River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-09-12

MANY and his virtues few. His two re-
deeming pOints-call them virtues if
you will-were generosity verCing on
weakness in individual cases and love
for music
Late one night he came out of St
James hall. buttOned his coat up round
his neck, Owed his hands into his
pockets, and made for home. On his
way he entered cafe and took up
OF coffee.
A he slipped the beverage his ear.
ever ON the alert for music, caught the
sounds of a voice that was at once rich
and melOdiOus-
Jabez listened attentively for five
minutes, during which time the song
continued with short intervals of 81
lence. At length it stopped altogether.
Jabez asked the waiter attending him
TO fetch in the person singing
The waiter returned in less than
minute ushering in young man OF a
distinctly Italian cast of cOuntenance,
whom ne introduced as Luigi the bottle
washer.
"Well my man, you have an extreme
ly fine voice. Did you know that? With
due care and rigid training there
ought To be both fame and fortune i'm
it You would like TO be something
better than a bottle-washer all your
life, EN-, my man"
Luigi, in wondering sort of way,
nodded.
That's right. that's right, my man.
Here is my card. Come and see me at
my house tomorrow at half-past six |
want to have a serious talk with you.
Can you Gomez"
''Yes. sir-that is, no. sir. Not to-
morrow. 1 work till eleven every night
during the week"
''Oh, OH. such is the irony Of fate. .
muttered Jabez Can you come on
Sunday"
''Yes, sir, 1 will come
True To his word Luigi. clothed in
his Sunday garments, found himself in
Mr.. Wilson's drawing room the follow
ing sunday evening.
"LuIgi, you have a most charming
voice II is. at present, in what | may
term an embryo form. The foundation
is there in all its strength, and couple
of years careful training will place
You without a doubt in one of the top
most branches OF the vocal tree
You must make point of cultivat-
ing Your voice on every possible occa-
sion, Luigi. Avoid those articles of
food which shall give You a list OF,
that your vocal cords may retain the
sweetness, strength and fullness that
now marks them
''Your clothes. too, are unsuited To
the pupil of a vocal professor. You
Luigi You must exercise care, and
take pride in your personal appear
ance-in short, be in every respect
worthy of your profession"
As Luigi's profession was that of
bOttle-washer at an Italian restaurant.
he naturally failed To see how he could
well give further evidence of his Occu-
patton than 10y the suit n which he APP
peared before this strange gentleman
And he said ST..
'Dcar me; of course must explain |
10 you. Luigi. what propose to do. |
am too hasty- First and foremost. do |
YOU like music3"
Il am an Italian" was the mos est |
reply.
Grand A most fitting answer
VOW VIZ y III 1olhe 70 uusiicSS- houlu
you like 10 give mp your present
mental occupation and become. first
the pupil Of musician. and then a
master of the art you will excel imp"
That is beyond my hopes, sir.
have no money"
Jabez Wilson threw mp his hands.
That's all right will see to that
little matter. Give me the assurance
that you will put your whole heart
into the work l have cut out for YOU.
and Will do your best. ask for moth |
ing more"
A few days later Luigi left his situa-
tiOn. and became the protege of Mr.. |
Wilson To say that Luigi was CRATE |
full would be t. put the feeling he |
evinced toward his bene factor in very