“Yes. I should judge almost any of the greater European nations would be better in this respect than the United States; not much better, however, because nearly all depends on strength of character, determination, and the will to work. If a girl has these, she will rise as high, in the end, anywhere; perhaps not so quickly in some places, but no less surely.” “You had no European advantages?” “None whatever.” “Were you born in the West?” “No. I come of New England stock. You will understand that more readily when I tell you that my real name is Norton. I was born at Farmington, Maine, and was reared in Boston.” “Were your parents musically talented?” “Not at all. Their opinion of music was that it is an airy, inviting art of the devil, used to tempt men’s feet to stray from the solemn path of right. They believed music, as a vocation, to be nearly as reprehensible as a stage career, and for the latter they had no tolerance whatever. I must be just, though, and own that they did make an exception in the case of church music, else I should never have received the slightest encouragement in my aspirations. They considered music in churches to be permissible—even laudable. So, when I displayed some ability as a singer, I was allowed to use it in behalf of religion, and I did. I joined the church choir and sang hymns about the house almost constantly.” “You had a natural bent for singing.” “Yes, but I needed a world of training. I had no conception of what work lies ahead of anyone who contemplates singing perfectly. All I knew was that I could sing, and that I would win my way with my voice if I could.” “How did you accomplish it?” THERE MUST BE NO PLAY, ONLY STUDY AND PRACTICE. “By devoting all my time, all my thought, and all my energy to that one object. I devoured church music—all I could get hold of. I practiced new and difficult compositions all the time I could spare.” “Naturally, your efforts attracted attention?” “Yes, I became a very good church singer; so much so that, when there were church concerts or important religious ceremonies, I was always in demand. Then there began to be a social demand for my ability, and, later, a public demand in the way of concerts.” “At Farmington?” “Oh, no. At Boston. I forgot to say that my parents removed, while I was still quite young, to Boston.” “Did you give much of your time to public concerts?” “None at all. I ignored all but church singing. My ambition ran higher than concert singing, and I knew my parents would not consent. I persuaded them to let me have my voice trained. This was not very difficult, because my church singing, as it had improved, became a source of considerable profit, and they saw even greater results for me in the large churches and in the religious field generally. So I went to a teacher of vocal culture.” “Where, if you please?”