The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-06-16
A COLD, STONY GAZE.
HOW EMMA JUCH FROzE AN lNDIS-
GREET REPORTER.

All
thetic Newspaper Man Got I'm Invi-
tatiOn to Retire and the Menda-
cious One Got the story.
never heard the critics accuse En-.
ma Juch Of lacking sympathy or fire in
her art. but there must be scores Of in
reviewers in this country ready to
swear that she was reared on emo ice.
Upon occasions Nine. Juch appeared
the personitication of joyousness, the
very goddess of mirth. but these occur
usually when guarantees look bona fde
and when there happens to be no other
lady soloist on the bill.
Unluckily l encountered the fn1Eous
songstress at a time when she had lost
$500 by the rascality, as she expressed
it, Of a st. Paul manager; also. as it
happened, Mile. Clementine de We're
was on the programme, strong in her
possession Of a fresh young voice that
thrilled audiences in aria or ballad and
won applause of the spontaneous sort
that critics call ovation. Nine. Juch re.
ceived the applause, but not the ovn-
ton. and. per consequence. was I'm.
happy.
Hearing that the fair warbler had
sustained n financial reverse, the editor
Of the Minneapolis journal naturally
wanted to know all about it for pub
LEGATION, and | happened to be detailed
for the interview. Nine. Juch was at
the West hotel. | sent up my card, and
despite the somewhat unreasonable
hour-it was scarcely half past 10 in
the morning-received an invitation to
visit the prima donna.
just az T was about to enter the ele-
vator a reporter for another afternoon
newspaper stepped up. He was a rather
new nan an excellent fellow, but, as
it seemed to ne, somewhat lacking in
finesse
I'm %>:ry up to Sce Eulu"," he
said. "Where are you going?'
''Same errand,' replied. WED
better tackle her one at a time. hadn't
WEI"
Lord. moi" he responded. We'll
both go in at once. You do the talking,
and III take notes.
The plan didn't suit me very well,
but there seemed no help for it. AS we
entered the apartment. Nine. Juch
rose from her lounging chair and took
a step forward. She was attired in
some sort Of loose. white morning gown,
with a dash of color here and there that
made the thing look as if it cost 81, 600.
My companion gasped and subsidized OF
a horsehair settee near the door
Nine. Juch appeared majestic. statu-
esque. magnificent. if you will. but
cold-very cold. She babe me be seated
in a refrigerated tone and asked to
what she was indebted for the honor.
etc. Heaven defend me from the not
able who opens an interview that way
A queer noise reached me from the
direction of the settee. and l supposed
the other fellow was swinging his arms
to keep warm. but I dared not look
around.
In as few words as possible l ex.
planned the object Of the call, threw in
q few mild remarks indicative Of my
belief that the st. Paul manager was a
s%oulless scoundrel, who ought to be
lynched, and then ! waited.
It is entirely unnecessary to recapit-
ulate the interview Nine. Juch went
over the conditions Of her contract and
described the treatment to which she
had been subjected with some little ap.
proach to warmth Of expression. She
really seemed to be thawing when that
unregenerate wretch over on the horse
hair settee Clipped in. The singers re-
cital Of her financial woes had excited
his ire against the man who had de-
frauded her. and lie blurted out. refer
ring to the recreant manager:
"He's a big stiff that's what he is
q big stiff
shall never forget the expression Of
acute nausea that enshrouded the usual.
ly immobile countenance Of the great
artistic as she turned, with a cold, stony
gaze-a gaze that would freeze liquid
air-in the direction Of the voice and
carefully focused the other mar with
her %lorgnette. ! saw the other man
shrink fearfully. He looked just about
a tight fit for a bantam's egg when the
lorgnette landed.
"Good g1aciousl' said Nine. Juch in
a panied way. "Do you-er-know
that person p
"Never saw him before in my life,
! replied. 1t was a mean thing to do,
but the paper wanted an interview, and
] hadn't half finished.
"Would you-er-mind leaving the
room, y said lovely Emma, addressing
the other fellow, "Perhaps a detective
sort Of a person, don't You think2' she
added as the other fellow escaped,
Endorsed the opinion and went on
with the interview, which lasted an
other ID minutes, Then ! bowed myself
out and hunted the other man, intend
ing to placate him, but he wouldn't
speak to me and hasn't since, That
chap doesn't appreciate the e~xigencies
H the profession, Minneapolis Jour
nal