CLARA BUTT'S MEMOIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 9 August 1928, Page 5

CLARA BUTT'S MEMOIRS

AN OFFENDING REFERENCE PUBLICATION, STOPPED United Press Association— By Electrio I'elegrapii—Copyright SYDNEY, Bth August. Australians have been stirred through the reported reference in Dame Clara Butt’s memoirs, just published in,London, of a paragraph in which it is alleged that Dame Melba, told her when coming to Australia for the first time “Sing ’em muck; it’s all they understand.” Dame Melba disowned saying tl\e offending words, and as the result of an interchange of cables it is explained that the reference crept into the book without Clara. Butt’s knowledge. Publication of the book has now been stopped and efforts are being made to recall the copies issued!

LONDON PAPER’S COMMENTS

Australian Press Association

LONDON, Bth August. “What did Dame Melba say in 1906?” asks a “Daily Express” editorial. “If we may venture the opinion the advice imputed is sound as applied to any country, although it is ot the kind better spoken than repeated in writing. After all, Dame Nellie will be _ remembered more for what highbrows might unpleasantly describe as ‘muck’ on her programmes than' for classical selections. Tosti’s ‘Good-bye’ and ‘Down in the Forest’ were her ace and "king of trumps. She always kept ‘Home, Sweet Home’ up her sleeve. We urge both ladies to be calm. Muck-raking,may be the pastime of a certain type of politician, but not of dames.”