Every Lady’s Journal

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 3573, 24 February 1914, Page 7

Every Lady’s Journal

(BY “VIVIENNE.”)

NEWS AND NOTES OF TPE DAY

WHY SO MANY FAIL. THE GIRL WHO WANTS TO BE A SINGER. MB ME. ADA CROSSLEY’S ADVICE.

Every year hundreds of girls are undergoing a course of training for the career of a professional singer. Out of that number how many fulfil their ambition ? And how many fail, simply because they have no real notion of the road to success ? I went-recently for advice on this subject to Mdme Ada Crossley, the famous singer, who gave me the following very useful hints (says a writer in the London “Daily Mail”). Mdme Ada Crossley considers that robust health is the first equipment of the girl who intends to become a singer. “"Without health, even file best voice cannot bring success, 'llie life of a public singer is very arduous and necessitates great strain on the nervous system. Therefore I advise every girl who wishes to succeed in her career to attend first to her health, even before her voice.” Plain living, deep breathing and exercise in the open air are Mdme Crossley’s three essentials for health. “Above all exercise I believe in walking, as that seems to me to be the exercise most fitted for singers. Girls are so apt to overdo exercise if they take to violent games. And to be oyer-fatigued physically is naturally a bad thing for the voice.” EXPERT ADVICE. Then comes the question of the training. “Do not believe too much in the over-kind and often too flattering opinions of one’s friends,” is Mdme Crossley’s warning. “Every girl should consult a trained critic, who will tell her whether her voice is suitable for a big career or whether it would be useless to spend the amount of money necessary for training. When I came first from Australia I consulted a famous entrepreneur, and I have to thank him for his invaluable advice. “He told me to go to Paris and finish my training under that most wonderful of all teachers, the late Mdme Marchesi.

“Personally, I am a believer in girls finishing their training abroad at "some great art centre. They come into an atmosphere that is absolutely invaluable. I speak from experience.

WHAT SHE SHOULD LEARN. “In Paris, for instance, a girl learns not merely the technique of voice production, but a teacher who instructs on the lines of the late Mdme Marchesi will give her criticism as to her deportment, the right method of dressing for the platform, etc. For myself, I prefer white and light-colored dresses for the platform, but everyone, of course, must study their own individuality. “I think, too, the young singe)should understand deportment. There is an art in walking on the platform just as there is in appearing on the stage, and, after studying deportment, a girl loses traces of that selfconsciousness which so often besets the beginner and helps to make her nervous.” Another point on which great stress is laid is the acquirement of languages. “The young singer must be equipped at all points. She must be ready to meet the demands made by the entrepreneurs. ' A big repertory she must have, or there is little chance of her availing herself of the opportunities that may be presented to her in the course of her career. Many girls seem to think that a very limited repertory Ts sufficient. That idea is contrary to my experience. I have found that the girl who comes prepared to sing almost any class of music is the one who is on the road to success.” One of the most important items in the life of the girl singer is the amount of capital at her disposal. So many girls come to me from Australia and ask for my advice on this subject,” adds Mme. Crossley. “I invariably warn them that they must have sufficient money to last at least three years. There are so many piteous stories of distress than reach my ears, and I should like to emphasise the necessity of sufficient capital for every girl training for the career of a singer.”

HOW TO OBTAIN ENGAGEMENTS

Then comes, perhaps, the most crucial point of all. At the end of her training how is the young singer to obtain engagements? If the singer has trained at one of the recognised centres of music it is probable that those interested in her will afford her an opportunity of appearing before people who will Ire convinced of her talent, and thus aid her in every way to make her debut at the right moment. Quick to recognise talent, the agent is, of course, the general medium by which the young singer ultimately appears on the platform. “And when a girl has made her debut with success on the concert platform she must be prepared to keep up her studies without any slackening. Every singer must go on learning all her life,” declares Mme. Crossley. “It is so easy to get into fixed habits and grooves, and this is a fatal bar to further progress.

