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Show SOMETHING ON MELBA Now for a few words without the aid of a press agent about a distinguished disting-uished woman of tho stage Nellie Mitchell, the daughter ot a wealthy Melbourno contractor of Scotch ancestry. an-cestry. Nellie Mitchell Is now Madam Melba. This great artist was aj singer sing-er in childhood. Long before sho reached her teens, Melbourno tradition tradi-tion tells mo she gave a concert at a seaside resort where her family wero spending the summer. Sho was her own Impresario. It was a benefit concert, tho proceeds being for a church. Little Nellie, oven ln those days, could sing like a bird and make funny noises In her throat, which years and years afterward emperors and artists recognized as the most marvelous trills ever heard. Little Nellie oven then had besides artistic gitts, superb business Instinct pnd Scotch determination and organizing ability. That concert must bo a success because Nelllo Mitchell wap going to bo In It. So sho enlisted two little boys lis her aides do camp and sent them forth to sell tickets. Then shp herself posted bills all over tho town. Nolllo Mitchell, was tho head-liner. head-liner. Tho concert was a success. Next day Nolllo Mitchell ran out to play with her best girl friend expect-, Ing congratulations. Not a word nbou tho concert. Nelllo was amazed. amaz-ed. After restraining her Impatience to tho bursting point, sho said: The concert, you know I sang at tho concert. con-cert. How did you like it? Ohl drawled drawl-ed out her sweet friend, Nelllo Mitchell, Mitch-ell, I could see your drawers. Tlmo went on and Nelllo became' thoT belle of the 'boarding houso she attended. The thing ahe excelled in watausfc, jShe u'ed to say In those' days that when sho married she would marry blue blood, and ahe d!dT. She married Captain Armstrong ot the English army. Her father.gaye them na a wedding preaent-a line aheep ran&e.'Tlio miarrUgeiwfc..arIJunhap-pJr.'oTWfcfla miarrUgeiwfc..arIJunhap-pJr.'oTWfcfla tauthT)eteoJ'-1!n3lfi: was IhVconcert-atage,. though, Mr, MitchGll strongly objected, After a fow .concerts id Melbourno, Mis Mltcholl went to Paris, studied a few months with Mme. Marches!, who, by; tho way, died recently, and then tho great Melba appeared ln opera and conquested both tho music and social worlds. Eight or nine years passed beforo her father becamo reconciled to her public career. Then sho went back to Australia. Tho country opened open-ed Its hospltablo heart to Its famous daughter and did everything to mnko nnicnds for Its early Indlftcrcuco. All Melbourno turned out to greet her at tho rnllway station. Hor father was thero glad nnd expectant, hut us tho trnln pulled ln, tho temperamental old Scotchman was stricken with npop-loxy. npop-loxy. I'ortunatoly, ho rocovorod and was able to enjoy his daughter's triumphal tri-umphal tour. Melba gavo a flno Btat-uo Btat-uo of herself to tho city of Melbourne. Shp Js still tho v irld's song queen. Town TaU. |
