The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-12-05
GUADAGUI.
Rv L. de VeuVille.

Bv L. de Veuville. F..
IT must be confessed that the mortar
who has been endowed Win tha ps1 ~
who possesses the greatest powers
l. Of intelligence. The poet or, the
man of literature. for example. IS
an outcast in our modem s ,}Gi91 h i
fashion: when his verses are paid for.
it is bv the line and not the idea: when neo,
one of his PLAYS is given ne receives "a
when he publishes a volume. 1t is the
editor. not the author. that pockets the
profits. a;f
The singer labors under sa no h Sneh from 1'n7
everything: he may be ill-bred: lacking
in intellieence homely. what difference
does it make? He sings. and he is paid.
and well paid. He is king. today.
During the last century. SINGER ESa ~ "ne
Of which I wish to speak. Guadagami
was a tenor of Roman birth, VINO 4 lha
great success in London. and At ne
Court Of the Duke OF Parma: He Mas
splendid fellow with r pf h}e fnfei
ligence. 1t was for him that Giu e3
composed Orpie and the famous mus1-
clan declared that he never had netter
IL t6e socety
and learned to speak English So cor
rectly that when he returned to Italy
the Establishment whom he met. mlstooh
him for one of their fellow countrymen.
Besides his manv virtues. GuadagM
immense. his greediness excessive ana
he affected such luxury that the great
lords of that time were often somewhat
Inundated. The Duke Of Palma re-
solved to punish HIM st % once fsd IN ms
This ia the wav he brought about MS
original and clever scheme.
The Duke had lust received at ms
serving to do their honor. he sent for
Guadagui to sing. This the latter
agreed to do but when the time came.
his usually pure voice sounded weak
poor. The Dukes disappointment was
agui excused himself in an evasiVe
fashion: he said that he had a sore
throat and that he was seriously dis
abled. :.
The Duke pretended to believe him:
he ordered him to rest for. a week and
sent him his own doctor. At the end Of
a week. Guadagui was again command
ed to sing and again ne gave a m, mls sie
mind that he would not sing before the
French nobleman nor so long as they
remained in Palma.
The Duke insisted that, ne should
the draft upon the stage was causing
all the trouble with his throat and that
he would not sing until 1t had some-
how been remedied.
VERY we'll" said the Duke; I'VE will
have the stage attended to. But In the
meantime. | will give a concert In my
own apartments where the same incon-
venience does not exist and where there
will be nothing to prevent YOUR sing
ing
Guadagui did not reply. but the next
dav. learning that the two Frenchmen
were to be present at the concert. he
went off hunting and did not appear at
The Duke was very angry and sent
for him again. Guadagui. whose inso-
lence had thriven at the sight of the
Dukes dismay. excused himself by say
ing that his hunting had led him very
to return to the city before the gates
tated no longer. he, ordered Quad agui to
be imprisoned with no other food than
pride was broken. He was exasperated
at such an anchorite's diet. Ho. the
eourmand. was accustomed to excellent
repasts. and the purest wines. He told
his, friends. who came. to see him. that
under such treatment, he would: GER
tainlv lose his voice and begged them to
intercede with the Duke for him. = =
At the end of several davs. the. Duke
pretended to Weld. He sent him a
time. an offi e'' to serve him. TIC 8A'e
Guadagui was enchanted. All his
greediness aWoke at the sight Of. the
choice Viands that were spread before
him and he was alreadv seating him
self to do them honor. when the officer
holding him back. said that he was Or
dcered to serve him but not until he had
first sung.
What sing? but how can 7 sing af
ho n If1C Of h
last few davs?" cried Guadagui.
That has nothing to do with it. !" de:
clared the officer. II must confess that
care very little for music. but sine
Guadagui was forced to comply. HI
hummed the ending of an aria and thu
officer passed him a plate.
The hungrv tenor had tasted barely
with the greatest politeness demanded
another song.
But I have sung!'
.F to the the veal and macaroni yes: bu
s set { bow the er partr he Come begin
So Guadagui sung for the partridge
and all the sweet meats.
When it came time for the dessert
the officer rose and drawing his watcl
from his nocket. said gravely:
Sir it is time for me to leave YOU
NY duty Q; calls s; me to more importan
opera tlOn.
"Wait few moments. I beg vou.'
enchanted Guadagui. II will sing a.
much as YOU like. we haven't had tn,
champagne. the coffee or the ices vet.
Impossible. the affair cannot be de-
laved"
Indeed? What affair mav'I ask
is so very pressing?'
-Four thieves. condemned by thu
courts: whom I am to hang immedi
atelv'
what? Thieves? Then YOU are tn,
Yes. sir. I am the public execu
toner. You did not wish to sing for til,
Duke. YOU have sung for me''
Thereunon he bowed and went ont