The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-26
A FAMOUS SINGER.


Epp was very proud of his motherless child.
Max Epp was a razor maker and poor
When Paulein was old enough, she be-
came waiting maid in the inn at Co1berg.
A party of tourists came along. In the
company was Herr Fellein 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 a great singer.
Working on razors, talking of Paulein
and dreaming of living in luxury occu-
pied Max Epp for the next few years.
The papers came into Goldberg occasion
ally, and those who could read found
much praise accorded Herr FelIein for
having discovered new cantatrice.
From the day of her departure Paulein
wrote weekly to her dear old papa. y At
first they were laboriously printed epistles.
Then, as the uncOuth country lass acq uired
intelligence, the letters were written, 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 a 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 he new
er forgot to mentiOn-that when she be-
came successful he should live with her
had much to do with his dignif1ed recep-
af mn in III he
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 8 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 in Frankfort and have his own car
rage 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
1ein 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 Dor
tions of Coblein's letters to the Inundated
and grieved prima donna as appertained
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-
frat IF fTio
to his rescue.
fare you guilty, Max EppP''
81 must be, else I'd not be here"
because you are the father Of Paulein
Epp dismiss you.''
Il should suffer punishment if I am
guilty - he said, leaning over the rail be-
fore the magistrate. Overlook nothing
because of her. have lived among you
these so years. Ny Paulejn is no more of
Goldberg. She is of the world.
HGod 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 She would not praise you. She has
forgotten Goldberg and you and me-
+" 1 am no longer able to care for myself.
I am old and unable to work. have no
home. She has risen; I have fallen. She
will go higher, but I cannot go much low
er. pray you let me be sent to the beg
gary ana pass my Gays III peace IOT the 41G-
tie good I have seen"
So they sent Max Epp to the almshouse
There he pUttered about, doing odd chores,
growing more feeble, more forgetful, more
useless.
One day rich coach drew up in front
of the old Epp cottage and dashing lady
aIighted.
IT want to see papa"
f'Who may you be, fair LADY," asked the
0oc110anf a crar5aDer Uaulad Kranz
Il am Paulein Epp. Where is my IA
ther?''
The gardener bowed humbly and point
ed across the valley to the white building
so well remember by Paulein in her
childhood and associated with horror and
hopelessness-the almshousel
what The beggaryI My father, Max
Epp, pauperl Ny Godl Quick, driver,
quickI'
When she entered the vhitewashed door
way and asked to see Max Epp, they con-
Quoted her into the low ceilinged wing to
the side of bed whereon lay an e1naciat-
ed, white haired imbecile, swathed in
homespun, toying with a broken razor,
his first love-
On her knees fell the famous vocalist,
sobbing as if her heart would break
Again and again she called his name, ca
ressed and kissed him and wept upon his
sunken breast.
but the CLASSY eyes only gIared, and
smile of sickening vacancy was all the
recognition she received The shattered
old man simply gazed out the window,
across the hills, toward Frankfort.
Was he thinking of the elegant home
she promised him? Was he picturing that
gorgeous carriage he was to have ridden
in and those obsequious servants who were
to have attended him?
Perhaps. But he ratified the broken
razor, grinned and jabbered and tried to
move his paralyzed limbs, oblivious of the
richly clad, elegant woman who knelt be-
side him and fondled him with pathetic