BEAUTY SACRIFICED FOR ART.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3613, 28 August 1912, Page 8

BEAUTY SACRIFICED FOR ART.

THE HANDICAP OF A SMALL MOUTH. Minie Saltzmann, a. talented young German singer, deserves- to make a name in the world, as she voluntarily sacrificed her beauty for the sake of art. Three years ago she was fortunate enough to make the acquaintance of the celebrated singer, Jean do Reszke, who was struck with the fine quality of her voice. He offered to teach her for nothing, and tokl her that she would one day lie famous. Unfortunately, her mouth was too small to emit a sufficient volume of sound for certain notes, and she began to despair of ever becoming a great singer. But- her master found a way out of the- difficulty. “Change the shape of your mouth,” ho said, “make it larger : a glorious name is well worth the sacrifice of one’s beauty.” After some natural hesitation, which every woman will understand, Minie Saltzmann decided to take his advice. Every morning she conscientiously performed the following strange and painful exercises: Placing her two little fingers at each extremity of her mouth, she pulled the skin gently but firmly towards the cheeks, and continued this movement, with intervals fur rest, for an hour. This was to increase the width of the mouth. After this she pulled her lower lip down towards tho chin, and her upper lip towards her nose. After a few months of this treatment, her tiny mouth was completely transformed. But she does not regret the loss of her beauty, as she is now one of the most popular opera singers in German v.