The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-04-03

End sale, unless they are Battered por~
trSits-xud there are too'rBsny old COM
pOsers whose works can be pilfered, for
young ones to have any CHAR CO OF success.
Poor ElieEarl There he sxt, hour after
hour, his head resting OF his hazds, his
eyes fxed, and the pallor of melancholy
vsiling his oountensnces At last, an idea
struck him. Why could he not sing in
Oper&f
As luck would have Il the manager OF
the Toulouse epers house was then In
Paris, searching for s tenor singer.
EIiezsr was presented to him-ssng a
few airs-snd in an hours time signed
an engagement whick guaranteed him
a handsome income. Two days more,
and he was at the scene of his anticipated
triumph. where he it1medisteiy began
to study and rehearse, Possessing hne
vsice and good knowledge Of music, ne
made rapid progress, and was soon an
neunced il the papers es a vocal prodigy
who would eclipse the famous Duprez
himself At last the evening cs0e for
his debsa. The hsuse wss packed from
pit to dome, brilliant toilettes grscing
the aristocratic boxegs while the stu
dents crowded the pit. Many fair lands
carried bouquets, and L was evident that
the debutomt would NEST with fattering
reception.
Up rose hercurtaiR, and Eliezsr sp-
peared. Loud applause greeted him,
and he advanced with easy confidence to
the front of the stage; but not sound
escaped his lips. In vain did the leader
of the orchestra, with violin bow up
raised, wait the first note OF his voice,
that he might accompany him. Not q
sound was heard; and the public, at
first curious, soon grew impatient. Kisses,
grosns and other signs of dissatisfaction
rang through the house; and at last the
curtain fell. Managers, actors and nna-
chinists focked around the debutdnt, and
demanded the cause of his extraordinary
silence.
The audience was indignant, and
among q volley of boots and cries was
heard the question 4" is he dumbf"
Mol The manager came before the
curtain and announced that he had lost
his hearing. Whereupon the public
retired, receiving their money at the
door.
Alas, it was too true. Eliezsr de
BliFels was deaf. All his dreams OF
vocal fame had vanished, and refusing a
collection which the actors had made Tor
him, he set out on foot for the capital,
almost hoping that some sccident would
deprive him of life. He hsd but pit
lance left, and MS misfortune was bar
rieI to all employments. One afternoon,
after lenG walk, he sat down before
village ale house and began to sing. The
peasants gathered around him, and some
threw coppers into his hat. Eliezar de
Blivels. the great artist, who had squan-
dered so much gold, picked up the copc
pers and pocketed them with thanks.
Thus he made his way to Paris, sing
ing in the evenings st the little hamlets
where he halted, and receiving the pitt
full aims which the public pity sccords to
minstrels. Once within sight
Of the capital, however, he took courage.
Paris is the city of catastrophes and of
good fortunes-Of revolutions, happy or
1nhSppy-snd it is there that one may
De seen rolling along in an elegant car
,isge, who that evening before had not |
whole pair of boots to walk in, or vice
versa. On entering the gates of the
the wandering vocalist took |
lesrt, and he hoped he might become 8
to an spothecary or measurer
% q wood merchant.
Passing down Odecn square, he saw a
arge man, dressed in black, who was
about to write upon the wall with
norsel of chalk. Watching the I'M
Known, he saw him write-and with ia.
;reasing establishment as each 81 ccessive
etter was formed: "Eliezar de Blivels
s heartless."
UtteriDg cry of rage, he rushed for.
ward and seized the writer quickly by
he shoulders. The unknown turned
iercely around, shook of his grasp, and
to the wall, used bis cane to
ward off any further attack. Then, with
N air Of derision, he pulled out a card,
md offered it with his left hand. Eliezsr
ccepted it, and the unknown vanished
The artist, left alone before the in
cription, endeavored to etface it, but it
ain. The more he rubbed, the more
Instinct the white letters stood out upon
he wall, and soon a crowd collected
round him. Some recognized him, and
egsn to shout in derisive TONES: "Elie-
ar de Blivels is hesrtless.' He was
breed st last to deslst, and to escape
rom his termentors.
At sunrise the next day two men
TODD face to face, in the wood of Vim
ennes, nesr Paris. Each one was armed
nth two pistols, and there were no
econds. Vsinly had Eliezar sought to
btain an explsnation-the unknown
emained as glacial and mute as fatality.
The duelists placed themselves forty