Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-12-11
JACQUES WAS MAY.
a rRntA DoNSNs DIFFICULTY.
INan IraneIIcl ITamIllr


fchoarsl 81 "Favniita" and was ono
ofthc down.tr0dden geuiueos who were
engaged 10 sling IN The chorus or Ia
plny small parts. Great artists stood
around obeyiug his directions, and
vhnt rare collection they wer,i An.
tonic Galnssi Of the mighty voice and
frame Of gladiator; Scalchi, Rnldini
the tenor; Repetto, the prima donna;
Gore, tue conductor from La Scala, and
others Whose names forgot, and last
aud very least, myself. who Fang sec
ord tenor for s. performance. When
hear the grnwis OF "comic opera" IN
tbla city, ii makes me wlsh for the
time when was dead broke IN Girls
co.., and privileged TO listen 10 the
voices Of great aftistes.
Down the stage near tho right hand
box sat my friend aud room.mate,
Jacques Mentor - another s5'a-pcr-
formance artist. lie was absorbed In
the music, which he followed from a
vocal score. Poor Jscquesl He was
forgetting his hunger In DonizettPe
wondfous strains, Ter ] believe lao hni
not tasted food TINT day and II was
then well on In the afternoon. As
looked At Jacques somehow felt far
e1rrier for him than did for myself.
Ills clothes were thIeaibsre, his socks
poepcd out from the holes In his shoes,
and his face was very sad and white.
But now there fell y strange, sweet OK.
preston upon it-an expression OF n
great peace. II struck me ut the time
That perhaps Donizstti's spirit spoke
toothingly 10 him IN tbs music, for
Donifet,i had also suffered.
Jacques was strange sort OF fellow;
he had come over the seas toSan Fran
cisco A. n common sailor, whence no
onu knew or cared. or COURSE | cared,
but had sense enough not 10 ask
questions. lie was thorough mus.
clan and well educated in every way.
1 think there was Russian blood In
him, for he had that implacnble brow
that goes with Russians OF high caste;
brsides he was a llngul.t. His face
was Of the strongest have ever seen,
and his oycs were blue and piercing.
Decidedly he was man who would be
let alone Ia the toughest ninlng camp
ia the world, for, added TO the look la
his eyes, he possessed n frame that was
tough ~ wildcats. (5ailoring either
toughens or kills q mani But, how
ever, there he sat, absorbed In the
score, and oblivlous to everything bat
the music.
CampAnini had given the part OF
Iuez to Cariotti NatRlli. She had Just
finished her education In Milan and
was visiting San Francisco with her
father. Her voice WAS superb aud she
showed great art In using 10, but she
was very nervous. suppose Il was on
account Of singing with such big artists.
Anyway Inez II mn awkward part. To
heighten her nervousness Kate Mar
chi from the Tivoli sat in the audi
torium ready 10 take her part ut n
moments notice. She had played tho
part before and Campanlni had On.
gagged her In case OF accident, Nc Ma
tall had been very shsky nj rehrarsals.
i watched Natal very closely, more
out OF curiosity than sympathy, for I
felt too hungry 10 bs sympathetic with
any one but Jacques.
She was a small, woll-formed girl,
with big. expressive gray eyes. They
wefr shout 10 commence the act Tor
the third timo because she missed her
cues, and tears stood In her uyes--iOr
she felt sure that the part would be
taken away from her. Looking around
fell upon the nhaorbed JACQUES. He
was Ia the act OF turning bark the
leaves OF his score 10 the beginning Of
the act. with the sudden intuition Of
woman In trouble she walked quick.
ly to bis side.
ooh" said she looking at him quick
ly and appealing, "they are commence
ing the third act again on my account,
and | sec by tho way that you read
the score that you are n musician
won't you give me my cuer | am NO
nervous aud confused and | think
Campanini IL going to take the part
away from me-"
Jacques looked up In a quick, sur
pflsed way. His face underwent n
curious change. Tbs appeal In the
womsn's voice banished IL sailor hard.
Epsa from 1t a. II by magic. think II
must have been years since q woman
had spoken 10 him In such a way. He
smiled. l WAS astounded for | had
never seen him smile before. His face
was radiant-bcauti'ul. Natal took
courage AS she looked ut him; Instinct
lively she moved closer.
"What Iart 10 you play9" he asked
quietly. lie hadn't oven noticed who
played tho parts. Then lao looked
down at her feet. Tho corner Of nj.
mouth turned up with lust the falntsst
trace Of mischief. Pour lad! his
hunger had completely vanished now.
"SOu viii pardon me-" he con
tinued irrolevantly, "but you have
very small feet"
She SMILED. Women general y
smile Mt such moments. al play
lnez," she answered. with a quick ~.
Humlng Of her troubles. 81 am pnf.
feet Ia II, but am No nervous that Il
has nil gone out ~ my hend-Gorc
frightens me 40. Wont you give me
my cues and prompt me2"
"Cortainly," answered jacques and
he arose,
A. he stood Tor an instant by Ma.
tali's side, I couldn't help tniuking he
WA man OF whom any wOma n
might have been proud. Tue music
Of the act was by this time we'll under
way "Stav hCre," he said, "till 1
Ind the iance ffon tho conductor"
ia cquts atrode up 90 GUu'd desk,
rasHn. between 5'alchi and Cam
painful. Scalchi looked ~ him curl
Cusly,
"rardon, monsieur" ho said, look,
Ing over the conductor's tAoul4sr ami
finding tho place.
IN snr1d at him, Woudeiing, ] up
pose, at hls nerve. But Jhcqurs Aitsa
moment looked like e man who oYuiI
move mountains, GAlafsi glance IA
MIN odm,glugy.
Wps on right" no said, comi..
hack 20 Natal; "you'ro ssf-; Iili plf
sou through"