of their talents and instructed them as well as he could. Before they were twelve years of age they were noted as vocalists throughout their neighborhood. They appeared frequently in Morris and surrounding villages and cities in concert work, and they soon attracted the attention of traveling managers, one of whom succeeded in securing them for a tour of the western cities to sing in character duets. The older sister was of delicate constitution and died soon after that engagement was made. Jessie Bartlett then went to Chicago in search of fame and fortune, and was engaged by Caroline Richings. with whom she traveled one season. She was ambitious to perfect herself in her profession, and she soon returned to Chicago and devoted herself to the study of music, and at the same time held a good position in a church choir. During the "Pinafore" craze Manager Haverly persuaded her to become a member of his original Chicago Church Choir Company, and she assumed the role of Butter-cup. That was the beginning of her career as an opera singer. Since that time, through her perseverance and indefatigable efforts, aided by her attractive personality, she has steadily progressed in her art, until she is one of the leading contralto singers of the United States. Her histrionic powers are not in the least inferior to her vocal ability. She is one of the best actors among the singers now on the American stage. She made her debut in grand opera in New York City with Adelina Patti and the Mapleson Opera Company. Adelina Patti sang Marguerite and Je>sie Bartlett Davis sang Siebel. Other grand operas in wiiirh she has won distinction are "The Huguenots," "Martha," "The Merry Wives of Windsor," "Il Trovatore," "Dinorah" and others. In comic opera she 009 probably a
JENNIE BARTLETT DAVIS.
more complete repertoire than any other singer now before the public. For the last four years she has been the leading contralto of the Bostonians. Jessie Bartlett became the wife of William J. Davis, a Chicago theatrical manager, in 1880. Her home is in Chicago, with a summer residence in Crown Point, Ind. Mr. Davis owns an extensive stock farm at that place. Her home life is very pleasant, and she divides hef time into eight months of singing and four months of enjoying life in her city home or on the larm in Indiana. She is the mother of one son. eight years of age. Besides her musical and histrionic talents, Mrs. Davis has decided literary gifts. She is the author of "Only a Chorus Girl " and other attractive stories and a number of poems. She has composed the music for several songs.
DAVIS, Miss Minnie S., author and mental scientist, born in Baltimore, Md., 25th March, 1835. Her parents, Rev. S. A. and Mary Partridge Davis, were natives of Vermont, but moved to Baltimore soon after their marriage. In that city Mr. Davis was one of the earlier Univeisalist ministers. When about six years of age, Minnie was thrown from a carriage and one of the wheels passed across her back. The shock of that accident was afterwards supposed to be the cause of frequent illness and great delicacy of health. These circumstances kept the child by the mother's side, and the close companionship had a marked influence upon her future life, for the gifted mother became her constant instructor until her death in 1848. When seventeen years of age, Minnie entered the Cireen Mountain Institute, Woodstock, Vt When she was eighteen, she had completed a book, " Clinton Forest," which was afterwards well received by the public. Miss Davis spent a year as a teacher. Writing claimed her attention, and soon "Marion Lester, another book, and perhaps her strongest and best was ready for the press, and was published in 1856. Three years later " Clinton Forest" was published, and later "Rosalie." She had been a frequent contributor to the "Trumpet," "Christian Freeman" and local papers, and a regular contributor to the "Ladies' Repository."
