The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-10-11
WILLY'S VOICE
Copyright. by Joseph B. sowIes.,
BY JOSEPH BAUGHER


was the admiration of the community
at large
He tril!ed like a bird, or what is
more to the purpose. he sang like
prima-donna, and all who heard him
maryeled at his wonderful voice. He
possessed much girlish beauty, and
he had the gentlest of dispositions
which no amount of adulation could
spoil.
The many nattering professional Of
fers made him were peremptorily re-
jected by his family. They coddled
the boy as carefully as they nursed
his voice
His uncle. Mr.. Robert Triggs. the
wealthy proprietor of several large
auction stores in the city. had made
. Willie his special care. Mr.. Triggs
intended (when the time came) that
his nephew should study under the
best masters abroad, but, in the mean
time, he should learn all he could from
local talent.
No expense was to be spared to
make Willie the greatest of modern
tenors; that he would be anything
else never. for a moment, was enter
tanned by Mr.. TrigSs. who had said,
more than once, that Heavens great
est gift to man was a lyric tenor
voice. that a bass voice was a neces-
sary evil, and that dcep-toned wom-
an was a visitation of Providence.
Willie had learned from the vii.
lage music teacher all the latter had
to teach, and began preparations for
his trip abroad. The event was cele-
brated by musical entertainment
rendered Willie by the members of
the First fJ,urch ba
concert came off on the eve of the
boys departure. and Mr.. Triggs had
brought score of musical friends
from the city to attest the wonder
ful quality of his nephew's voice.
The church was crowded, and
everything passed off more than sat
iSfactorily until the third number of
no second part of the programme.
fhcn something happened: Willie's
voice had gotten away from him.
While he was in the middle of an
elaborate Wagnerian air his voice sud-
denly leaped three bars over the
clcf! 1t fingered there for an in
slant, and then as suddenly dived be-
low 1t. After see-sawing in this man
ner for nearly minute, Willie sat
down, followed by-silence.
Some thought that the bellows had
burst, others that the organ pipes
were out of joint. but Mr.. Triggs, who
was an authority. raised his hand.
The boys voice has changed" he
said: "and that's all there is about it,"
The gloom that settled over Sunny
vile that night was not lifted for
many months; and even to this day
the wonderful gymnastics that Willie's
voice went through that night are not
referred to without shudder
Willie was entirely oblivious,
strange to say, to that which to
everyone else was painfully evident,
for he continued in the choir notwith
standing the many hints that his res
UlSnaton would be accepted, and that
he should be reinstated whenever his
voice had established itself upon a
less uncertain basis. But he did not
take the hint. until one night at re.
hearsal Squire Bishop, the bass, took
him aside.
Your voice is the most wonderful
thing in the world, Willie" he said
One can never tell what it's going to
do next. One minute it's ballooning
above high c, and the next it's grub
bling under low G. Why don't you
adapt it to sliding scale?"
That's right, Willie" said Mr..
Trainer. the tenor, who had overheard
MIR. Bishop. But If you can ONLY
manage to blend those two voices OF
yours I'll advertise you as the great
and only duetest on earth I'll take
you on the road and make your for"
Before the tenor could finish he Law
SPRAYING under a bench, while VIII
lie, with hands clenched and ewes
ablaze, stood Glaring at the bass.
Look here. Squire Bishop" he
squeaked, I've stood this thing inst
about as long as l intend to stand
it. And if you or any other man saws
word to me about my voice (here
his tones scared skyward) IL will
so help me Bob. I will (now his voice
came from the depths) I'll punch his
head"
In the meanwhile Mr.. Triggs was
waiting with not a little impatience
for the day when Willie with a tenor
note would soothe the souls in Purq,.
tory tSee AUX 1taliens," by Owen
Meredith day which, however
never came. for Willie's voice one
night resolved itself into the deepest
Kind of most untuneful bass.