Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-03-09
The Awakening
Of Ethel
BY II. M. PLACE R


copyright. 1904. by Daily story Pub Col
= THEL did not know whence she
came or whittier she was bound
All she knew wasSthat she did not be-
,ong TO the Flannigans, who raised her
In so kindly a manner and understood
her so little. and that she was impelled
by something within her to sing, sing
sing-always and forever to sing. No
matter how much scolded for wasting
her time or discouraged by sneers.
naught could cover the irresistible i'm
pulse within her TO sing.
The Flannigans considered IL little
short of a calamity. not so much that
she was permitted to waste any time
from the household drudgery, but be-
cause IL seemed to distract her atten-
ton and made her different from the
other children. But the approval or dis
approval of the Flannigans made not
the slightest difference to Ethel and she
went on singing, oblivious to surround
ings.
She was IA when 0ppenstein, the
great theatrical impressario, happened
10 drive through the street where Ethel
lived and heard her singing. Open
stein stopped his cart at once. He knew
a voice when he heard IT, did Open
stein, and he recognized the elements
~ a great singer beneath the crude
methods of the girl.
The result was that Ethel was placed
under a great master and taught 70 use
her voice-at Oppenstein's expense. The
training was not so thorough as that
given 10 some of the darlings of for
tune. because oppenstein wanted to
realize on his find. So two years were
deemed sufficient before he put her on
the stage. Still the two years gave the
girl a training that could not be applied
10 any of the darlings Of fortune under
Herr Heller's tutelage. because the tutor
found different material in Ethel to
work on. and this not only responded to
his direction but also inspired him to
his best work.
So at 16 Ethel appeared on the stage
and her wonderful voice brought her
plaudits enough ana Oppenstein money
in plenty. There had been heard moth
ing like 1t In years. The girl seemed
TO have power and passion In her voice
which touched the finest chords in the
breasts OF those who understood music,
while the sweetness and purity OF her
voice appealed to all who loved har-
mony.
For more than year did Ethel win
praise for herself and money for Open
stein. when the astute manager made
fatal error. He had been watching her
sing from a box, and after the per-
Torrance made his way to her dressing
room she had thrown off her stage
costume and donned her simple street
dress. oppenstein, who was suseepu-
HE both 10 music and beauty, had been
snthralled by the passionate power with
which she had rendered a great love
song and was also strongly moved by
the budding womanly beauty OF the girl
The thought had come to him that he
bo5 discovered this beautiful creature
and she was his and he had come to
claim his own. She did not Understand
hin, AZ first. When she did she turned
and fed. Oppenstein pursued, but was
| too heavy.
Never mind. said he, to himself
..T-bere is plenty Of time" Then he
vent 10 the club and ordered wine.
put he had made a mistake. Ethel did
not return. The bill was changed and
Onnenstein cursed his luck. d.
4
In a distant city-as far as Ethels
,-oDev could take her-she stood on the
street and listened to beautiful voice.
An italian boy was playing violin
and singing a passionate love song. He
bad 4 good voice. but the performances
lacked something. People passed BY,
hrt few and small were the coins thSs
80 -. ~. hat The violin per