uite well in a very few lessons. It was merely a mechanical operation
and it came to her in a flash. She astonished the good sisters with her
feats of embroidery and fine sewing and they could not understand how
such an one could learn so quickly. The manual skill of playing and the
quick eye in reading music had probably much to do with it. The weeks at
the convent were like a charming oasis in the dry and dusty plain of her
public life and she came out of the school blooming with health and
happiness.

On the 4th of April, 1853, the Germanias started out on an extended tour
through the Western States and with them went Mademoiselle Camilla, her
father and aunt. It was upon this trip that Camilla Urso's face became
familiar to the people of this country. She had visited nearly every
important city and town in New England and now she played in every large
city through the Northern and Western States. She went as far west as
St. Louis and as far south as the Ohio. It was a stirring, eventful
life. Traveling constantly, playing four or five times a week, meeting
new friends every day, practicing steadily and growing in mind and
stature she seemed to have found the desire of her young heart. Finally
the trip ended at Rochester, New York, on the 11th of June, and the
company separated. The Germanias went to Newport for their summer
campaign and the Ursos returned to New York.

Madam Henrietta Sontag was at this time traveling in this country. She
had given a series of very successful operatic performances in Boston
and New York during the Winter and Spring, and proposed to make a
concert tour through the West and South during the Fall and Winter. M.
Urso while in New York received a letter from her agent inviting Camilla
to join the troupe. Accordingly she set out with her father and met
Madam Sontag's party at Cincinnati. Aunt Caroline traveled with them as
far as Louisville, Ky. Madam Sontag, who was greatly pleased with
Camilla here offered to have a motherly eye over her and accordingly her
aunt returned to New York and only M. Urso remained to be guide and
helper to our young Mademoiselle.

For Camilla this trip was a season of great happiness. She was earning
money rapidly, her mother in far away Paris could share in the golden
store and her father was pleased and satisfied.

Madam Sontag became a second mother to Camilla and treated her with the
utmost kindness. Every day Camilla must come to her room to practice