THE DEATH OF DI MURSKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1868, 21 March 1889, Page 4

THE DEATH OF DI MURSKA.

From Munich we learn the sudden death there of Madame lima di Murska, the once famous and popular singer, followed by the tragical end of her daughter, Frau von Ozedik. The latter was married to a young Austrian of noble family, and poisoned herself at the deathbed of her mother. Madame di Murska was born in 1835 Croatia, of good family, and received the education of a lady. She was, however, unable to attain the excellent social position which might hare been within her reach, and iu 1873 went out to the colonies on a prolonged tour. Before that time she had been prima donna at Covent Garden. You will remember her being in New Zealand a good many years ago with her third husband, Mr Hill. She returned a disappointed woman, and, as everybody knows, went to Now York for a time, but came back brokenhearted and ruined a few years ago. Since then she has lived at M unich, in poverty and in bad health. In accordance with the last instructions of the daughter, both the bodies were cremated at Gotha. The cemetery lies at some distance from Gotha, and its centre is occupied by a severe building, in the middle of which is the hall for the preservation of the urns. One wing is reserved for the inspector, and the other for the necessary apparatus and a tiny chapel. Over six hundred cremations have now taken place in Gotha, but only about two hundred urns are preserved in the Hall of the Dead, as many take the ashes of their dead home with them. The coffin of Madame di Murska was borne into the chapel followed by one chief mourner—her Austrian husband —and a dozen members of the Gotha Opera. In the chapel there is a raised grating, upon which tha coffin was placed, and, after a few moments devoted to silent prayer, the grate with the fine coffin slowly sank. An iron plate, gliding noiselessly over the stone pavement, covered the opening. The incineration occupied an hour and a-balf, and then the ceremony was repeated with Madame di Murski’s daughter. A single wreath of laurels Frau von Czedik’s offering—adorned thopnma donna's coffin. Thedaughter. who left sufficient means to defray the cost of the funeral, had arranged that two simple black urns, with the

ashes of each, should be placed in the Columbarium at Gotha. Below the name lima di Murska were to be inscribed the following words: — “ Asbes are all that remain of the nightingale.” Below that of Frau von Czedik the words The woman whose remains lie here has battled and suffered much in vain.”