Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1903-06-25
KNEW THE OPERAS BY HEART.
Two visits of the Ceopers 10 the The
atsr Brought Little Pleasure.


atsr Brought Little Pleasure.
The Coopers have been to the thea
ter only twice this season and the
chances are they will not go again,
says the New York Times. II they
do, they will probably try either grand
opera or Shakespearean tragedy. They
have had bad luck both times In the
choice Of entertainment. Their mis-
fortune was due wholly to Mr.. Coop
er's dislnclination to take the advice
Of his wife as far back AS last Au-
gust.
The latter part OF that month was .
pretty busy one in theatrical circles.
Theaters and halls all over the city
were pressed into service by rehears
ing companies The hall that backed
up to the Coopers' kitchen did not eS-
cape. The second week in August
light-opera company took possession
and sung their tra-la las from 10 a. III.
to 10 p N. for so many days that Mrs.
Cooper learned every note and gag"
by heart and could have capably I'M
a. DpiS III bhV N0%t'
When that company reached the
point of excellence where they could
60 through their parts with not more
than two violent explosions every ten
minutes from the stage manager they
made way for a new set Of players.
They, too, sung tra-la-la and reveled
in choice repartee. Mrs. Cooper, be-
ing quick of ear, retentive of memory
and light on foot, soon added a second
whole opera to her repertoire, and she
frequently relieved the tedum of do
nestle drudgery by joining In their
merry lifting and sportive capering.
No fewer than threescore times
while those rehearsals were In prog
ress did Mrs. Cooper ask her husband
to find out the names Of the operas,
but he, either through diiidence or
criminal carelessness failed to do SO
and both companies finally went on
their tour, leaving Mrs. Coopers two
Thespian achievements nameless so
far as she was concerned.
The Coopers did not 90 to the the
alcI uulll JUDI DtlOIe VIC
evening Mr.. Cooper came home with
two orchestra chairs for light opera
which had been voted a success by
1.-The fellows in the Office" They went
in style; Mrs. Cooper put on her pref
test crepe de chine gown and Mr..
Cooper wore his opera hat. They
counted on having q very nice time,
but they We're disappointed. Before
the orchestra had played four bars of
the prelude they knew what was COM
ing; it was rehearsal No. 2. 1t was
dreadfully dull, but they stayed till
the show was out.
Mrs. Cooper was not sweet-tempered
on the way home.
IF you had only found out the name
Of the thing last summer. as l told you
to, it wouldn't have happened" she
said.
why didn't you find out yourself"
retoIted Cooper, whose own mood was
not very amiable.
Il did try once" she said. 81 called
out Of the Kitchen window and asked
Oht VI wv yOhIS AhCh III thS ShOt uh,
but he laughed at me-"
"Of course" said Cooper, with An
air Of naturalization. I'm glad now
l didn't ask them. They would have
laughed at me, toe"
The next time the Cospers went to
the theater was on Jan. 10.
II should not be q bit surprised"
said Mrs Cooper, as they were usher
ed to their seats, IF this turns out to
he rehearsal No. l."
She really did not mean that when
she said it, for she was very much
surprised when the opera turned out
to be that very thing. She was also
very angry
IF you had only asked" she said
again, sit would not have happened"