from "La Favorita;" "Ah! I have sighed," from "Il Trovatore;"
and "How so Fair," from "Martha."

Mr. Bowers resides at present in Philadelphia, and is a little past
forty years of age. He sings as well now as ever; some think better
than ever. He appears occasionally in public, but only in company with
the first artists, as he firmly believes in maintaining always for
himself and others a high musical standard. His voice ranges within a
semitone of two octaves.

He is a man of decidedly handsome form, and of graceful, pleasing
stage appearance; is, indeed, an ideal tenor, and a real artist.

I append, from among the many press-notices that have appeared during
his career, the few that follow.

"The Daily Pennsylvanian" of Feb. 9, 1854, after describing the
Sansom-street Hall concerts, and alluding to some defects in the
manner of his gestures, thus speaks of the performances of our
subject:--

"He has naturally a superior voice, far better than many of
the principal tenors who have been engaged for star opera
troupes. He has, besides, much musical taste."

"The Boston Journal" said,--

"The tenor of this troupe (Mr. Bowers) possesses a voice of
wonderful power and beauty."

Another paper said,--

"As most of our citizens have heard the 'colored Mario,' it
is unnecessary for us to speak of his singing, as it is
generally admitted that his tenor is second to none of our
celebrated opera-singers."

Another said,--

"The concert given by the Sedgwick Company was a great
success.... 'Mario's' fine tenor voice was never more
feelingly exercised, nor more rapturously encored."

Again he is thus highly praised:--

"The 'colored Mario's' voice is unequalled by any of the
great operatic performers."

A Montreal paper said,--

"'Mario' is a very handsome specimen of his race, and has a
fine tenor voice.... He, too, was repeatedly encored, both
in his solo-pieces and in his duets with Miss Greenfield."

The true value of the foregoing comments from the press will be better
understood when the reader calls to mind the fact, that, when they
were made, Mr. Bowers had as contemporaries the wonderful Signor
Mario, the eminent "Swedish Nightingale," Jenny Lind, the not much
less charming songstress, Parodi, as well as several fine
tenor-singers connected with the Italian opera companies then
performing throughout this country. Wit