Again, Homer

In Manhattan last week a parterre box at the Metropolitan Opera House bulged with importance. It held all the Homers, husband, son and daughters of Contralto Louise Homer who that afternoon was not Louise Homer at all but Amneris, Egyptian princess in Verdi's Aida. For the Homers it was a memorable afternoon: for Composer Sidney Homer, her partner in music; for Louise Homer Stires,* herself a singer; for Sidney Homer Jr. and his wife; for the twins, Anne Marie and Katharine, 20, and for Hester Makepeace, 16, who could remember years ago being taken by their nurse to watch the same Egyptian princess; to Joy, 12, who had never in all her life seen her mother "dressed up"; to Louise Homer herself who was singing at the Metropolitan for the first time in eight seasons. For the audience it was just as memorable, for Contralto Homer had lost little of her vocal power and none of the grand manner that projected every little gesture to the furthermost corners of the house.

*Wife of Ernest Milmore Stires Jr., son of Bishop Stires, of Long Island.