nd
that it took place on Wednesday evening, January 15, 1896, in the Town
Hall of Melrose. I sang two numbers, "Non conosci il bel suol," from
"Mignon" (I note my Italian had improved), and Auguste's "Bird on the
Wing." Of this interesting event, my first public appearance in concert,
the "Melrose Journal" of the next day said:--

Miss Eudora Parkhurst's concert in aid of the piano fund of the
Highland Congregational Church, given in the Town Hall Wednesday
evening, attracted a small audience. Miss Parkhurst, who is a very
young lady and herself a musician of considerable ability, put a
great deal of work into the concert and its details, and it is to
be regretted that it could not have been better patronized. Miss
Geraldine Farrar was the leading attraction, rendering her two
solos with great confidence and ability. For her first number she
sang "Non conosci il bel suol," from "Mignon," rendering the
difficult music with surprising ease and fidelity, receiving a
recall. Her second number, "Bird on the Wing," was also well
received. The Alpine Quartet, of Woburn, Miss Cora Cummings, banjo
soloist, Miss Welma Cummings and Miss Parkhurst, violinists, and
Miss Bessie Adams, reciter, were the other attractions. Mr. Grant
Drake presided at the piano as accompanist.

[Illustration: THE GOOSE GIRL AND HER FLOCK]

I find in my personal notes of comment on this interesting programme
that I disliked the banjo as an instrument, though Miss Cummings played
well, and that Mr. Drake, the pianist, was "very nice." Even in those
days I was given to analysis.

My success at this recital led directly to another public
appearance--February 5, 1896--in the Y.M.C.A. Hall at Melrose, at a
concert given by Miss Jennie Mae Spencer, a Boston contralto, through
whose friendship and advice I had gone to study with Mrs. Long. This was
the first time my name appeared in large type as one of the principal
singers, and I was greatly pleased.

This was the first paying professional appearance I ever made; for
singing one number and a duet with Miss Spencer I received the
magnificent sum of ten dollars. But this concert called me to the
attention of the music critics of Boston, and the critic of the "Boston
Times" wrote:--

Miss Geraldine Farrar is a young girl who has a phenomenal soprano
voice and gives promise of becoming a great singer.

My marginal critic