How She Began.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 196, 17 August 1895, Page 3 (Supplement)

How She Began.

A whiter in • The Lady ' .recalls the story of how Lady Halle, the * violin queen, , began her career as a violinist. Her brother, it appears, was intended for the violinist of the family, while Wilma, the daughter, was to be made a pianist. The boy was rather slow, however, while bin Bister was secretly full of desire to play the so-called more masculine instrument.

Sometimes when her brother was out of the house the little girl used to steal into his room, lock the door, and practise upon his violin. This had been going on for som6 time, when one day her father overheard her. He listened a few minutes. His son —so he thought—had made very sudden progress, and in his delight he ran upstairs to express his gratification.

He rapped at the door. The music ceased. He rapped again, and this time tha door was opened ; but instead of his son, theie stood little Wilma, trembling, with the violin in her hand.„ The father was amazed and disappointed; but bis artist's feeling prevailed over his prejudice. Hβ clasped the girl in his arms and with tears in his eyes told her that henceforth she should have her own way, and he himself would be her teacher.

The public of that day was quite unused to the idea of feminine violinists. Lady Halle still enjoys telling about the ' stony British stare' with which she was greeted in London. Now, thanks, in great part to her, things are changed, and the sight of a young lady handling the king of instruments occasions no surprise.