Portraits of Celebrities at Different Times of their Lives.
MISS MAUD VALÉRIE WHITE.
ISS MAUD VALÉRIE WHITE was born at Dieppe during a visit of her parents to Europe from Valparaiso. Her progenitors, however, were English; her grandfather on the mother's side being a naval officer, who had the distinction of serving with Nelson on board the Victory, at Trafalgar, in which engagement he was wounded. When in her teens, Miss White took up her residence in England, and received her first instruction in music from Mr. W. S. Rockstro and from Mr. Oliver May. In 1876 she entered the Royal Academy of Music as a student, studying for composition under the late Sir G. A. Macfarren. 1879 she gained the Mendelssohn Scholarship, the committee of which decided that she should continue her studies at the Academy. But it was Mr. Charles Santley who first revealed to the public her very remarkable talents, for, having one day been prevailed upon to look at a setting of her's in the Academy, he was so impressed with the beauty and originality of it, that he sang it in public, and made of it a splendid success. The name of this song was "Montrose's Love Song." Mr. Santley also brought the musical public in contact with two of her most effective and successful efforts, viz., "The Devout Lover" and "Absent Yet Present." Miss White is a highly accomplished linguist, and hers is a familiar face, as an accompanist, at important concerts. Her latest song, written especially for this Magazine, will be found in the preceding pages.
