GERTRUDE FRANKLIN.
FRANKLIN, Miss Gertrude [Virginia H. Beatty], singer and musical educator, born in Baltimore, Md., of a wealthy and aristocratic family. She is a granddaughter of the late James
Beatty, the millionaire, of Baltimore, and is also closely related to some of the oldest Maryland families. Miss Franklin early manifested musical gifts of an uncommon order, and while still young her education in music was begun. She soon gave promise of In-coming a pianist of the first rank, but her tastes ran rather in a vocal than an instrumental direction, and, at the age of thirteen, prompted by her natural impulses and by the possession of a voice of sweetness and purity, she devoted her attention to singing. After pursuing her studies for a time in this country, she was at length induced by Signor Agramonte, with whom she had been studying, to go to Europe to complete her musical education. She went to London and became a pupil of Shakespeare, and then to Paris for two years, where she became a pupil of Madame Lagrange. She also studied with Professor Barbot, of the Conservatoire. Before leaving Paris. Miss Franklin appeared in a concert in the Salle Erard and achieved a flattering success, which was emphasized by immediate offers of concert engagements, and an offer from the Italian opera management for a season of opera. Miss Franklin was in haste to reach London, when she made arrangements to study oratorio and English ballad music under Randegger, who was so pleased with her voice and method that he besought her to remain and make a career in England. Eager to return home after her prolonged absence, she declined that, and also an offer from Carl Rosa to join his English Opera Company. After her return to America she took an extended course of study under Madame Rudersdorff for oratorio and the more serious range of classical Concert music. Miss Franklin his appeared in New York, Boston and Brooklyn in symphony concerts, and in classical and other concerts tn most of the leading cities in America with success. She has also sung with marked favor in London and Paris, where her artistic worth is perhaps still more appreciated than it is in her own country. Miss Franklin is in constant receipt of offers for opera and concert tours in Europe and America, but she objects to the fatigue and excitement of travel and does not appear before the public as often as she otherwise would. Being financially independent, she prefers the quiet of home and occasional appearances in important concerts. Miss Franklin is fully as successful as a teacher, as she has been as a singer.