New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-11
BY / q nm w. Nj 0rri ey
Z q it e q by j. II II b e TT Welch

look and tone of stern command and called out:
Attention, company Fall in nel Forward
march-to the 'front.'" At the same time he ex-
tended his to Emma bending over, because he
SO tall and she small, and saying: q stoop
to conquer" Amid great deal of laughter
filed out on the balcony.
This serenade had been we'll heraded Almost as
far the eye could reach either side the street
was massed with people We were looking down
upon twenty thousand upturned faces. Emma, &C
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 quick-witted young
officer.
As they advanced to the rail of the balcony mighty
shout arose. At first it completely drowned the
music of the band and then for five minutes the
musicians, who playing madly, evidently de-
termined that their efforts should be heard, sent
forth that tossed and tumbed and smohered
in that wild of cheering 1t pandemOnium,
but it stirred the blood. Emma's face 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 a voice that carried far in behalf
of Miss Emma Abbott | thank you most heartily
for this great demonstration"
That all, but it enough to start anew the
tumutuous cheering. The musicians, however, were
not to be denied. They played until the shouting
thousands had become silent listeners and there
was sound except the music swelling triumphantly
on the night air.
Emma no longer shrank by the Generals side. She
stood forth alone, radiant. She leaned slightly
the balcony A scarcely perceptble but general
motion through the crowd-they were moving
up. Intuitivc1y | understood. Emma meant to
sing. In instant l was at her side.
mo, no. Emma, you must not. Your voice can't
stand it. If you do thereu be no opera tomorrow
night"
She turned to quickly with defiant look
You must do it, Enma!" | repeated. She
slightly shrugged her shoulders, and turning to the
crowd again, shook her head and once more glanced
reproachfuly at me. | smiled and slightly bowed
to acknowledge the responsibility of the REFUSAL
then took her gently by the and drew her light
wrap more closely around her to indicate that our
prma 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 sat
down to a merry supper.
Never before the history of the National Theater
had such crowds focked there during the weeks
of our engagement. The serenade made much money
for us but it was of the money that Emma
thought when she recalled it. Often afterward she
spoke of it to
1T was wonderful night, wasn't it, Mr.. Morrissey?"
she would say land just think, it not very long
ago that | sang III the street for pennies.
During the same season we came into a pleasant
and amusing contact with another military hero.
In the lobby of the Palmer House in Chicago one
General phil" Sheridan | knew him well, so |
held out my hand exclaiming:
'.Whv General where you going in such a
hurry?"
well. it's true that I'm in something of hurry,
MOrrissev" he answered You see, my wife IS
upstairs waiting for me She thinks I've been keep
ing rather hours recently and that it's high time
T n, he'd