Schumann-Heink

When, in 1898, the waters of Havana Harbor were settling uncertainly over what was left of the battleship Maine and thousands of young bankers, brokers, litterateurs and demagogs abandoned their occupations to become chambermaids to mules, Mme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink, soprano, made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera Company, Manhattan. Her bosom did not tremble nor her knees quiver as she thrilled the assemblage with the resonance, flexibility and persuasion of her voice, for she was, even then, no neophyte. She had done her Azucena in Trovatore 20 years earlier in Dresden, her Erda in London, Bayreuth and Berlin. Manhattan welcomed her. After a number of successful seasons, she retired, with becoming dignity and an nounced that her future performances would be limited to concert engagements. Last week, after a concert in Kansas City, she divulged to pressmen that she, now 64, would sing again at the Metropolitan. Director Gatti-Casazza, she prettily confessed, had heard a recent recital of hers in Manhattan, forthwith offered her a contract for the season of 1925-26. Said she:

"I am as happy as a child. . . . Think of it! Singing almost 50 years before the public and still able to do my Erda, my Magdalena and maybe my Fricka next winter. You know I am 64 years old and I learned a long time ago not to do more than I am able. And I am able to sing those roles again. Isn't it wonderful?"