A Child Patti in London

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7967, 25 November 1911, Page 18

A Child Patti in London

Romance of Real Ltjc A youthful vocalist lias been found in London whoso story roads like a Cinderella romance in real life. It vas on Christmas Eve of last year that the good fairy Fate jrossrd the troubled, povertyhaunted path of this little girl, and opened wide for her the door to the palace of fortune. Mine. Amy Shenvin, tho celebrated singer and teacher, had been entertaining some friends at tea at her homo in Hampstead, and their conversation was frequently interrupted by the loud and more or loss unmusical ©Herts of youthful singers in the street outside. They were mostly of the street arab type, and all Aver© in‘quost of pennies on this night of gifts and good will toward men. Their persistence under the circumstances, however, was extremely annoying to the guests at her tea tabic, and when two girlish voices finally broke out into a Christmas carol beneath their very window Mmc. Sherwin told her servant to order them away. Just as the man opened the door to obey his instructions the beautiful belllike tones of a clear, high soprano fell upon tho oars of those present like the call of a distant trumpet. Mme. Sher- ; win immediately rushed out after her servant, and had tho two children, two little girl©, brought inside. They were poorly clad and shivering, and their wistful little faces told th© tale of want and hopeless day dreams that makes poverty so tragic for tho young. Tho youngest was, perhaps, twelve, and the other a couple of years older. Rare Beauty. Tho latter was proud and eolf-poised as any born aristocrat, and calmly swept tho room with great blue eyes in whose limpid depths flickered an almost uncanny light of understanding. A tangled mass of tawny hair framed a face of typical British beauty that no sordid trappings of poverty could mar. More than all else was a magnetic personality which captured the interest of tho others at once. On being she explained that they lived in the East-end, and that she and her sister had .Been singing in the streets that evening to raise money enough to buy their mother a Christmas present. Then the children sang to Mme. Shcrwins accompaniment on the piano, and so delighted their unusual audience that a handsome sum was raised for tho little singers on their promise to go straight home and keep out of tho cold winter weather.

A few day© later th© mother of tho little girls called by request on Mmo. Shenvin, and arrangements wore eventually made for tho musical and general education of th© elder on© with tho Pat-ti-voice, who was given tho name of Stella Carol, because sho had been discovered singing carols beneath th© stars. With the consent of her parents, Stella was adopted by Mme. Shenvin and moved to the latter’s residence in Hampstead. A governess was engaged for her, and she immediately commenced a course of French, general subjects and music, both piano and singing. She showed astonishing aptitude in her studies, and progressed so rapidly that she was able to appear in public within a few months. Stella’s formal debut was made at a concert; at. which Princess Alexander of Teck was present, and she promptly electrified her audience by singing with fluent ease and finish such test pieces for .the greatest vocalists as "The Couplets du Mysoli," from "La Perl© du Bresdl," Cowcn’s groat song, "The Swallows," and others equally difficult, even for a matured’ prima-donna. Since then Stella has sung again before tho Princess of Teck by special request, as well as before many other ladies of high social rank, whose verdict was unanimous as to tho. child’s wonderful future on the concert or operatic stage. Signor Caruso's Tribute. , . .When Signor, Caruso heard of this-new. musical phenomenon he expressed a desire to hear Stella Carol sing, and, on being gratified, was so impressed that he predicted a brilliant future for her,* and had himself specially photographed with her.' * -

She has learned well and diligently and although barely fifteen years of age has all of the confidence of a trained and experienced cantatrice. Her voice is a pure, natural soprano of remarkable power, expression, and sweetness, and has a range up to F in alt. These top notes are true and clear, and are reached without any strainiug or even apparent effort. WHAT THE DEVIL THINKS The Parisian’s latest amusement is a profane burlesque called "Hell," at present ; (says "M.A.P.") being played at the' Foli-es Bergeres. Her©' are some entertaining extracts from th© revuo: Th© Devil: All good people go to Heaven; all th© best people com© here. W© get everyone worth while—authors, artists. actors, doctors, lawyers, and most of the fashionable clergymen. Miss Liberty; How delightful. The Devilr My work grows lighter every day. People come down* without asking any help from me. Whenever a busy man asks his best friend to take his wife out, now and then, we prepare for new arrivals. Whenever a bank cashier buys an automobile wo make up the bed in the spar© room. Brigham Young’s been with, us thirty years. His wives are all in Heaven. He’s, just crazy about this place. (Putting on his tail.) If I didn’t wear this, nobody would believe I was th© devil. Miss Liberty: Then you don’t always wear a tail? Devil: No. My ancestors did. Time© have changed. I could do nothing with human nature, if I went around looking like the devil. Usually I masquerade as a woman. Miss Liberty: And to think men say unkind things of you, especially in th© churches. • Devil: Ah ! You've touched my tender spot. (Sniffles.) It’© pretty hard. Whenever anybody does what he particularly wanted to do, and gets caught, h© blame© me. (Sobs. Miss Liberty starts to comforthim. Enter clerk.) Miss Liberty: Who’s that? Devil: Our room clerk. A Frenchman. Sometime© he acts as my interpreter. Miss Liberty: Why,, I thought yon spoke all languages? Devil: All languages’ .but French. 1 They never needed m© in Paris. WRONG FISH The delivery boy scanned the label on tho narcel and said: “This here is C. O. D.” “Thin it ain’t for ns, me lad,” said the new cook, recently from abroad, "for I heard the missis raeself telyphone for schnapper.”

Reverend Gentleman: Do you know, my friend, that half the cases of cancer are caused by people smoking those foul, dirty, short, clay pipes ? Son of Toil: And do you know, guv’norr, that 'alf of the black -eyes are caused by folks not mindin’ their own business?