THE WOES OF MADAME MELBA.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 461, 20 March 1909, Page 11

THE WOES OF MADAME MELBA.

, , our Australian correspondent gives a' doleful account of ;, tho penalty Madame' Melba pays for fame. : - In achieving. fame, Madame.Melba/threw down the gauntlet to the professional writer o begging, letters, and he has so freely. availed himself of the. challenge, since she came to Melbourne, that the celebrated singer, through . her secretary, appeals to-the press .to use its influence in .assisting to-save her from these importunities; But the -press k as^ powerless, in this particular -instance as it has been in its past endeavours to make the übiquitous spelters of autographs recognise that their persistent calls upon an artist are by no means flattering hut, on the contrary, for the most, part harassing and an* noying. Miss Agnes Murphy .states tliat the number of begging letters Madame vUelta receives is quite astonishing,- and some of' them are written with such: .'tilling touchos : of misery_-that-the prima';, donna is often, greatly affected and unnerved for her work.' Sinco May, 1908, the secretary states', Madame Melba has given over'£Booo :in response to appeals for assistance, and daily dozens of letters:that bear unmistakable evidence of the| professional beggar are destroyed. Others are kept for inquiry. ' In addition to these solicitations. and the innumerable requests for autographs come tho entreaties from young aspirants to feme for permission to sing before the great vocalist Wlt h, the object of hearing her opinions and obtaining her advice. Famo certainly inflicts penaltiesi But' all the same, • howmany would not'gladly accept the famo of a Madame Melba, with the'risk of begging letters and all? Personally I think these great singers have a'very good time. .They .have merely- to keep' their .voices'-in. good order , and their health good, and their salaries are' wen _ better than those of the average work-, ing journalist. '

The ability/ of blind women-has been' 1 developed to such i a degree now, in New Yorkinstitutions that they are able ,to weave pillow covers out of Indian hemp .in designs, the colours for.which are counted and inserted harmoniously., by memory. ' Table scarfs and automobile scarfs of linen and silk are also. woven, and carpets and rugs are made on a loom, while one blind woman has become an expert operator of a particularly dangerous electric -.sewing-machine. This woman, it is can thread any needle with her tongue. From tho same factory of blind workers are turned out beautiful beaded electric • lamp shades, • trimmed hats, dolls, vf' Trvdv kiijds of knitting and sowing.