The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-11
BY ] q nm w. nj 0rri s. ey
MANAGER AND 1MPREsARIo
z, dit e by j. III e II b Pt Welch


Attention, company Fall in linel Forward
march-to the 'front.'" At the same time he ex-
tended his to Emma. bending over. because he
tall and she small, and saving Il stoop
to conquer" Amid a great deal of laughter
filed out on the balcony.
This serenade had been well heraded Almost as
far the eye could reach either side the street
was massed with people We looking down
upon twenty thousand upturned faces Emma,
CuStomed as she to crowds. shrank closer to the
General. She looked fragile little thing beside
his tall form and her evening gown conrasted oddly but
most effectively with his respendent uniform.
Art and military glory receiving the homage OF
the multitude" whispered a qtiick-witted young
officer.
As they advanced the rail of the balcony mighty
shout arose. At first it completely drowned the
music OF the band and then for FIVE minutes tn
musicians. who PLAYING madly evidently de
terrnined that their efforts should be heard sert
forth that tossed and tubled and srnothere
in that wild of cheering. 1t pandemonium.
but it stirred the blood. Emnas face was glowing
and her bosom heaving. At last General Sherman
stretched forth his arm, and almost instantly there
silence.
Members of the band and ladies' and gentlemen
he called out in that carried far. in behalf
of Miss Emma Abbott | thank YOU most heartily
for tins great demonstration.
That all but it enough to start the
tunultuous cheering. The musicians. however,
not to be denied. They played until the shouting
thousands had become silent listeners. and there
the night air.
Emma no longer shranI by the Generals side She
stood forth alone, radiant. She leaned slightly
the balcony scarcely perceptible but general
motion went through the crowd-thev were moving
up. Intuitivey l understood. Emma meant to
sing. In instant was at her side.
No, no. Emma, YOU must not. Your voice can't
stand it. If YOU do there'n be opera tomorrow
night"
She turned to me quickly with a defiant look
You must not do it, ETnrnal" l repeated. She
slightly shrugged her shoulders. and turning the
crowd agarn, shook her head and once more glanced
rcproachfuly at me. | smiled and slightly bowed
to acknowledge the responsibility of the refusal:
then took her gently by the and drew her light
wrap closely around her to indicate that our
prna donna had been long enough in the night air.
The crowd burst into another cheer. in the midst of
which Emma backed off the balcony. smiling and
bowling and throwing kisses everywhere. We then
down a merry supper.
Never before in the history of the National Theater
had such crowds ocked there during the two weeks
of engagement The Serenade made much money
for us. but it was never OF the money that Emma
thought when she recalled it Often afterward she
spoke of it to
Il 1t a wonderful night wasn't it. Mr. Morrissey,"
she would say and just think it not very long
ago that sang in the street for pennies
During the season came into pleasant
and amusing contact with another military hero
In the lobby OF the Palmer House in Chicago
night Just after the opera | happened to encounter
General Phil Sheridan. l knew him well.
held out my hand, exclaiming:
Why. General where YOU going in such L
hurry:
Well. it's true that I'm in something of hurry.
Morrissey," he answered You my wife is
upstairs waiting for She thinks I've been keep
ing rather late hours recently and that IT'S high time
I was in bed. "
You don't look sleepy General" laughed Il
wish YOU could oin Miss Abbott is here giving
4 little supper 4 few friends. l should ike very
much to have YOU meet her. "
Th. General east I glance toward the elevator