The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-15
MAXEPP'SDAUGHTER


Epp was very proud of his mothcrless
child.
Max Epp was razor maker and poor.
When Paulein was old enough, she be-
came waiting maid In the inn at Colberg.
A party of tourists came along. In tho
company was Herr Felleln Of the Imperial
Opera House. Landlord Cobelin, a cousin
OF Fellein, asked Paulein to sing for the
gentlemen. Fellein was charmed He
offered to take Paulein with him and have
her voice cultivated.
Paulein went away with Herr Fellein,
promising to come and get her father
when she became great singer.
Working on razors, talking OF Paulein
and dreaming Of living in luxury occupied
Max Epp for the next few years.
The papers came into Colberg occasion
ally, and those who could read found much
praise accorded Herr Fellien for having
discovered new, ,oantatrice.
From the day Of her departure Paulein
wrote weekly to her dear old papa" At
first they were laboriousiy printed epistles.
Then, as the uncouth country lass ac-
quired intelligence, the letters were writ
ten, but they were less frequent
AS time passed they became wonders OF
fine penmanship, but lessened in number
and in length. They were written upon
crested perfumed noteheads, with sealed
envelopes, but they came rarely. Finally
the papers alone told the still doting par
ent that he had a daughter.
Max Epp's poverty and illiteracy placed
him low In the social scale As razor
maker he was very obscure, but as the ia
ther Of Paulein Epp, the famous opera
singer, he had eminence.
The promise Of his child-which be
never forgot to mention-that when she
became successful he should live with her
had much to do with his dignifled recep-
tion at the inn In Colberg, for the land
lord, who had been instrumental in get
ting the girl with Herr Fellein, thought
Max Epp good for much more beer than
he could pay for.
The frequenters felt the father Of the
celebrated Paulein entitled TO more liba-
tions than he could always handle with
ease.
As time wore on, about the only thing
which kept Paulein's promise alive in her
Old fathers breast were the reiterated re-
minders from his bibulous associates at
the inn that he was ''soon to be the great
man i'm Frankfort and have his own car
riage and servants"
This sounded very pleasant to the old
razor makers ears, and still more SO as he
surrendered his sobriety to- the Emporium
ings of his companions.
Permit this word of explanation. Pau
lein ceased to write to her father because
Landlord Coblein wrote his cousin, Herr
, Fellein, that old Max was drinking him
self to death" and Fellein read such por-
tions of Coblein's letters to the humiliat-
ed and grieved prima donna as apper-
tanned to her father.
Completely wrecked by the thousands
of toasts he had Joined in the success of
his child, old Max awoke one morning to
find himself penniless, deserted and In
DURANGO for petty offense.
When he was brought before the magis-
trate not one of his former friends came
to his rescue.
"Are you guilty, Max EppY"
Il must be, else I'd not be here"
Because you are the father Of Paulein
Epp dismiss YOU"
"1 should suffer punishment II am
guilty. he said, leaning over the rail be-
fore the magistrate Overlook nothing
because of her. have lived among you
these 80 years My Paulein Is no more of
Colberg. She Is of the world.
God gave her a wonderful voice that
she might fly over yonder- hills and out
across the universe. Colberg Is no more
TO her Be not patient with me on her ac-
count. Sho would not praise you. She
has forgotten Colberg and you and me.
II am no longer able TO care for myself
am old and unable to work. / have no
home. She has risen; / have fallen. She
will go higher, but cannot go much low
er. pray you let me be sent to the beg
gary and pass my days in peace for the
little good have seem"
So they sent Max Epp to the almshouse.
There he puttered about doing odd chores,
growing moro feeble, more forgetful, more
useless
One day rich coach drew up In front
of the old Epp cottage and dashing lady
alighted.
II want TO see papa"
"Who may you be, fair ladyf" asked
the occupant gardener named Kranz.
~ am Pauisin Epp Where is my ia
thcr2'
The gardener bowed humbly and point
cd across the valley to tho white building
so well remembered by Paulein In her
childhood and associated with horror and
hopelessness-the almshousel
"whatl The beggsry My father, Max
Epp, pauporl My Godl Quick, driver,
quickl"
When she entered the whitewashed
doorway and asked to see Max Epp, they
conducted her into the low ceilineod wing
10 the side OF bed whcreon lay an enact
ated, white haired imbecilc, swathed In
homcspun, toying with a broken razor
bis FIRST love-
On her knees fell tho famous vocalist
sobbing as II her heart would break
Again aud again shc called his name, ca
ressed and kissed him and wept upon his
sunken breast.
But the CLASSY eyes only glarcd. and
emile of sickening vacancy was all the REQ
oenition she received. The shattered old
man simply gazcd out the window, across
the hills, toward Frankfort
Was be thinking uf the elegant home
she promised himg Was he picturing that
gorgeous carriage he was TO have ridden
In and those obsequious servants who were
10 have attended him!
Perhaps. But he ratified the broken