Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-08-03

tion with Willard after the performances as to the operas In which he could best utilize the alent of his new acquisition. "Romeo, with such face,n he said, .'is 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 a | 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 Riop"
 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 ater for the purpose of experimenting certain trifiing alterations in the scenic arrangements of "Guillaume Tel," which was to be played again on the en- suing evening. A few minutes before eleven the artists summoned to attend excessively made their appearance, with one notable xception-namely, Durand, whose presence as the princi- pal figure in an important scene was in- dispensable.
 'Send round to his lodgings" ex- claimed Latigues, annoyed at so fragrant breach of discipline, 'and let him know we are waiting for him."
 He had scarcely issued the order, when the entrance of a middle-aged fe- male, the portress of the theater, ac- companied by strong odor ot garlic, attracted his attention. What is itP" he impatiently inquired.
 "A letter, to be delivered into Mon sieur's own hands," replied Mime. Ger berus, suiting the action to the word.
 Hastily opening the envelope, and glancing at one of the two papers 1t 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. '1f 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 1 can it meanpn Then, unfolding the second paper and carefully smoothing 1 it out on the table, he read as follows: DEAR MONSIEUR LARTIGUEs: When you re- ceive this shall have left Vieilleville-rather 1 unceremoniously, you will say, but under she l circumstances unavoidably. Jacques Dursnds 1 dramatic career began and ended last night; l the Arnold of ''Guilaume Tell" resumes his 1 own name and profession, and were you again l to meet him you would assuredly fail to recog- 1 nize him. Let me explain. While attached to ] Hha Eo,Ao ' Aa1I --Y l occasionally profte by the possession of 1 tolersble tenor voice to join a company of anna teurs in the habit of organizing operatie per formanees for the benefit of local charities, and i on my return to France found that my reputa- tion as q singer had preceded me thither. An l eccentric acquaintance of well-known sporting | propsnsities came to me one day and proposed 1 the following singular wager. He offered to bet me fifty thousand francs to five thousand l that within six months would not undertake | to sing first tenor part in an opera st a lead 1 ing provincial theater without being hissed, as l suming whatever name he might choose, andSo 1 disguising my personal appearance as to rem
 der myself as repulsive as possible Trusting | that my voice might carry me safely through the ordeal, and tempted by the liberal odds at 1 stake I consented and, after deVotinR three l months to the study of half a dozen parts, suc-
 eeeded through the medium of the agent, CO 1 1onbat in obtaining 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
 me to request your acceptance of the enclosed
 check, with my best wishes for the prosperity
 of your theater.
 ! GAsroN DE BLONvAI.
 Ex-attache to the Embassy Rt Rio Jsneiro.
 "Sao papter?" exclaimed Larugues,
 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 fdrceur 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 fall back on comedy until one
 turns up. Baqasse! If the story of the
 bet gets wind, shall be the laughing
 stock of the townm
 Somehow or other-as Is generally the case-the story did get wind, and tht
 unfortunate managers prediction wal fully realized. Moreover, the Fron . deurs, furious at having been, as the,
 indignantly expressed it, duped by al F amateur, unanimously resolved tt make 1t hot for any future candidate 7 for the vacant post of tenor; and judg f ing from the frequency of NJ. Lartigue'
 applications to Colombat x Co. 10 l specimens of the rard aUtS in question 1 it is presumable that they kept thei
 word. Charles HerUey, ts Belgrattd. 
 Tho time of thinking has been esti , mated, with some interesting results: