Dame Genevieve Ward died last Friday at the age of
85. Her life was one of exceptional romance. She was born in the United States, but from her early girlhood she spent most of her time in Europe. Her training for the operatic stage began when Mme. Sontag, impressed by her voice, introduced her to Rossini. Her early adventures read like a Victorian novel. She was married to a Russian noble before the American Consul at Nice, but her husband failed to appear later for the ceremony at the Russian Church in Paris. When he attempted to marry another woman she obtained the intervention of the Tsar. At the ceremony in 'St. Petersburg she appeared in full mourning, was married, and left immediately with her parents. She never saw her husband again. She made her operatic di but at the Scala in Milan in 1856 in Lucrezia Borgia. Her success as an opera singer was tremendous. In the very height of her power, however, her singing voice gave out. Strangely enough, however, her speaking voice gained that rich quality which is so well remembered by all who have heard her.
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