A TALK WITH MRS JOHN PROUSE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1746, 23 August 1905, Page 27

A TALK WITH MRS JOHN PROUSE

(By “Lina.”)

“It is just two and a half years,” said Mrs Prouse, “since we left New Zealand, and it seems only yesterday. You have no idea how quickly the time passes when you are at the other side of the world. I have always had affectionate feelings for New Zealand, but there is no place in the world to equal England. Its greatness, the romance attached to it, and the historical associations make it the most fascinating country conceivable. London I found delightful, but after you have spent a time there you long for the country. And such a\ country as it is! The beauty of the flow ex's is splendid. They grow to such perfection. Carnations I. saw the size of teacups; theix' colo-ui’ing being beautiful. And the homes of England, how utterly majestic they are. sphere is something .attached to them which is lacking in any other country. In the fii’st place, they are built of stone, and this in itself adds to their appearance. They are imposing, pictux'esque, and homelike. The gardens surrounding them ai*e so charming. Plenty of ground, plenty of flowers, trees to look upon that ai'e a feast to the eye. After: we arrived there we were fortunate enough to get Colonel Omneys house in Port Chester sqxxare, a delightful rambling home with beautiful gai*dens, tennis court, croquet lawn, and all the delights attaclied to a country home. And the people we met! How kind they were to us. When we left for New Zealand it was like leaviixg home over again, we felt parting with every one so keenly. “We visited France and America. What wonderful go ahead places they are. New York J/s a revelation. The commotion and. importance that is lent to everything make a visitor stand in amazement. It is a wonderful city, built up by a wonderfully clever and intelligent nation. Pai'is is a delight. There is a peculiar fascination connected with it that is almost startling. The Parisians, are most interesting. The women are pretty, infatuating, and the best dressed in the world. That is, they wear only what becomes them. That is the seci'et of their success. A French woman never clothes herself in the latest fashion, because it is the fashion, unless it suits, her own individual style. Hence they strike an originality, and that is whei'e they score over Americans and Englishwomen. Another thing which struck me forcibly in regard to Frenchwomen, was that they never appear at the theati'e decollete. That is left for, the ballroom, but in the theatre they ai'e clothed to the throat, and they are the prettiest and best dressed women I’ve ever seen in any theatre in the -world.

“Now, as to the artists we met. Kubelik is a genius. He is only twentyfive, and he is the greatest violinist in the world. And I wish you could see his wife. She is one of the most beautiful women I have seen. She has hair the colour of gold, and her eyes are black as sloes, hut let me show you her photograph. And how pretty she is. As I looked down upon her head, alight with its cloudy fairness, and upon her eyes dark as night, I felt I was looking upon a beautiful picture, and I began to wonder whether I had ever before seen a really beautiful woman in my life. Then Dolores! [Hanging in a dainty fraAie upon the rose-tinted wall was her photograph.] Dolores as we have see-n her! What a sweetness and charm is attached to her. But perhaps the secret of this is her pure womanliness. “Dolores,” said Mrs Prouse, “does not talk of revisiting the colonies yet, but there is no doubt she will come to us again. She is a gx’eat- favourite at Home and abroad.

“People ask me who are the greatest artists. I find it difficult to tell. There are not a great number, that is, you can coiint the few who have risen to the very highest rung of the ladder, while there are numbers who are still struggling to reach there. The secret of success is individuality. Many singers make the mistake of striving to imitate some special artist, the result is they are failures, simply because they have not struck an originality. Some one with a fine voice hears Patti sing, instantly they will be a second Patti: they imitate, but they never are, and never will be Patti. Patti and Melba sing side by side ; they are both great artists, but they ai’e utterly different to each other. As a result Patti is never jealous, of Melba, or vice versa. Why ? Because their style is their own, and one is as great as the other. Melba doesn’t want to be Patti, Patti doesn’t want to be Melba. ' “So many people out in the colonies appeared to be disappointed with Melba. But Melba on the concert platform is not the Melba in opera. In the latter she is exquisite, no word can express the beauty of her voice, its fineness, its delicate intonation, its depth of richness. “Ada Crossley is a delightful singer; she is a delightful woman to talk to, but she has not the voice of Melba, although she is one of the foremost artists, but what she lacks in voice she makes up for in manner and annearance. Clara

Butt is the gi'eatest contralto at Home. Her stage pi'eseiice is magnificent. She is six fe'et and grandly .built, and hex* great deep voice is a treat--to listen to.” - " . ' ; : I looked at a photograph of Saxitley. A. fine looking man with grey hair and a heavy grey moustache. “Sa-ntley always says, ’ mentioned Mrs Prouse, “that Mr Prouse is the only man who can take his place on the concert platform. He was most loath to let Mr Prouse ret-ux'n to New Zealand, but as it was necessary for ns to do so, Mr Prouse had to postpone engagements - at Home and abroad until later. It is unsettled yet what we shall do. Thei’e is a possibility that we may ultimately make England our home, but nothing is decided. “We retui'ned to New Zealand through Canada, as this is the quickest- route. Spreckles’ line is not popular at all at Home, , but we came by one of their boats, f and found it most comfortable and pleasant. We could not wisti for anything nicer. £ “One s:gnt,” exclaimed Mrs Prouse, enthusiastically, “I shall never forget in going through the Canadian Pacific, and that was the beauty of colour. It was inspiring. I used to gaze around me oblivious of all else. It has a beauty peculiarly its own. The tints, the harmony of colour! Oh, I felt as I looked around how I wanted all my friends to see it, too. It seems almost a calamity that there are people who will neve* look upon some of tlie marvellous beauties one sees when journeying across the world. In Canada; one day, I saw a-field of corn that grew higher than myself. We talk of oertain things being yellow as corn, but the expiession is wrong. A corn field is the colour of deep bronze; it is a sight worth seeing. It is only when the bi'eeze passes lightly over it that there is a glimpse of gold. Directly the breeze has passed there is nothing but the beautiful golden-brown over all. “1 cannot tell you just what I think of Niagai'a-. It is the grandest sight I have ever seen.l._lt is most impressive, almost awe-inspiring, and unless you have seen it, you cannot imagine how wonderful and beautiful it is. “We are all very pleased to be back in New Zealand again, and- to meet old friends. The two and a half years away passed all.too quickly, but we hope to renew the old associations alter on.”