Detnerara, December 28, 1888; Surinam, January 7, 1889; French Society, Port an Prince, December 10, 1890; Citizens of Cape Haytien, January 5, 1891, and presented by the President, before whom she sung, a purse of gold of 1900; St. Thomas, January, 1891, four pearls, one emerald, one ruby and one large diamond; G. U. O. Odd Fellows of St. Thomas, January 9, 1891. A medal from the citizens of Grenada is in course of preparation against her return to that island.
Mrs. Jones is an American girl, reared and educated in Providence, R. I. She returned from South America in February last, and has since given five concerts in New York, five in Brooklyn, seven in Baltimore, two in Washington (one in the White House, for the President of the United States, his household, members of the Cabinet and members of the foreign legation), two in Jersey Cit% two in Philadelphia. Invariably the houses have been packed to their fullest capacity. The following press testimonials tell the true story of her wonderful success. The printed reports that Mrs. Jones has sung in Europe, Australia and California are untrue. She is but twenty-four years of age, and has never traveled or been heard anywhere except in Central and South American countries, the West Indies and the American cities above quoted.—J. B. Pond.
The richness of the negro's singing voice has long been recognized, and the belief has been expressed that were such a voice cultivated and trained an artist of exceptional worth would be the result. The only doubt as to the success of such an undertaking has arisen from the fear that the process of schooling the voice might rob it of those natural qualities which lend it a peculiar charm.
A singer appeared in Central Music Hall last night, however, who set at rest all such doubt and confirmed the belief in no slight measure.
The singer was Mrs. Sissieretta Jones, a colored woman, whose work upon the concert stage has won for her the title "The Black Patti." She was heard in the Page's song from "The Huguenots," an aria from "L'Africaine," and as encores "Comin' Thro' the Rye," "Bobo-link Song," "The Cows are in the Clover," and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn."
The first aria sufficed to show that her voice is indeed phenomenal, of extended range, of great volume, and of wonderful richness. The peculiar plaintive quality that is ever present in the negro voice is still there, and it exerted a charm in every number sung by Mrs. Jones last evening.—Chicago Tribune, Friday, January 6, 1893.
