Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-07-24

The little, gray, bent and wrinkled
cid man shrank back behind the drap-
cries of the proscenium box, trying to
screen himself from the large audience
that was fast filling the theater. He
fslt the box was far too grand place
for him 1t was better to sit farther
back when one came to hear the music.
He knew a place up in the gallery to
which the music from the stage SEEM
ID to float and center. Now If he
could be sitting there-he put the
thought aside as disloyalty to HER.
She had sent him the order for the box,
enclosed In q loving note, which he
had placed In q pocket that lay over
his heart 1t was wonderful that she
surrendered He was so accustomed
70 being forgotten, that her remem-
brance gave him a joy so intense it
was almost more than he could bear.
~And be sure, Papa Mertz, that you
50 not leave the theater until I have
seen you," ran the closing lines of the
note signed adele"
1t was a name known throughout
artistic, a famous singer, a beautiful
woman in the full glory OF her beauty,
and yet, with all this, she was as un-
assuming IN manner, and as gentle in
spirit, as In the days Of her girlhood,
when she began her musical education
under the guidance OF Papa Merit.
He was Professor Merit then; the
leading musical instructor in the town.
He had come to the place when the
city was IN Its baby clothes, and he
had stayed to see 1t grow to size
where 1t aped the manners and GUS
toms Of metropolis, and, rushing by
him, left him forgotten. He had not
thought to teach, In the beginning of
his career. He had his dreams of
gwaylng thousands with his music
and it was his bitter disappointment
20 discover that he had not the genius
magic OF the music that went singing
through his brain.
Zach, Gott!' he cried in his despair,
when his fingers would not bring from
the plano the melody that filed his
soul 'It viii not come oud. 1t Is
here, und here" he said, touching his
heart and head, "but 1t will not come
oud. Ach, Gottw
And so he came to America and
went to the thriving town in the west,
driven by the necessity of earning his
daily bread to reIinquish his hopes of
greatness. As a teacher of the voice
and plano, fame came to him in
small way. He was a painstaking in
Structor, fostering and developing tai
ant and genius when he found even
their semblance in a pupil, and con-
scientiously striving to do what he
could for those whose case was hope
less. Throughout the drudgery of it
al he held fast TO his enthusiasm, and
his love for music, hoping always that
some one gifted would come who,
through him. should attain the heights
be could not reach. The care and at
tention he gave to his pupils gained
MIN the title OF Papa Mertz, uttered
With kindly thought, even when spoken
Iestingly.
Youth had forsaken him before he
found the embodiment Of his hope.
As instructor OF music In the public
schools, he was always on the alert
for some one with voice that held
the quality for which he was search
ing. AT last he heard 1t. his quick ear
detecting In the chorus Of young
voices one which was filed with the
magic 1t was then he found Adele,
and, as soon as possible. he spoke to
her
Come by Ine," he said. q gif you
private lessons"
But l have no money 70 pay for
them" Adele demurred. 1--WE are poor.