The morning times., 1897-02-10

Yes; know the Agnes scene, but not
we'll"
'Recite it as well as you can"
l bowed, and after 1 had recited some
verses the bell rang again.
"A pretty girl remarked Auber, turn
| ing to the others
Why. she's a skinned cati' was the
brutal rejoinder of a gentleman who kept
his hat on his head, and whose name was
| BeauyaIet
IN take her into my class, and III
| make something OF her said another
! gentleman with pale face and shining
white hair. His name was Provost.
Then ! am admitted, " exclaimed with
bound.
Yes; come and embrace me. You have
fine voice and intelligent eyes You know
nothing, which is the more amusing. But
you must grow, little one, because without
a good figure a theatrical career will be i'm
possible in your CASE
L embraced NJ. Provost and went away in
toXicated with JOY.
Monday was the first day on which I at
tended my class, and this day of the week
has ever since been my favorite. Yet I
never suffered so much through my timiGlity
and my pride as on this opening day.
| Everyone who has been educated at a
| boarding school can understand how was
tortured during this admission To the con-
! servatory. The terrible, painful part of it
was that all the unkind remarks we're made
| in reference TO those defects and blunders
which knew too well myself felt i'll at
ease, for around me We're some fine young
girls, all Of whom subsequently became
| celebrated through their beauty, and some
| also through their talent
| Nj. Provost made all the new pupils re-
| cite something, first the BOYS and then the
| girls. When my turn came l went on the
| stage utterly shamefaced. 1 had learned a
1 scene from "Britannicus,' and became at
| once the victim OF bitter mockery. / pro
| nounced the ''ts'' and ''ds" so harshly that
| my accent seemed that OF a vulgar Ger
| man. After lad recited some verses NJ.
| Provost told me to stop, and added that he
| would give me some lessons.
| 1 went bravely 10 work Balls Of rubber
| were my constant companions; chewed
| them fcverishIy in the endeavOr to pro-
| nOunce my rs properly. How happy
| felt when l thought that 1 could say this
| phrase without provoking ndicuIe: "A
| very big rat / n very large hole How
! worried over this phrase, how many OF my
| hairs fell victims TO the big rat and how
| many OF my tears were shed over he large
| hole no one will ever know. y : mother
| awoke me at 6 o'clock in the nlorning-and
| | loved TO sleep-ln order TO practice my
| rs on the piano. For full hour each
| morning 1 thumped away at my ra, re, ri,
| rol, etc. Mamma left her bedroom door
| open and was lulled TO sleep again by this
| delightful melody. But Woe To ME IL
| stopped humping and solfaring. The 81
| lence would at once awaken her, and n an
| imperious voice size would Cry: Go on
| You have ten minutes yet.'' And l would
| go on humping.
| Finally / learned how to pronounce and
| my lessons began. AT in the morning we
| had our lessons in department, and this " as
\ genuine recreation. Father Eli arranged
| US in two ranks and then began his One
| two, threeI' After this preliminary ex-
| ercise he selected two pupils and showed
| them how to conduct themselves during q
| love scene Then favOrite pupil went
| through the monOlOgue OF comic opera;
| the lesson closed with instructions how to
| salute
| First Father Eli showed us how TO bow
| TO a dowaGer- A long and respectful salute
| it was, with the head slightly inclined.
| Then came the bow to sovereign, a bow
| very low, with the eyes lowered and the
left foot placed slightly forward until it
| rejoins the right foot as the body slowly
resumes its upward position. This bow
| caused me great deal Of trouble, and
| must say that ! have never had occasion
to use it except in foreign countries.
Then came the bow to ones fiance, and
| finally the bow to the public. Oh, this
last bow, every detail OF which so cleverl =
| expresses the thought: Encore, encOrea
| am indeed in state OF confusioni''
| rebelled against the bow, for / found it
| somewhat obSequiOus. / adore success; 1
| give my entire being to the public; it tes-
| titles its satisfaction; 1 thank it, viewing il
| is my equal.