act that their journey had thus far been marked by a
continual series of triumphs,--the thick walls of color-prejudice
everywhere yielding before the force of their rare musical abilities,
their almost marvellous sweetness of song,--they now approached with
feelings somewhat akin to dread the "modern Athens," that
acknowledged centre of musical and general aesthetic culture, Boston,
whose critical audiences ever receive coldly, at first, all newcomers,
and who, guided by their own judgments, and having their own standard
of merit, never yield praise because it has been accorded in other
sections.

The Misses Hyers, although fully recognizing all this, were not to be
daunted by it; and they therefore chose an ambitious, but what proved
to be a wise course: they at first appeared at Tremont Temple before a
select circle of musical connoisseurs. At this test performance, Mr.
Eben Tourjee, Mr. P.S. Gilmore, and others of the highest musical
ability in Boston, were, by invitation, present. Before the Misses
Hyers began to sing, Mr. Tourjee said that they would be judged by the
same standards as would be Nilsson or Kellogg. Mr. Hyers, speaking for
his daughters, readily assented to this: and the sequel proved that
his confidence was well founded; for all became satisfied, after
hearing them sing, that these young ladies had not been too highly
praised by the press of other cities. Said Mr. Gilmore, "These ladies
promise much that is great."

But the following, taken from one of the Boston papers appearing the
day after the performance just referred to, best describes the effect
of the same on those present:--

"We were invited with some fifty other persons this forenoon
to hear the singing of two colored young ladies, named Anna
and Emma Hyers, of San Francisco, at the Meionaon. They are
aged respectively sixteen and fourteen years, and, after a
casual inspection, may be called musical prodigies. They
are, without doubt, destined to occupy a high position in
the musical world.

"Anna sings not only alto, but tenor, and both with great
excellence. They sang 'Ah forsetui' [Transcriber's Note:
'Ah, fors'e lui'] from 'Traviata,' 'M'appari' from
'Martha,' and the 'Miserere' from 'Trovatore,' each with
remarkable clearness and accuracy, and surprised all with
the general skill they displayed. Anna has also the faculty
of reaching E flat above the staff. Jud