MELBA'S FAREWELL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 139, 6 March 1908, Page 3

MELBA'S FAREWELL.

•" ; Whei 'Melba- left Melbourne' after ■ Her- visit . ■four years ago, -her-departure was almost uri-; :noticed! ;• This, timo .thcro. were a' thousand • pcoplo at the station:' to'; say /'.farewell...By far.: tHq larger, part -of this crowd, was. co.hcentrated ; outsido : the, .barriers, the' number of : platform: tickets issued being strictly Mi-:- : ted _to'"personal 'friends ./and'tho members 'of . the,'iWqmen'a | Choir. V On'' more than'ono" occasion.';Madame/Melba ,de;claVed - that - she 'considers, this' ■'fchoiri'nothing ,short'-of ''wondefful.'- ; :As' its 1 members .in/their 'white- gowns.' and, .distinguishing breast' liribts. : 'pf : ' v.'attlo,;' blossom made a ; 'setting. for ''leading -members of .society, it well merited*a,claim to. picturesque-.' : ness.A .'great many-of' those present had rdturned .from. , the hills , and/. seaside* to take . part'in' .the,,send-off; to ' the' prima donna. - The, gathering : w f as ,a thoroughly; represeiita.tiv&i one,' aniriiig,, those -present' being the: ma-, jprity;- of Melbouriio's best-known.-musicians, i a.nmnber' of .politicians,' professional • men and business_ men. 'and livomen. ,'pMrs.'- Palmer 'led', . : .tho chdir" t in>!tho singing of "Auld. Lang" - Syne'.".'That;Madame.,Melba was 'genuinely,' and ' deeply . t-ouckcd was amply evidenced?' .' and as sho .bearded tho train in a„ heavy '- shpv»er" t)f ;ro3o leaves she had no .voice_ left .to ..respond.'.to .the' warpily /expressed, wishes' ' . for ,her' speedy return!: /'She'was'the. recipient 'of . many ;': powers Ja'nd : inementpes. Two .or three i-imos . tho','choir ropijated! ''.'For She's -./ a .-'Jolly^Good/.Fellow,"'"Auld. Lang, Syno" : , being' repeated ; 'just : before -.the train moved out. iAceompaiiyirig • Madanio Melba" wero : -her son dnd, daughter-in-law!/ ■ . _ '