MYSELF.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 14039, 23 October 1909, Page 3

MYSELF.

AND MY PIANO. Miss Margaret Cooper, whose delightful entertainment at the Palace is an established feature of a London .season, tells us in a little bHiu volume of reminiscences, entitled ''.Myself anil my . Piano" . (Ouseluy, Is net) "how it was she: became the pioneer of a special form of amusing the. public, hitherto practised by men. At the outset 'of her musical career Miss Cooper appeared a.s a concert singer, but somehow or other .she could never get an accompanist to plav her songs just as she wanted them played. "1. know," she confesses ."that 1 used to be very bad-tempered over it, and say the mostdreadful things to them, so that I; wonder I found anyone to accompany me at all. It was this difficulty, or imaginary difficulty, which lirst gave me the idea of accompanying myself, and L began gradually to get into the habit of .singing my songs at the piano." The innovation was not welcomed by the managerial powers that be. hike other mortals they are inclined to fight .shy of now departures. Miss Cooper "found it difficult to make her way in her self-chosen role, and was the recipient of the inevitable "snubs and discouragements from friends as well as enemies." However, by persistence and determination Miss Cooper gradually beat- down the barriers of prejudice, and an offer ffom Mr. Alfred Butt in 190(5 to appear at the Palace gave her the chauc-e of proving that she really possessed a new ami charming art by which to add to the gaiety of the capital. Miss Mnrgaret Cooper, separated from her piano, would be such a spectacle as Valentine without his Orson. "Songs at the Piano" is a role Miss Cooper has made her own form many reasons. " Ono a'eason," she says, "why ] like singing at the piano is that I feel I can express as much of my mood by my playing, as I can by my voice and gesture. Sometimes when someone in the audience has irritated me extremely by talking or walking about, I can express my feelings splendidly hv a lew deep chord on the piano, well thumped out. This has not only often a good effect on the disturber of my peace, bnt also acts,as an excellent safety valve to rny irritation." Miss Cooper shatters a pretty delusion that has for long been shared by members of her audience. "I believe that I am often referred to as being extremely haughty," she says, more in sorrow than in anger. "Quite recently I sat next to a man at supper who said he came to the Palace chiefly to watch my face and see me walk on and oft'. He declared that he adored my haughty air . . . which, in his opinion, was alone quit© worth the money he paid for his stall. . . . f can only say that I have really no intention of appearing haughty, and certainly am not haughty." Among the "rather amusing things" that have happened momentarily toruf•lle the placid surface of Miss Cooper's confessed uneventful existence was the following:—"Two girls sent round a post card, just as I was goi'ng on, on which was written, 'We love your singing, but would you please do your hair in the same wav as von used to do it in 1905?"