Visiting card Hermine (Erminia) Rudersdorff; musical quotation and autograph

Visiting card of Erminia Rudersdorff. At the back of the card (dated June 1872) is written a musical quotation with her autograph. The quotation comes from the song "Homage to Columbia". Mme. Rudersdorff created this song for her Jubilee appearances in 1872. Music composed, words written and sung by Erminia Rudersdorff:

Homage to Columbia

Hail Columbia ! Glorious State !
Powerful art thou and great !
All their best gifts, heav'n and earth,
Show'r'd upon thee at thy birth.
Wheresoe'er thy banner flies,
Riches grow and honors rise,
Arts and science find a home,
O'er all seas thy traders roam.
Then ! Hail Columbia ! Glorious State !
Powerful art thou and great !
Thou so young in all but fame,
Far-spread is thy mighty name;
In the senate, in the field,
Ne'er has thou the palm to yield.
Gentle, true, thy maidens fair,
Brave thy men beyond compare.
"Ever forward !" Is thy cry,
Leading thee to victory !
Then ! Hail Columbia ! Glorious State !
Powerful art thou and great !

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