The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-07-26
THE GENIUS OF 4 SOUL

~ Carlo had gloated over the boy from
enAunoou. even when the newborn babe
genius had come into the world The little
Alex was reared for genius. And a gen
lus ne became. Not all at once but grad
ually, as the seasons melt one into another.
III CARO- cared for nothing but his boy. He
was FL Carlos soul. The father thought Of
MS son night and day; he worked for him:
ne saved for him the profits from the small
fruit shop that the boy might have COM
forts and higher education; and on Sun
days and saints days Ell Carlo would take
had been his Magda's, and, going to the
great cathedral. would pray long and earn
estly for this genius that was to be-
Inc boy showed no early signs of exalted
intellectually He was bright child tall
and strong, and quick as young gazelle
He had big brown eyes and a dark skin. in
which the rich carmine came and went like
| passing shadows. He loved his father above
all else, and he liked to be with him about
| the shop outside of school hours. And Ell
Carlo would watch i'm eagerly, gloatingly
and listen to his childish talk, while trying
In his mind to determine in what way the
boy would be great But Alex grew to be
10 years old, and evinced no indication of
greatness other than refined constituencies
and determination to have his own way
Alex, noticing this devotion, in his turn
humored Ell Carlo.
One night there was severe storm, and
Ell Carlo left Alex alone in the shop while
he went down the street to do an errand.
When he returned he saw Alex standing
on a high stool, drawing fanciful faces and
figures with is index finger on the heavily
steamed show windows.
Dropping his packages. Ell Carlo stood in
open wonder before this first sign OF genius.
A. horx L:
his arms, he kissed him, he patted his
black hair, he caresed him, while he cried:
Thanks be to Our Lady, All, my boy!
my boy! Y GU are great you are great!
You will be Raphael. Murillo. Mil
LEI"
The next day Aleck was sent to the Art
Institute to begin an artists career And
the next night feast was prepared in the
living rooms back Of the fruit shop and
the few intimate friends of Ell Carlo were
hidden to the repast. They came in holt
day attire the men in corduroy velvet and
loose .blouses, the women in full Powered
petticoats and bright waists, with kerchiefs
and bits of ribbon. They brought their
violins and zithers and after feast there
was misunderstanding according to the grace
and rhythm of Italy.
1t was the first event Of its kind that
Alex had every enjoyed. 1t was all de-
lightful to him-the feast, the merrymak
ing, the dance, and above all, the music.
He himself drew a bow across the violin
and laughed at his awkwardness. He pick
ed at the strings of the either until he
had mastered the scale Then he was
fought few chords Of Gabrillia, and was
proud of his success.
Hear, father" he said, II can make
music myself. had rather be either
player than an artist"
And thus 1t was that Alex was taken
from the art school and sent to study
music.
Years passed by, yet Ell Carlo never once
lost faith in his son. Alex was his soul.
and the boys soul music. He had
grown from tall, straight lad, to tall,
straight man, yet still with the vivid col
oring. All the refinement Of his art had en-
tered into his being and was reflected in
his deep dark eyes, His hands were ex-
qusite in their shapeliness, and he bad
a broad. high brow. Women loved him.
They listened to his music and sighed, or
laughed, or wept, according to the way he
played. But he needed them not. His
one desire was to produce something great
something that should live long after him.
Il will do it yet" he would say. Talk
to me, father. You inspire me-"
FL Carlo would then talk Of what Alex
had already accomplished. He would tell
how he had made the decision between
music and an artists life. He knew the
great composers by heart He would tell
how Beethoven labored and struggled for
tell of Mozart, of Wagner, Gounod, Han
del, of their early trials, all the while
holding his sons hand and gazing in his
face like woman in love. And Alex
would listen while his eyes kindled with
subdued light and patting Ell Carlos shout
der he would arise and return to his work
with renewed energy and inspiration.
At length Alex found the keynote of what
could not but prove success. 1t was a
strain Of chords that rose and fell like the
murmur OF woodland voices. then, rising
loud like an avalanche, the notes would drop
again and die away like the dipping OF
oar In still water. Ell Carlo was jubi-
liant and urged him on to complete the
work.
Just a little more and you will have a
masterpiece" he said.
And Alex labOred, applying himself to the
task almost night and day. The piece was
to be produced as an OPERA and 1t had to be
rewritten again and again. The young COM
poser lost the deep carmine to his cheeks
and the rounded lines of face and form. He
grew more restless, more sensitive, yet his
work he would not stop long enough for q
walk on the boulevards. Before he began
work on the piece which he said should place
his name with the great composers he took
fencing and boxing lessons, and now this was
his only exercise. Every day Ell Carlo would
bring the trainer and Alex would spend an
hour, or a half hour, or only 10 minutes,
with him. to please his father, and then re-
turn again to his work.
The first night" arrived at last, with all
the arrangements complete.
Tomorrow, father, we will go away
am i'll. For days my head has panied, and
today felt something snap right here"
said Alex, placing his finger between his eye
brows.
The curtain rose before a vast audience.
All the great ladies and people OF the city
were there. Musicians had come from far
distant cities, It seemed to FL Carlo that
the greatest OF the whole world was pres
emit. The applause was deafening. Hand
kerchiefs waved, fans fiuttered, flowers fell
in showers. The triumph was perfect The
genius had asserted itself and conquered,
A world was at his fest.
III C0rin rllahed hock e,f Ia al "a