Year: 1872




slim, and the proceeds barely
enough to pay her bills and railway
fare to the next town. Her pluck
and perseverance, however, carried
her through, and she traversed the
whole of Illinois, Michigan, and
part of Iowa, Minnesota, Indiana
and Canada in this way before
she was Is years Of age. Twice
she was connected with small con-
cert troupes, but she preferred to
travel alone in spite Of the risk.
She studied hard all the time, and
was animated by firm faith that
at some future time she would be-
come a great singer. She learned
little Latin and some Italian, and
when only l6 was able to pass an
examination as district school
teacher, and obtained the position
in spite of having nine competitors.
She was very small, and her dim
inutive appearance made her sing
ing appear quite phenomenal. Her
spirit, however, was gigantic, and
she was always indignant at being
called young. Once car conduc-
tor insisted on returning half her
fare because she was SO small, at
which she felt quite insulted.


1t would be impossible to tell the
many vicissitudes Miss Abbott then
experienced. She kept school for
some months, but boarding round
was more than she could endure,
and she returned to singing as a
means of support, taking long con-
cert tours with the usual uncertain
results. Often she would arrive at
a town with only money enough to
pay a hackman to carry her to a
hotel, and more than once she had
to leave articles in pledge for her
board. Yet she never taltered, but
with indomitable courage carried
OH her plans to the end. Repeatedly
she had to raise money on her quit
ar, and at another time leave her
concert dress in pawn. Again she
was reduced to five cents, which
coin she still keeps as a memento
of her trials. On the other hand,
she would often meet with a warm
welcome and sympathy; be boarded
free in private houses, have large
and profitable audiences, and 60 on
her way encouraged. Once she was
asked to repeat a performance, and
cleared 500 in two nights. Again,
the music publishers of Chicago
raised S2a and sent it privately as a
Christmas gift, and like circumstan-
ces occurred on other occasions.
Part of her receipts were daily sent
to her parents, who have always
shared literally in her bounty.
Sometimes there was ludicrous
side to her good luck, as when q
party of her admirers, among whom
were two young butchers, escorted
her to the cars, and formally presen-
ted her with string Of sausa ges as
token of their regard.


Three years or more ago Miss
Abbott was given free pass to
New York by railroad official,
and came eastward to visit the
metropolis, at the same time giving
several concerts in New York State.
She was eager to see the city and
also to meet two persons, Parepa-
Rosa and Barnum, the former as
the greatest singer then on this
continent, and the latter as the
agent of Jenny Lind, and one who
might bring the aspiring western
girl before the world. She heard
Parepa and Minnie Hauck with de-
light, but failed to see the great
Snowman, though she haunted the
museum for days together, and then
her funds being all gone, reluctantly
went back to Illinois. Again she
started out on concert tour, and
worked hard to get on at this pre-
carious work. She went and sang
to Parepa one winter and received
praise and good advice from that
large-hearted singer which greatly
raised her hopes. Finally in 1869
she made up her mind to go to New
York again, and by some means
obtain thorough musical instruction.
She started on this trip with the
vast sum of four dollars and halt
to pay her way. Taking railway
map which she had carried for
years, she paid her way as far as
her means allowed, and then under
took to meet future expenses by
giving concert. The landlord OF
the only hotel in the place allowed
her the use of his parlors, and Miss
Abbott went about the town and
announced that she would sing that
evening. When the appointed time
came she walked down stairs, very
confidently expecting to find large
audience, but not 4 soul was in the
parlors. Instead of being daunted
by this failure this girlish singer
returned to her room, laughing at
her own disappointment. The next
day she had to leave her concert
dress i'll pledge for her board, and
she went on to Toledo. Here she
had, perhaps, the severcst trial OF
her career, but it was the dark hour
that precedes the dawn. She en-
gagged room at the principal hotel
in the town, as usual, arranged to
give a concert in the hotel parlors,
by permission Of the owner. A
small audience attended, who listen
ed with chilling silence to the ear
nest performance of the young sing
er, and dampencd even her sanguine
enthusiasm by their lack of feeling.
She went back to her room feeling
forlorn and dishcartcned. Her ar
dent spirit had not failed to produce
some effect on her audience, how
ever, and after she left the room
they raised the sum of 50 by sub
scription for her benefit; but Miss
Abbott knew nothing of this kind
act. She passed wretched night,
the most wrctchcd she had ever
experienced, feeling as if she had
lost all hope, and must give up and