Mara, Gertrude Elisabeth

MARA, Gertrude Elisabeth, one of the greatest singers of the last century, was born at Cassel, Feb. 23, 1749. Her mother died soon after the birth of this child, and her father, a poor musician, named Schmeling, is said to have adopted the plan of securing his little daughter in an armchair, while he attended to his affairs. From this cause, it appears, she fell into a rickety state, from which it was long ere she recovered, if indeed she ever...