WHAT WILL BE WORN ? A fashion report from one of the leading London houses gives indications of the materials and colors that will prevail this winter. Wool velour in plain colors, and also in cut striped and cut Jacquard effects, promise to bo great favorites, the draping qualities of the material especially filling the needs of the moment. Cheviots will be revived to meet a big demand, which has largely been helped by the impetus given through the sports coats vogue, cheviots in specially selected shades making up into very suitable skirts for wearing with sports coats. Bedford cords, in bold ribbed effects, will be greatly favored. In fancy cloths various styles will be seen, velour cloths with fine woven stripes amongst them, alo velour checks. In small shepherd plaid and various tiny tartan effects velour cloths look very smart. Following a big vogue in Paris on black-and-white checks, suiting qualities and cheeks in black effects are expected to be much in demand, as it is evident that they are returning to favor. Navy and black costume serge, ornamented with white hairline stripes, continue to sell in the colonial markets. Donegal- tweeds and tweeds with a curl or knot are classes which have met-with much success at home, and are also expected to be much worn this winter in the colonies.

In colours a big variety of many extraordinary shades, which have been shown as novelty colorings, will probably be much seen this autumn. From these are selected apricot, tangerine, copper, cherry, lime, and tango, as the most interesting. Tans and browns have held chief place amongst ordinary shades in London last winter, followed by blues, lime, greys, soft yellows, and reds.

FANCY DRESS “MAKE-UP.” BEETROOT FOR COLORING. Ordinary beetroot makes an excellent substitute for the rouge to which many mothers object for their girls, and as private theatricals are very usual now, this hint is well-timed. The face should first be gently sponged with soft water, to which a few drops of eau do Cologne or benzoin have been added. Then thoroughly dry it with a soft towel. Use no soap. Next, the face should be damped with a fairly strong solution of alum water, leaving it on to dry. After the face is dry, color may be given to it by applying a freshly-cut beetroot, or, better still, the juice of tho beetroot may be extracted easily and kept from evaporating by confining it in a jar or . bottle. This then can be applied with a small soft brush.

THE EYEBROWS. After the color has been appplied, dust the face over with a good powder that will suit the complexion. Proper attention is not always given to the eyebrows in make-up, though they are an important feature. Eyebrow pencils are not all that they should be, and their use can generally be easily detected. As a substitute, with a small brush apply a little brillianfTne, which will make the hair several shades darker than its natural color. Or dip the finger in the brilliantine and pass it over tfieeyehrow. ~ln this manner it can easily be trained to the desired shape. : To temporarily darken the eyebrows and lashes for the evening, a very simple means is available. Collect a little lampblack by holding a saucer over the flame of a lamp or candle. The lampblack should be applied very carefully with a camel’s-hair brush, taking care not to stain the lids. ARMS AND SHOULDERS. To whiten the arms and shoulders, should that process be necessary, sponge them with tepid soft water. Wipe thoroughly dry with a warm, soft towel, and then sponge with a solution composed of equal parts of rosewater and glycerine. While the skin is still damp, a thick coating of powder should be applied with a puff, which should be left on until the last moment before dressing. Then rub the powder gently but thoroughly into the skin until it is white and the powder has disappeared. All make-up must be removed thoroughly before going to bed.

HATPIN CRUSADE. RAGING IN GERMANY. The Frankfurter “Zeitung” says: | The' crusade against the dangerous hatpin is raging fiercely in all German public conveyances. Conductors of tramcars, etc., must first of all look at the hats of women passengers before handing them a ticket. If the hatpin is not protected by a safety protector he stops the car and the woman is politely handed out. This leads to amusing incidents, one of which is reported from Dusseldorf. A woman, who had been marketing, boarded a tram with her heavy basket. Hardly had she sat down when the conductor, with a glance at her dangerously protruding hatpin, informed 'her that she must leave the car. Then a bright idea struck her. She groped in the market basket and brought out a small potato. With a happy smile she put it on the dangerous hatpin as a protector. The conductor was satisfied.