Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-29
q. xq.oJ 1ln39IsiG 0ihU edI
0Rto Statesnal.
One OF Dr.. yerHon.s sforlsa.

DR.. Vernon told some friends recently the
following true story: When I was mana
ger of the Grand Opera in Paris. a man
some fifty years DID,, tall, well built and
handsome, entered my Office. We were scar
cely left alone when he knelt at my feet and ,
saidto mein voice trembling with emotion :r
'Sir, it is in your power to save my honor
and restore peace to my life" was q
good deal puzzled by this commencement,
and asked: "In what way ?'Dq..By engae,4
ing me at the Grand Opera" "Are you a
tenor?" "No, sir" P"A baratone?nfWNo,
sir.ps "a bassg' ssNo, sir.n "Are You n
dancer % II never danced in nv lifeD
"Well, then, ifyou are neither singer nor 4
dancer how can you expeet,me to esgg2ge I
you at the Grand OperaT "As figurant. 4
but upon one absolute condition." ''What
is that obsolute condition ?'' 'sThat shall I,
fill without a rival the parts of pOpes, kings
and emperors.p "Withouta rival?" ''Yes,
sir, musthave the monopoly of these parts; |,
it is the condition sine qua non of my engage 4
ment. l feel that1 owe you some explana- I
tion ofmy request and this stipulation. NV
story Is this: married a woman younger J
than myself, and L adore her as adOred her
on our wedding-day, although we have now
been married about twelve years. l have
discovered for some months past that my
wife's tenderness for me has sensibly cooled. /,
l.
but cannot conceal the fact that my pres
tige is declining. Lam persuaded that were
L to appear before her three times a week, e.
arrayed in gold and purple, covered with
glittering arms, my brow circled with
tiara or crown, my prestige and her love
would be restored. l beg of you, sir, to en-
gage me; satisfy my ambition, give reality Z
to my dream. do not care about salary.
Ihave enough to support me. My life is in
honlc IL rninnt "
a dead man." While he spoke, says DR..
Vernon, big tears cOursed down his cheek.
] could not refuse him; besides we were
then rehearsing Scribe and Halevy's sLa
Juive," and we wanted a man of his size and q
appearance to represent the Pope with dig !
nifty, for his holiness figures in the solemn
procession of the first act of this work.
After few minutes reflection, said to
my visitor, whose heart painted, and whose
sir" "And | may fill the part would
take" ''Yes, will give you a monopoly
of those parts" The words were not out of y
my mouth before he fell on his knees and D
covered my coat-tail with kisses. The fol-
lowing week he made his first appearance
on the stage of the grand opera in Robert
lie Diable;" then he represented lie Prince de
great deal of majesty. He made himself
superb head. He was remarkably hand
SOulc' 1ue luOTnlIS dlLeT Ills Indluen ap-
pearance received through the postoffice
a short note in these words: "Heaven bless
you! She was at the opera last nigh. She
saw me. lave regained the treasure of
hertenderness. lowe my happiness to you.
All my blood is yours. Take it when you
please" Ofcourse didn't take his blood.
Soon after this incident occurred the Cham
Der of Deputies seemed inclined to diminish
the amount of money granted to the Grand
Opera. ] resigned my place as manager.
May he ouHht, before quittedthe Grand ~
Opera, to have recommended in an especial
manner this man to my successor. | con-
fess that neglected this duty. 1t was fa-
tai forgetfulness. When Ireturned from a
longjourney found on my desk second
letter from that person. He wrote to me:
''Sir-1 am the victim of odious cabals.
The new director, not satisfied with taking
from me the part of Pope, which 1 created
with somuch success in La Juive, obliged u
me to appear as one of the mob. She saw me
in my plebeian attire, and feel that herlove
is going to leave me now forever. If your
kindness does not promptly come to my as
sistance allis over with your faithful SER
want" l consulted the date of this letter.
1t was month old. Imade inquiries and
found that a fortnight before my return
the poor fellow was discovered hanging by
the neck, dead, in his chamber. "q.,Ts.. rI