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452 II. EUPHROSYNE PAREPA ROSA.

In the autumn of 1866 the musical public of America wel-^ corned to these shores a richly-gifted and very remarkable musical artist, — Euphrosyne Parepa Rosa. At the begin- ning of her American career she awakened a lively interest. Her talents were seen to be extraordiuary, and her tempera- ment was recognized as uncommonly genial. Time has confirmed that first impression, and lively interest has deep- ened into an affectionate esteem. The story of the artist's life is brief and simple. She was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1839. Her father was a Wallachian nobleman. Baron Georgiades de Boyesku, of Bucharest. Her mother. Miss Seguin, was a sister to the once eminent basso of that name. Their married life lasted but a little while, being terminated by the sudden death of the Baron, whereby his widow, only twenty-one years of age at the time, was left in poverty. To support herself and her infant child, Euphro- syne, the bereaved Baroness shortly afterward adopted the lyric stage as a profession, and presently began the education of her daughter for the same pursuit. This proved a labor of ease as well as of love. In her musical studies the child made rapid progress; and she also acquired, with rare facility, five modern languages, — English, Italian, French, German, and Spanish. At the age of sixteen — in 1855 — she made her first public appearance in opera, in the city of Malta. Aminaf in " Sonuambula," — a customary role of operatic debutantes^ — was the character she then assumed ; and therein she made a marked and promising success. The unusual power and compass of her voice, and the felicitous method of her execution, speedily became themes of praise with European connoisseurs of music. At Naples, Genoa,