy couple never lived
in stageland than did this timid little
debutante and the great big, open
hearted basso profundo. That his
demise was a severe shock to her and
that she revered his memory. the little
miniature of him suspended around
her neck and buried with her fully
attests."
THIS little locket, which she priced
SO highly, also contained the like
ness of her year-old baby, which died
in 1892, closely following the death of
Mr.. Vetta. This forceful reminder
of those nearest and dearest to her
heart she is aid to have worn at all
times, and at the time of her death
Albert Walmsley, the press agent of
the Castle Square Opera Company,
told this story Of her first appearance
in Carmen:
"Just before the curtain rose, the
Don Jose of the company found the
new Carmen in her dressing room, dis
solved in tears. The locket in her
| hand told the tale. She wanted to
wear it, yet somehow her artistic soul
revolted at the idea Of carrying this
sacred relic as the wanton of Sc
vile. So, for the first time, she laid
it aside" Continuing, Mr.. Walmsley
says: II will always remember her as
she sat in her dressing room at the
National Theater one night during
the engagement of Rob Roy She was
costumed for the part of Flora Mac
donald, which became her wonder
fully well, for she was Scotch and
| proud of it, carrying with her a
little handkerchief of the original
Nacnichol plaid. Still, this heroine of
the opera was sitting quietly in her
room, working on bit of dainty en-
broidery, which was at once her pas.
sion and her diversion, calmly watt
ing for her cue ahd regardless of the
tinsel show all about her. 1t was q
little bit of domesticity that illus
trated the character Of the actress
one who would be, under all condi-
tions and circumstances, the simple,
old-fashioned woman, turning her
hand to whatever was necessary and
preserving her love of home amid her
wandering life. It would be better for
the stage if more recruits like Lizzie
Macnichol would throng upon the
boards"
THE Macnichol family was Of
stern old Scotch Presbyterian
line. and the parents of Lizzie were
not keen over the idea of her adopt
ing a professional career on the stage.
Indeed, it is said, they were preju-
diced to the stage, and reluctantly
gave their consent to this desire on
daughter, reared in a religious atmos-
phere under Christian parents, would
not have disobeyed them. Her love
for her father and her mother and
the close and affectionate tie between
them is clearly manifested in letter
written by her father three days after
she made her debut in Philadelphia.
He said:
My dear Lizzie: I-need not tell you