MADAM MELBA IN AMERICA.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1916, Page 5

MADAM MELBA IN AMERICA.

THE TKAIL OF A. BOGUS SON, ATTEMPT TO VICTIMISE PRIMA DONNA. Sftn Francisco, March 10. Completing her highly successful tour of Canada and the United States, in which she incidentally raised several thousand dollars for the furtherance of Belgian aid, returned to San Francisco on March 2, preparatory to sailing for Honolulu six days later.

The famous singer arrived in a somewhat disturbed frame of mind, and told of an impostor in the "wild and woolly west" town of Carson City, in Nevada, who claimed to be her son. Melba spoke with a blazing anger, which should discourage the supposed son should he ever *ead her pointed remarks. '

Melba's son, George Armstrong, who is with her, also told of having heard of the impostor, who is supposed to have obtained money and social opportunities in Nevada on this representation. In the course of an interview, Mafdame Melba said: ''This self-proclaimed son of mine is an imposter. The worst of it is that he i» said to be about 35 years old. By that token I should iliave been married when I was eleven years old! "This is not the first time I have hoard of his activities. Some time ago a man called at the box-offiee of the New York Metropolitan Opera House with the brazen statement that he was Madame Melba's sou. He followed this up with a request for money."

Madame Melba here called Frank Rigo, her manager, and her son. Both had crossed the trail of the bogus son "I object to any disreputable man going about masquerading as my son, and trading or. my reputation witli the statement that I am starving him." Mme, Melba- continued, "Please write a telegram for me to the Chief of Police at Carson City, asking him to let me know whether this man is still tliero masquerading as Melba's son, and tell the Chief that Melba has only one son, and that the other one is an impostor." Rigo sent the telegram.

Mrae. Melba referred with justifiable pride tk her appointment of Lady of Grace, conferred by King George of England, in the order of St. John of Jerusalem, of which his Majesty is the sovereign head. In this honor, the Ardor of which was founded by the ancient knights of Malta. Melba is the twentieth woman member. She has also received the insignia of the order, consitting of a beautiful Maltese crosg. The order was conferred on the prima donna in recognition of her services to the British Red Cross, and to the sufferers of Poland and Belgium. In all, she has collected 200,000 dollars for British and Allied war relief. AMERICAN PRESS STOR?. Madame Melba's son, Mr. G. Armstrong, when spoken to on the subject of the impostor son, laughingly suggested that the whole story originated in the fertile brain of sonic American journalist eager to dish up a little sensational copy. They had noticed an account of the supposed impostor in some of the American papers, which was their first acquaintance with the story, but upon <his mother communicating with the police of Carson City to know what truth there was in it, she received a reply stating that the police had heard: nothing whatever about the osjjtteK«_o.f the reported imfioßjtor,~' ~" " , ,