Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-08
WANTED, A TENOR.


engagements 70 replace those OF tnc.I
actors who have either voluntarily left
them or have been dismissed as not
satisfying tho requirements OF tho local
pablic. On a certain morning about
ten days previous to the Pascnsi
eolemnities few years ago III.
Colombat the head of q weil-known
firm OF dramatic correspondents, was SIT
ting in nm inner room of his Office In the
Rue Montorgueil. and pnrusing. with
the aid of confidential clerk. the letters
that had arrived by the early post. There
we're at least twenty OF them, bearing the
postmarks OF various provincial towns /;
and as each was opened in its turn and
the wants OF the different wrKers ascer-
tanned the agent referred to his books in
order to see which of them be was in a
position TO supply.
"Another tenor for Vieilleville." he
said, with dry chuckle betokening sat
isfaction "that makes the third IN less
than six months. Difficult people to
please. the subscribers down there.
Tiault," be continued, addressing the
clerk, "what have we got likely to SUIT!
] can't call 10 mind a single one.
Nm fol, Monsieur, replied the lat
ter, after moments pause, "nor i. If
il were q baritone or a bass we could
accommodate thom easily enough but
tenor Stay" he exclaimed, "there
is the man from Rio Janeiro, who was
here last week, and wanted o thousand
francs month.
"He won't get that" said NJ. Colon
bat "Iartigues never gives more than
500. Did you take his name and adj
dress?"
al did, answered Visuit, glancing alta
ledger before him: "Jacques Durand,
Passage Cendrie, IL. Shall | send and
tell him 10 call :?
"Do so and if he accepts I can write
TO Lartigues by to-night's post. If re-
member rightly this Durand is queer
looking customer. moro like 'trd,trc dc
gnctodrams than tenor. However, II
IL does not happen to fit it is no affair OF
mine, and may rs well pocket the COM
mission as any ono else. y .
II may safely be presumed that the
negotiations between the agent and the
candidate for tho vacant post at Vieile-
vile were satisfactorily concluded, for
five or six DAYS later Jacques Durand
reached his destination and proceeded
nj once TO report his arrival to the man
ager. At the sight of the newcomer NJ.
I.artigues, who was engaged in calcu-
lating the amount of profit and loss
during the foregoing season, the result
70 oil appearance being the reverse OF
agreeable, gave an involuntary start.
from de Dion ," he muttered ;
"what IN Orsini for the Tour de
Nesle T." Then. recollectIng himself
and addressing his visitor: "Do you
wish 10 see me on business ?" he In
quired.
"A mere matter OF form, Monsieur,
was the reply. "Allow me to introduce
mvself-JacGues Durand, just arrived at
Vieilleville. and entirely at your service.
"Jacoucs Durand /" echoed the mana
ger. staring incredulouslya at the speaker
mot the tenor engaged by Colombat "
1.-The same
Impossible !" cried Lartieues, evil
denty Mortified by the unprepossessing
aspect of the oliye-featured, beetle
proved individual before him. 81 ex-
pected something very different, in
short"
"Better looking" coolly interrupted
the new recruit "No doubt, but you
might have done worse / was very
popular at Rio
"Rio isn't Vieilleville," impatiently
retorted the manager, "as you will find
out before you are many days older.
4I.oA m Mnn6QU
and that You are cast for Arnold IN
'Guillaume Tell 2"
"Suits me perfectly. 1t is favorite
part of mine"
"lndeedl" said Lartigues, in by o
no-means confident tone. "Well, if
were you ] wouldn't be too sanguine.
Our public is apt 10 be nasty at times. "
81 will run my chance of that, care
Jessly replied Durand. "When do We
rehearse
"On Saturday at IL. And as !
suppose you will be looking for lodgings
] recommend you, in case of accidents,
only to take them by the week."
Left to his own meditations. the i'm
presario, after heartily devoting Colon
bat 10 the internal regions, summoned
his stage manager, and confided to that
functionary with much meridional gestl'
culation his Disappointing interview with
the tenor from Rio.
"He is absolutely hideous, Millard,
with cut-throat face like Communard
of II, the sort of fellow one wouldn't
care to meet after dark. What on earth
is TO be done? We can't put off the
opening or change the performance, for
the Frondeurs Club insists on an opera,
and we have no other ready. There is
no help for it /; We must try him."
"Aiter ell" said Willard, there il
one consolation. II no fails you are moi
bound,to pay him his month.
"lS," replied Lartisues, Frightening
up a little at the recql lection. 81 al
ways have that clause erted in my en-
gagements, and in his Case if, as | ina
CINE, his manage is on par with his
splumage, failure is foregone conclu
sion"
The Saturday rehearsal proved very
lame affair, the new singer, on the pies
OF. sudden boarseness, declaring him
self incapable OF any vocal exertion, ano
merely humming the airs and concerted
music OF his part. His appearance, more
over, tended rather to parslyze than
stimulate the efforts of the lady artists
Nine. st. Ange cher real name was
Cbifliardl, who personated Mathilde,
affirming in whisper TO Gesslel
that he distinctly reminded her Of
the monster in Frankenstein as per-
formed by Signor Cleric Beneni-atias
Clair Benie--at the Porte Saint Martin.
The result, indeed, OF this preliminary
essay was so unpromising that the mana
ger, more than ever convinced OF theim
pending fiasco bethought himselfregre
fully Of the cost OF the new scenery and
dresses which, on the "sprat-t to catch.a
herring principle, he had layished on the
revival OF Rossini's masterpiece. and IN
yoked fresh instalment Of maledictloni
on the offending Colombat.
Easter Monday came at last, and at al
early hour in the afternoon the approach
10 the theatre was throDged by dense
multitude of holiday-makers from al
parts OF the city impatiently awaiting