ILMA DI MURSKA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1998, 27 November 1888, Page 3

ILMA DI MURSKA.

(Ohristohnroh "Telegraph.") Tbe news that lima dl Mnrakais starving In New York seems to be a striking commentary npon the evanescence of artistic glory. In years gone by the world was at the feet of this great oantatrlce. She could command her own terms, gold was ponred Into her hp, and she spent It like water. Her wonderful upper notes and her marvellous bird-like trills were the themes of enthuslastio admiration to oultured musicians, and evoked the applause of the unculturod, who In eager crowds thronged the theatres to hear her. Even whon aha passed through the colonies ten or twelve years ago, when her glory was on tho wane, what a sensation she produced. And what aubjoe's for convocation, and for newspaper paaragraphe, the doings of the whimsical spoiled possessor of the beautiful voice afforded. Tbe ohampagoe hatha, j her enamel, her devotion to ber po«adle, j and the number of ber husbands whom she had married and burled were things to talk aboqt, as well as her marvellous singing. Tbe cost of her wines and fessts were said to almost rival In extravagance the expenditure of a Roman Emperor npon similar Indulgences. Doubtless there was some exaggeration m all this, but there was a large percentage of truth In it. The Inoomparable lima dl Mnrska spared no expense In gratifying her tastes and preserving her beauty. The red Hp 8 , the sylph-like form, the golden hair, and the glorious voice, mußt have suffered depreciation indead when tbeir owner is rednced to the strait of acotspting charity to take her back to her native land. Thither she will doubtless, return, a broken-down, miserable, penniless old woman, out of whose life all tho glory and brightness have gone for ever Truly this is a sad ending to tbe brilliant career of this beantlful, wayward, imperious woman. The moral, of course, to bo derived from lima di Murska'a fate is that In the dsys of prosperity, when for tune's sun la shining upon them, great singsrs ahould bear In mind the facts that fortune is a fickle jade, that fine voices do not last for ever, and that If dqe preparation is not made for tbe Inevitable rainy day, poverty will be the result at last. Had di Murska spent less npon champagne, cosmetics, and pet poodles, ehe would not now be starving fn New York or waiting for the slow charity of the public, by whon? favorite* are soon forgotten whea they oan no longer please, to take ber baok to Croatia,