Democratic Sentinel, Volume 14, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 January 1891 — EMMA ABBOTT IS DEAD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

EMMA ABBOTT IS DEAD.

THE GREAT OPERATIC SINGER SUCCUMBS. , She Pauses Away Alter a Two Days’ nines* at Salt Lake City— Remarkable Career or a Vocal st Who Made a Million with Her Voice. Emma Abbott (Mrs. Eugene Wether* .ell), tho gifted and woli-knowji opera ganger, dfed of pneumoniaGn Salt Lake Cit.L Utah, after an illness of but two days ’ duration. Mis s Abbott's career had been a re* markable one. She was born in Chicago in 1850 and went with her parents to Peoria, LM., when four years of age. Here her early Jifo was spent. Her taste for\music was hereditary, her father having been a music teacher. Ho was not very successful financially, howover, but before she' was ten years old Emma was able to give him considerable aid in keeping the family by singing at concerts, accompanying herself

EMMA ABBOTT.

on the guitar. She sang and played at couutry town concerts for several yoars, gradually widening tho circle of hor tours, and at sixteon gave it up for a while and settled down as a school teacher in Peoria. After a time she resumed her musical performances and at Toledo, Ohio, In LB7O, she attracted the attention of Clara Louise Kollogg, who was struck with hor talent and took an interest in her. Miss Kollogg sent to New York, whero sho studied under Errani, and after a time was engaged as soprano at tho Church of tho Divine Paternity, of which Rev. Dr. E. 11. Chapin was pastor. There sho attracted the attention of many prominent people, among whom were Horace C. IX Huntington, George G. Lake and others. Mrs. Lake took her to her house, and an organized effort was made to give Jier a thorough training Sho was sent to Italy In 1872, whore sho studied for some months under Giovanni at Milan, and then by tho advice of Christine Nilsson, whoso attention she had attracted, she went to Paris. There sho took lessons In vocalization from VVartol and at the same time took lessons in French, Italian, dancing, fendThg and acting at tho Conservatoire and Opera Comiquo. Miss Abbott mado hor debut at Florence and was enthusiastically encored. , Sho then went to Knglaud and made her first appearance at the Royal Italian Opera, Convent Garden, and was received with great warmth. Thbh she went to the Crystal Palace, where her singing brought hor to the favorable notice of Col. Mapleson, who ongagOd her for three years. Sho sang In all tho principal towns In England, Ireland, and Scotland, and bocarno a groat favorite. Sho had already achieved a reputation abroad boforo her own country had an ’opportunity of hearing her after hfcr voice and taste had boon thoroughly trained. Sho returned to tho United States in 1&80, and made her first appearance in Now York, turning over tho proceeds to a charity connected with tho church through which sho had been enabled to go to Italy. From that timo on she became a general favorite all over the United States. She married Eugene Wetherell, her business manager, and organized a company of her own, which soon became very successful. Miss Abbott always selected her own assistants, tried their yoicep and assigned to them their parts. Her company was run on business principles. Mr. Wetherell died In Kansas City about a year ago while his wife was in Denver, and she retired *or a time from tho stage. Sho content plated a permanent retirement, but was induced to give up the idea. Miss Abbott was very wealthy, her fortune being estimated at over $1,060,000.