TWO SIMS IN ONE HEMISPHERE.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1064, 22 March 1882, Page 2

TWO SIMS IN ONE HEMISPHERE.

It was in 1847 that Jenny and Giulia Grisi were singing in London, but at different places. Each star struggled to outvie the other, and those who one evening went into ecstacies over Grisi were the next evening enraptured with Lind. Such was the rivalry that it was not expected that they would sing together at a public concert The Queen cordially welcomed them together for the first time. She then gave the signal for the concert to begin. At Jenny Lind was the younger of the two it had been arranged that she should sing first With perfect confidence in her powers, she stepped forward and began. But, chancing to glance at Grisi, she saw the southron's malignant gaze fastened upon her. The fierceness of her'feok almost paralysed her. Her courage left her, her voice trembled, and everybefore her eyes darkened. She became so faint that she nearly fell By the utmost exertion of her will, however, she succeeded in finishing her aria. The painful silence that finished its conclusion — a silence ever noticeable where those present are embarrassed — convinced her she had made a failure. The conviction was confirmed by the triumphant expression of GrisTa countenance. Despite the semi-torpidty of her senses, she realised that the failure meant lost glory, the destruction of her happiness, and the mortification and grief of her parents and friends, Suddenly something — it seemed like a voice from heaven — whispered " Sing one of the old songs in your mother tongue." She caught at the idea as an inspiration which had flashed into her mind between the termination of the vocal part of the aria and the accompanist's final chords. She, unknown by the company, asked him to rise and took the vacant seat For a* few seconds she suffered her fingers to wander over the keys in a low prelude ; then she she began to sing. Her selection was a little prayer, which in the long ago she had loved above all other songs in her childhood's repertoire* She had not thought of it for years. As she sung she was no longer in the presence of royalty, but in her fatherland surrounded by those who listened not to criticise. Not one of those before her understood the words of the " prayer," but the plaintiveness of the melody and the inspired tones of the pure, sweet voice brought the moisture to every eye. There was the silence — of admiring wonder. When, having finished the "prayer,' she lifted her mild, blue eyes to her rival, whose flaming orbs had so discomforted her, she found no fierce expression on her countenance, but instead, a tear diamonding the long black eyelashes. A moment after the impulsiveness characterising the children of the tropics, Grisi rushed to Jenny land's side, placed her arms round the girl's neck, and kissed her, regardless of the lookerson.