THE RIVAL SINGERS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1647, 27 August 1887, Page 3

THE RIVAL SINGERS

In 1847 Glalia Grisi and Jenny Lind W«M ainging m London, bnt at different placet. Each ' star' struggled to outshine the other, and thoio who one evening went Into ecitaolea over Grist's Norms were the next evening enraptured with Linda Adalglia. Such was tho rivalry that It wa* not to be expected that they could sing together at a poblio oonoert. Bat hoc M»jeity requested them both to appear at a oonoert given by her. Of eonrae they complied with the request. The Qaeen welcomed them cordially, and expreaied her pleasure at seeing them together for the first time. She then gave the signal fpfc the concert to begin. Ab Jenny Llnd waV the younger of the two, It had been arranged that she should ling fiut. With perfect confidence m her power, the iteppsd forward and began. Bat ehanolng to look at Griai, she saw the Southerner's malignant gßze fastened upon her. The fierceness of the look afaaoat paralysed the singer. Her courage left her, her voico trembled and everything before her eyes darkened. She beoama bo faint that she nearly fell. By ntmoit exertion of her will, however, Bhe taooeeded In finishing the aria, Tbe painful alienee that followed its conclusion convinced her that she had failed, which was oonfirmed by the triumphant ex presslon on Griefs face. Despite tho •etnitorpidity of her senses sho realised : that the failure meant lost glory, the des- i traction of her happiness, and the mor ] dlficatien and grief of her parent! ami i friend*. Suddenly something— it seemed < like a voice from heaven — whispered, < ' Bing one of the old songs iv your j mother-tongue. She caught at the idea, m' an inspiration that had been flsahod Into her mind, between tbe tetinfnatlon of the Tooal part of tbe aria aod the ac-oompanlet'a-final chords. Unnoticed by the company, she asked him to rise, took the vacated seat * For a few seconds . the suffered her fingers to wander over the keya m a low prelude, aod then sho , began to alng. Her selection *aa a little prayer which she had loved above all * others In ber childhood's repertoie. Bhe bad not thought of it for years. As j she Bang she was no longer m the pro teace of royalty, but m her Fatherland . j ■nrrounded by those who listened net to . criticise. Not one before ber undiralo d tha words of the prayer, bnt tho plain- ! tiveness of the melody aud the Bweot . voice brought tbe moisture to every oy». When, havlna finished the prayer, sho x raised her mild blue eyeß to her rival, whose flaming orbs hid so dieo mcerted * her she found no fierce expression on her . countenance. A moment after, with the , Impulsiveness characteristic of the children of South, Grisi rushed to Jenny Lind'i aide, placed her arm round the glrl'a neok, and kissed her, regardless of the lookers ou.