[Illustration: AGE 8. _From a Photograph, New York._]
If ever an artist was "cradled in song," that artist was Adelina Patti.
Before she could utter a word she could hum every air she had heard her
mother rehearsing for the opera. Her musical precocity was so
extraordinary that she could detect the least falsity of intonation in
any vocal performance, and on one occasion when she had been admitted
behind the scenes to the dress rehearsal of a new opera in New York, she
managed to startle the leading lady--a singer of some reputation--very
considerably, by running up to her and exclaiming, in her little shrill
Yankee accent, "I guess you don't know the proper way to trill, you rest
too long on the first note. Listen to me, and try to do it as I do!" And
from her baby lips issued a trill so long-sustained and so pure of
intonation, that the whole company of artists applauded with surprise
and rapture. The appearance of Adelina was much what would be
imagined--always tiny for her age, but lithe and straight, with her
thick, black locks braided on either side of her face, her eyes keen as
a hawk's, whilst her clear brow, mobile mouth, and determined chin each
in turn emphasised the expression with which she was animated at the
moment. The street arabs of New York nicknamed her "the little Chinee
girl," because of her big, black eyes and somewhat yellow skin, when she
used to run up and down Broadway bowling her hoop. Of her phenomenal
success, when she appeared as a prima-donna of seven summers at Niblo's
Garden in New York, it would be idle to repeat an oft-told tale. But we
are fortunately able to reproduce a photograph of the little
prima-donna; for which, as well as for the notes above, we are indebted
to the kindness of a friend of the great singer. The signature across
the photograph is Adelina Patti's own.
[Illustration: PRESENT DAY. _From a Photograph by Messrs. Elliot &
Fry._]
_Letters from Artists on Ladies' Dress._
Questions of Fashion are, perhaps, more open to debate and difference of
opinion than any others. But those who ridicule the commands of Fashion,
as well as those who worship them, must find an equal interest in the
views of the best judges of what is beautiful and what is ugly--that is
to say, of artists. In this belief, we have asked a number of our
leading painters to state their views upon the subject, in the form of a
reply to the succeeding questions:--
"What is your opinion of the present style of ladies' dress? What are
its chief defects, and what its merits, from an artist's point of view?
What is your ideal of a beautiful woman, beautifully dressed?"
Our invitation has been most cordially responded to, and we are now in a
position to publish the replies received.