The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-05-19
THE UGLY
PRIMA-DONNA


voices ever heard upon the stage" as
a New York daily had said. was go
Ing 20 visit them Tor one night on ner
way 20 san Fmncisco
You should have eeea llIe stampede
70 the music store for reserved seat
lickeis-foF any sickets-for permission
10 stand inside the hall. In one day
svery Inch Of room ia the shabby build
ing was bought un alsd hat week
before the time. An silEsr Geek was
either STEPPED In triumphant Hatlsfae-
ton or plunged In covetous longings
The day arrived. so dld the prima-
donna and her ATTENDANTS
The crowd u sight-seers who were
waiting % the ruilwoy station saw
nothing FOR their pains. except three
gcntlcmanly looking foreigners who led
an impcnctTnhly vailed lady into cab
Mademolseile cephlsc de Fascati was
driven 10 the BEST hotel Ia the town.
No sooner were the doors 81 The
''Musie Hall opened than a dense
multitude took their seals. and there
after ensued for enc fnll hour such
crammings Of rufiies and Squeezing
past knees. and pushing OF elbows,
as had never been seen IN that lall
before.
And as last the three gentlemen en-
tered. and arranged themselves as the
orchestra; the subducd sciuplngs OF
yiollns. ard rouladlng ~ silver flutes.
held the earcon part u the audience
Fpell-bound In breathless anticipation.
aud everybody prepared TO BE- aston
lshcd.
~ they were.
The pTima donna glldcd In from a
side door. her long amber satin robe
trailing over the caueted platform.
Der white satin petflcoaf adorned With
lace aud embroidery. her gold hair
flowing Ia ringlcis. and slsinkled loose
~ with white camellIas, her snowy
threat enriched by sold. her dainty
white feet ds'cked with gilt butterflies,
her small. upright figure 40 llssoinc. -
graceful rising out 81 eold-and-wiilie
Moorish scarf. which was knoiici
= loosely az one side.
: A vision % perfect grace and Paris
: IAN taste was she; but the face which
confronted the audience was lhs
agllest IN the room.
A short Of shock mn through "a,
5 hearts Of the thrOng They had ex
! pccted beauty 20 match the famOu,
> voice. Why mott The papers had
. called her young, attnctire, the lido
J. OF every city.
n Here WAS o vcrigahle Gorgon.
There was a Ialpabir silence as she
: swept 20 the front Of the platform
where n hank Of flowers did duty ia
4 stead % foot-ilgh,s. The applaus.
, which had risen up Ike a thirlwin,
NJ the first glimpse Of lie gold and
" ite iigur,. was now hurhed an,
n dumb-smittcn.
il Madcmoize,le Cephisc turned will
= unmOvod face 20 her orchestra. an,
stmlghtway a low sobblng broke From
violin and silver flute. Hike the sofseS
whispers e the Aeollan harp and th
a voice ROSE up. not glad and joyous q
N the tones Il those who have founl
'e lie a holiday. hut sadly. proudly. pure
Il ". In It's lonely beauty. like the voic
n Of an angel who. wandering thr0ug
sor'ld scenes In search Of the Al
Good. sings n song not 81 earth. bu
enc taught By Heavens ministers.
y oh. voice 81 l.ajesty. n picrcius
le thrilling. puising. pcerlcss sweetness
K How Il trnnced each vulgar soul Ina "a
L. old hall that night. and dragged theI
from their soidid selves 70 peep wit
awe struck EYES thrUagh the eolde
bars 10 hcayenl How Il taught col
-
charity. of alteration 70 Him who rule
4. above al. How Il waited the ang'
faccs q the dead to weeping friend
a ards the innocent baby cheek hac
~ to resilc on the mothers yearnln
bosom.
Relieved voice. Euerdon surely Of
a noble sorl,
u The song or enc should say n
divine pasalm-was ended. when
+. crtak az one 81 the doors broke n
or intense stiffness which asi0nlshaael
n. ard emotion had bounded the audiep,
With. aud an old woman. dripping fro
the cold rain without. edged herse
\ Into the crowded building she VI
u ragged. and bowed tOgelher with rhe
Is matlsm; a few spare white locks q
frOm her old black bonnet over n
n, pocr. thin checks; her fadcd sha,
i. scarcely hid her bony arms fn,m Il
!. gaze Of the ihrong. and her skirt VI
- 20 cotton. worn 10 rags, hut mcn,l,
somehow 90 hang together. she III
gn basket on her arm nllcd VT
al matches. sponls % cotton. tape. IA
r. nce6ias: but the matches were spoih
gn by the lain, and her whole ste
damaged.
'Ccmc. come. Mother pclleiier.~ N
the doorkcspcr taking her rih
roughly ~ the arm, .you must ~ o
as OF This; d isn't place for The likes
At YOU.
in. "Ah. mon pieur muttercd the q
woman. hooking eagerly about vi
her keen black eyes. Il heard vol
n sweet NOlcc. Where Is itt"
Down stepped lady from a
served seat close by-a lady with x
erors silks. aud crmincs. aud opl
cloak. an an iali. but her Cycs ",
full a. tears and her cheeks pale.
''Shc shall stay. Mr Harold" s,
the lady; "ihc music VIII warm |
peer old soul A compatriot 81 y,
own. Mother pcllcticr. n young Par
lenne. ard she Sings like scral
Herr. Harold. money for her itch
Now ia down on this step near
=, stove: and lcokl she II going to 81
\ again"
The lady hack In her place. tho
fferchwonsan crouchlug behind
stove. Mademolselle Ccphlse n.
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