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CHAPTER XVI.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR GREENFIELD.

("BLACK SWAN").

This most noted lady of song, so often called the "Queen of Song," was born in Natchez, Miss., in 1809, and was early taken to Philadelphia and cared for by a Quaker lady, who loved her as fondly as if the two were mother and daughter; and in keeping with this the good lady, who died in 1844, left in her will a legacy to our subject; but somehow Miss Greenfield was deprived of the gift by some decision of the courts. The name (Greenfield) affixed to her name was derived from her faithful friend and guardian. She was always ambitious and apt. She began to receive instructions in music in a family in the neighborhood of Mrs. Greenfield's residence. This was quite astonishing to her guardian, who, however, learning that it was a fact, was well pleased. We quote the following from "Some Highly Musical People," by James M. Trotter:

Previous to the death of this lady, Elizabeth had become distinguished in the limited circle in which she was known for her remarkable powers of voice. Its tender, thrilling tones often lightened the weight of age in one who was, by her, beloved as a mother. By indomitable perseverance she surmounted difficulties almost invincible. At first she taught herself crude accompaniments to her songs and, intuitively perceiving the agreement or disagreement of them, improvised and repeated until there was heard floating upon the air a very lovely song of one that had a pleasant voice, and could play well upon a guitar. In October, 1851, she sang before the Buffalo Musical