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Show MELBA'S BEGINNING. During tho years immediately preceding my first and, for me, my most memorable visit to Europe, the lato Marquis of Normandy was governor gov-ernor of Victoria. At that time I was regarded in Melbourne as a very good amateur pianist, much in request re-quest at private parties, at which I always played, and on very rare occasions oc-casions also sang. At one of these functions, given nt government house, I gave some songs between tho pianoforte selections, and the Marchioness of Normandy, in thanking me, said, "Child, somo day you will givo up the piano for singing, sing-ing, and then you will become famous." fa-mous." That was the simple comment com-ment that set mo seriously thinking of a career as a singer. I had always al-ways felt that I would become a professional in music pianist, organist, or-ganist, violinist, perhaps, but something some-thing in music, at any rate; but from that moment I knew in an irresistible ir-resistible way that I was to be a singer. Century. . |