Page:Woman of the Century.djvu/610

Rh the summer of 1889 she began to write a romance, entirely for self-amusement, with never a thought of publication. She kept her work a secret till its completion, and then she laughingly gave it to her

mother for criticism. Her parents insisted on publication, but Mrs. Réno declined. Finally her ather won her consent to submit her manuscnpt to his friend, Hon. Henry Watterson, and to abide by his decision. Mr. Watterson read and pronounced it "a genuine southern love story, full of the fragrance of southern flowers and instinct with the rich, warm blood of southern youth." He gave the young author some letters to eastern publishers, and her first novel, "Miss Breckenridge, a Daughter of Dixie" (Philadelphia, 1890), was published. It proved successful, and within a few months it had passed through five editions. Her second book, "An Exceptional Case" (Philadelphia, 1891), is one of great force and power, and it has also proved a success. Mrs. Reno lives in luxurious surroundings in a sumptuous home on Capitol Hill. She will henceforth devote her life to literature.

RHODES, Mrs. Laura Andrews, musician and opera singer, born in Casey, Ill., 1st October, 1854. She is the second oldest daughter of Rev. J. R. and Delilah Andrews, the parents of the Andrews family, of which the well-known Andrews Opera Company is mainly composed.

She possesses in a remarkable degree the musical ability which is the heritage of the Andrews family. She has a lyric soprano voice of great purity, richness and compass Among her instructors were Prof. W. N. Burritt, of Chicago, Prof. Lowenthal, of the Paris Conservatory, and Madam Corani, of the Conservatory of Milan. She began her stage career with the Andrews Concert Company at the age of seventeen. Soon after, she became the wife of F. B. Rhodes, a druggist, who, at one of their entertainments, became enamored of her voire and speedily thereafter of herself. They were married within six months after the first meeting. Since their marriage Mr. Rhodes has been connected with the opera company from time to time as business manager. When, a few years later, the Andrews family organized as the Andrews Swiss Bell Ringers, Mrs. Rhodes was the soprano bell ringer, becoming famous in that capacity. When the present Andrews Opera Company was organized. Mrs. Rhodes took the leading rdles ana for years was their prima donna, scoring success every- where and winning applause in nearly every State in the Union. In 1890 the constant strain of daily singing and the weariness of incessant travel brought on a severe attack of nervous prostration, from which she made a very tardy recovery. Although thus compelled to abandon the stage for a time, she has not been idle, but has been busily engaged in vocal teaching and in special solo work in the various Chautauqua assemblies of the Northwest

RICE, Mrs. Alice May Bates, soprano singer, born in Boston, Mass., 14th September, 1868. Her parents were both well known in the musical profession, and her ancestors on both sides were musical for a number of generations. Mrs. Rice's father possessed a baritone voice of rare quality and held positions in quartette choirs, musical societies and clubs in and around Boston, until a few years before his death, in 1886. Her mother was a thoroughly cultured and earnest teacher of music. Mrs. Rice was nurtured in an atmosphere of music and was a singer by birth as well as by tuition. Her d£but in Chickering Hall, Boston, in September, 18S3, was a brilliant event During her first season she appeared in several operas, which Charles R. Adams, with whom she studied rendition, brought out, assuming the prima donna roles in "Martha." "Figaro," "Maritana," "La Sonnambula," "La Fille du Regiment,"