The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-14
a SOCIAL LION.
He Promised TO Appear Brilliant and
Did His Level Best.

no PROMISED 70 Appear BF11I13nG and
Did His Level Best.
Every one knows that am modest. Per
haps the great, wide world is not aware,
however, of the fact that I am bashful as
well. do not like to put myself forward
publicly before either large or small au-
diences. This popularity, together with
an aversion to killing ducks, viii eventual
ly prevent my becoming president of the
United States. However, let that pass.
The little lady and myself were invited to
an evenings amusement at the Blakes'.
The Blakes are nice people who make you
dress up and go out somewhere on cold,
chilly evenings when you would much pre-
fer to be burning the soles off your socks
before your own CRATE fire. On account of
my extreme bashfulness I am usually an
incubus on such occasions. But this does
not satisfy the little lady. She says it
makes people wonder how she ever came to
marry such perfect fool as I am. Al any
rate, she made me promise to make Il stab
at trying to pretend / was brilliant, and
that evening she made me promise to do
everything I was asked to do and take part
in all the festivities. She was sorry after
ward. But did the best I could, as you
shall see.
Well, there was a fair, pale young girl
from the city at the Blakes' that evening.
She had received her education abroad and
thumped the piano with both hands. She
also spoke French without consulting the
dictionary ever and anon and was an all
round wonder. was sitting on a fauteuil,
trying to look as graceful as possible under
the circumstances, when the fair, pale
young girl swung herself around the orbit
of the piano stool and asked me if I
wouldn't sing Now, can't sing. don't
know one tune from another, with the ex-
ception of "Old Hundredth, - and I only
know that because it is so short. Natural
10 7 Cy0inor n 1aoiinn vubpn
thought Of my promise to the little lady. I
wouldn't break a promise to her for any
thing in this world.
with pleasure - answered the fair
pale young girl, and stepped briskIy to her
side. They told me afterward that the lit
tie lady tainted when did this. A woman
always knows when to faint.
do you read at sightg'' asked the fair,
pale young girl.
ENTIRELY by sight I answered, won
dering if there were people who read with
their ears.
II am so glad, - she Hsped. at have here
an aria that I brought with me from
abroad. 1t IS for baritone voice, and I
am sure it VIII please you. Let's begin at
once.
With that she began playing. Now I
Tvasn't fool enough to begin singing right
off. I knew that there is always a little
salute, as one might say, on the piano be-
lore the singer D6S1nS- L 61SO knew LnaG
you sing up or down according as the
notes run up or down on the telegraph
wires with which they print music. I
knew, moreover. that the singer begins
when the pianist commences to play
''thunp = thump, thunp = thump -
thump, thuIup, etc. So when she played
in that sort of a way I began, and 1 sang
right through to the end. 1 would have
been singing yet if she hadn't stopped
playing, for I got so tangled up in that
Sahara of notes, telegraph poles and wires
that 1 had no idea where I was at. I did
not get much applause. And the fair, pale
young girl went out of the room and had
Mysteries right alongside of my fainting
wife. The rast of the women went to take
care of her, and the men looked glum. I
will say that Blake did his duty as a host,
though. He said I had a tremendously
strong voice. And I think he must be
right for they heard it up at the postof1ice,
thought it was an alarm of fire and turned
ont with Old Red No. and gallon of
whisky to put the fire out. When heard
this, went out and Joined the brave fire.
Inen-Tom Hall in Truth