Evening journal., 1900-07-18
A COLD, STONY GAZE.
HOW EMMA JUcH FRozE AN INDis-
GREET REPORTER.

tEctic Newspaper hun bot nm AhNA-
tation to Retire and the Mendn-
cioun 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 lemon ice.
Upon occasions Nine. Juch appeared
the personifcation Of joyousness, the
very goddess of mirth, but these occur /
usually when guarantees look bona fide |
and when there happens to be no other
lady soloist on the bill.
Unluckily encountered the famous |
songstress at time when she had lost /
$500 by the rascality, as she expressed |
1t, 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 ova-
tion, and, per consequence, was un-
happy
| Hearing that the fair warbler had
sustained a financial reverse, the editor
Of the Minneapolis journal naturally
wanted to know all about it for pub
lication, 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 as / was about to enter the ele-
vator a reporter for another afternoon
newspaper stepped mp. He was rather
new man, an excellent fellow, but. as
it seemed to me. somewhat lacking in
finesse.
"Im going up to see Emma" he
said. "Where are you going2"
Same errand," l replied. "Wed
5 better tackle her one at time, hadn't
wei"
Lord, mol" he responded. "Wen
both go in at once. You do the talking,
{ and I'll take notes. -
The plan didn't suit me very well,
but there seemed no help for it. As we
e entered the apartment, Nine. Juch
rose from her lounging chair and took
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, 000
Ny companion gasped and subsided on
a horsehair settee near the door
l. Nine. Juch appeared majestic statu-
EFIf
! cold-very cold. She bade me be seated
= in a refrigerated tone and asked 10
4 what she was indebted for the honor,
4 etc. Heaven defend me from the not
able who opens an interview that way
l. A queer noise reached me from the
l. direction of the settee, and Isupposed
the other fellow was swinging his arml
to keep warm, but dared not lool
around.
In as few words as possible I ex'
/ planned the object Of the call. threw in
IS a few mild remarks indicative Of my
y belief that the st. Paul manager was a
- - soulless scoundrel, who ought to be
~ lynched, and then l waited.
"a 1t is entirely unnecessary to recapit
/ ulate the interview Nine. Juch wen
A. over the conditions Of her contract and
S. described the treatment to which sh'
Y, had been subjected with some little ap
n, proach to warmth Of expression. Sh'
il really seemed to be thawing when tha
l. unregenerate wretch over on the horse
"a hair settee Clipped in. The singers re
J" cital Of her financial woes had excited
his ire against the man who had de
frauded her, and he blurted out, refer
ring 10 the recreant manager:
= "He's a big stiff; that's what he is
u big stiffr'
shall never forget the expression o.
~ acute nausea that enshrouded the usual
~ " immobile countenance Of the grea
,e artistic as she turned. with a cold, ston,
lg gaze-a gaze that would freeze liqui,
OF air-in the direction Of the voice an,
s. carefully focused the other man will
her lorgnette. l saw the other mai
shrink fearfully. He looked just abou
a tight fit for bantam's egg when tn
I'd lorgnette landed
ig "Good gracious" said Mime. Juch il
panied way. ''Do you-er-knov
- that person %
"Never saw him before in my life.
| replied. II was a mean thing TO do
but the paper wanted an interview, ant
. hadn't half finished
~ Would you-er-mind leaving tn
j room. said lovely Emma. addressin
r. the other fellow. Perhaps a detectiv
sort Of a person. don't you thinkg" sh
added as the other fellow escaped.
indorsed the opinion and went o.
sd with the interview. which lasted an
re- other > minutes. Then bowed mysel
he out and hunted the other man. intend
10 ing to placate him. but he wouldn
speak TO me and hasu't since. The
chap doesn't appreciate the exigencie
Of the profession Minneapolis jour
I'd nal