St. Landry democrat., 1888-08-04

their ki6 gloves with condescendine
urbanity; Camoufet, the wit of the
party, alone venturing to whisper with
reference to Durand's evident inexpe-
rience as an actor: "Vox ct prateres
nihilp'
Lartigues, as may be imagined, was
in ecstasies, and held serious consulta-
ton with Willard after the performance
as to the operas in which he could best
utilize the talent of his new acquisition.
Romeo, with such face he said, lis
of course impossible, and SO is Faust:
but he would make a capital Eleazar in
the 'Juive, and a first-rate Othello. He
can't have been long on the stage, for
worse stick of an actor | never saw; but
with a voice like that one mustn't be
| too particular. Who would ever have
thought they had any thing of the kind
at Rio?'
Next morning the manager, still med
itating on the advantages to be derived
from the engagement of the ugly
TENOR" arrived in good time at the the
alter for the purpose of experimenting
| certain trifling alterations in the scenic.
arrangements of ''Guillaume Tell"
which was to be played again on the en-
suing evening. A few minutes before
| eleven the artists summoned to attend
successfully made their appearance,
| with one notable exception-namely,
Durand, whose presence as the prinel-
pal figure in an important scene was in
dispensable.
"Send round to his lodgings" ex-
claimed Latigues, annoyed at so fragrant
a breach of discipline, land let him
know we are waiting for him."
He had scarcely issued the order,
when the entrance of a middle-aged fe-
male, the FORTRESS of the theater, ac-
companied by strong odor of garlic,
attracted his attention. ''What is it?"
he impatiently inquired.
"A letter, to be delivered into Mon
sieur's own hands," replied Nine. Ger
berus, suiting the action to the word.
Hastily opening the envelope, and
glancing at one of the two papers it
contained, the manager, evidently not
little astonished, announced that an
unexpected matter of business would
prevent his being present at the re-
hearsal. ''You can do without me-" he
said to Willard. IF you want any
thing, you will find me in my room"
"a check for five thousand francs!"
he muttered to himself when he had
reached his sanctum. ''What ON earth
can it mean?" Then, unfolding the
second paper and carefully smoothing
it out on the table, he read as follows.
DEAR MONSIEUR LARTIGUEs: When you re
ceive this shall have left VieilleVilie-rather
unceremoniousiy, you Will say, but under the
circumstances unavoidably. Jacques Durand's
dramatic career began and ended last night;
the Arnold OF ''Guillaume Tell resumes his
own name and profession, and were you again
to meet him you would assuredy fail to recOg-
nize him. Let me explain. While attached to
the Embassy at Rio-for 1 really acds there-I
occasionally profile by the possession Of a
tolerable tenor voice to join company OF anna
teurs in the habit of organizing operate per-
formances for the benefit of local charities, and
on my return to France found that my reputa-
ton as singer had preceded me thither. An
eccentric acquaintance of well-known sporting
propensities came to me one day and proposed
the following singular wager. He offered to
bet me fifty thousand francs to five thousand
that within six months I would not undertake
to sing first tenor part in an opera at lead
ing provincial theater without being Kissed, as
Stunning whatever name he might choose, and so
Disgusting my personal appearance as to rem
der myself as repulsve as possible. Trusting
that my voice might carry me safely through
the ordeal, and tempted by the liberal odds at
stake, consented and, after deyoting three
months to the study Of half dozen parts, sue
ceeded through the medium CT the agent, Co
lombat. in obtaining an engagement at Viellle
vile, with what result you already know. My
friend, who took care to be present at my
debut acknowledged that the bet was fairly
won; and, as you are justly entitled to some
compensation for my abrupt departure, permit
check, with my best wishes for the prosperity
Of your theater
CASTOR DE BLoNvAL.
Ex-attache to the Embassy at Rio Janeiro.
''Sac a lapier?" exclaimed Lartigues,
throwing down the letter in disgust.
'.Another chance slipped through my
fingers, and one / am not likely to see
again. Deduct five thousand francs
from fifty thousand this farceur was
worth to me; total, a dead loss of forty
five thousand. Nothing to be done but
to wire to Colombat for a substitute,
and to fail back on comedy until one
turns up. Bagasse! if the story of the |
bet gets wind, | shall be the laughing |
stock of the town.
Somehow or other-as is generally the |
case-the story did get wind, and the |
unfortunate managers prediction was
fully realized. Moreover, the From
deurs, furious at having been, as they |
Indignantly expressed it, duped by an
amateur, unanimously resolved to
'make it hot" for any future candidate
for the vacant post of tenor; and judg
ing from the frequency of NJ. Lartigue's
to Colombat & Co. for
specimens of the rara avis in question.
it is presumable that they kept their
word. Charles Hervey, IN Belsravia.
A new enterprise in British Column
bia has in view training young men
sent out from England to draw a