Los Angeles Herald, Volume 37, Number 122, 31 January 1910 — GIRL SONG BIRD AT LAST DISCLOSES IDENTITY [ARTICLE]

GIRL SONG BIRD AT LAST DISCLOSES IDENTITY

Young Woman Whose Voice Amazed Experts in New York Makes Known True Name

LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 30.—Shrouding her identity in mystery until she had realized the ambition of her life, the "Miss Mary La Salle," who astounded the directors of the Metropolitan opera house in New York recently, by her wonderful -voice, wrote a letter to it surprised friend in her old home at Beatrice, Neb., from New Fork, just before she stepped on board a steamer bound tor Italy, saying that sin- mis Jessie Richmond.

Tin- trip to Florence, Italy, where she will study under Lombard!, has been Miss Richmond's life dream, and her letter, a short communication, brings back to those who remembered her here the story of her long and discouraging struggle to win the recognition which she knew was to. be hers. She' is twenty-three years old. Her parents di.-d several years ago and the young girl set out to distinguish herself in the world of music. Local musicians heard her sing and they were interested, but they saw no great future for her and offered little encouragement. Despite this she gave up all her time to voice development and

went over the ground again, hut it was no use—she was not at all remarkable.

Miss Richmond left her old home believing that untrodden fields would bring her the success she sought. She went to Chicago, where she took the name of Mary l.a Salle, adopted from her mother's maiden name, Lazelle. Her home, she told inquirers, was "in the west."

For several months her Beatrice experiences .were paralleled. Finally she became a 'pupil of W. L. Hibbard, a music critic and voice cultivator. Mr. Hibbard, after a few trials, became convinced that the young woman was possessed of remarkable ability and he featured her at several concerts. Ricardo Martin, a member of the New York Metropolitan ' Opera House company, attended line of these recitals and the quality of her soprano tones so struck him that he procured an interview with her. i

Martin urged the young woman to visit New York. Happy beyond measure, she accepted. On her arrival in that city she sang, before Gatti-Ca-sazza, .the Metropolitan impresario, Allesandro Bond and several Manhattan society leaders. They were most lavish in their praises and hailed her as a second Melba. For several' days Miss Richmond was feted at the homes of society women and showered with presents. Through it all she preserved her in-. cognito, reserving for her hour of triumph the announcement of her Identity,