The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-06
HOW LITTLE ORPHANED
IRENE MADE A HIT"

| there came a tremendous noise that
| seemed like an explosion. But it was
only the audience applauding with q
vlgor and spantaneity that marked gen
uine admiration. It was the same audi
ence, too, that just previously howled
itself hoarse in derision at the attempt
Of middle-aged woman to make her
thin, high-pitched treble heard above
the din created by the clapping of ig-
num-vitae ahnds.
The roar Of approval brought her to
herself with the suddeness Of awaken
ing from dream, and again she was all
in tremble and gaZed about with
! frightened eyes. But the music was
starting again and the orchestra leader
was leaning forward as if the tones
from his violin were going to lift her
was harder to sing than the first, for
self-consciousness had asserted itself
and at its conclusion Irene was glad to
run off to the wings, and she had to be
pushed forward to bow her aeknowl-
edgements.
Irene had made "hit,' she was
told, and one of the real actors who
had his face streaked with paint and
wore funny clothes patted her shoulder
and said, ''You've got talent, little
one,' and the stage manager told her
she could come and sing again some
other Friday night-"and you won't
be afraid then he added.
Irene did sing again, but she wasn't
altogether unafraid, altho it was not
as hard as the first time, and the next
time 1t was easier still. Finally, the
stage manager asked her to come to
the theater the next afternoon and sing
for him. When she came there was no
audience, but the big orchestra leader
was in his seat smiling encouragement.
Give her the key and let her try
this song,' said the stage manager. The
piano player struck chord and the
prelude started Of ballad she hap
| pened to know.
CHOW, let s have the pictures" said
marks to someone away off in the gloom
sudden burst of light and Irene found
herself standing beside a big picture.
The music started again and the pic
lures kept changing. First it was two
little boys playing together, then it was
3 body of troops marching off to war,
then it was a battle scene and finally
the picture of a dying soldier lying on
the ground, his head on a comrades
knee.
81 guess she'll do, won't she, jim
my2' the stage manager asked tenta-
lively.
Nee0S q uCCle Of1il, GQaJ s ALI
you d better try it again tomorrow aft
ernoon, SIS" was the orchestra lead
i, er's reply.
Then the stage manager asked her Ii
she would accept an engagement to sing
, +" our illustrated songs The singer
who had been expected from Chicago
, had been taken sick and could not come,
he explained.
Would she sing! Of course she would!
She liked to sing, she d be glad to come
> every day and sing, only there was her
/. school.
FL "We'll see about school later. if you
e make good.'' said the stage manager.
"And tell your auntie I'd like to talk
, with her. -
t I And Irene has "made good. AS a
/ singer of illustrated songs she has made
: the efforts of her predecessors, the
e "phenomenal barytone,,' and "the Won
g derful boy tenor seem like unto thirty
f cents in Cancelled postage stamps.
a AZ the end of the week Irene took
|, home an envelope to her aunt that had
/ quite lot of money in it, even. after
4 the pretty dress that had been made for
Y her was paid for. The stage manager
d saw about the school, too, for now Irene
has private teacher, and besides she Is
S learning music. And the best part
3 about it all is the money she gets for
t herself and her baby sister. And it
e ism It given to her. either. She earns it.