Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1908-04-09
THE OLD LADIES
ENTERTAINMENT
ny DELLA THOMPSON LUTEs
(Copyright.)

the private parlor of Miss Alicia Rad
ford, violinist, soloist and vaudeville
star, Hotel du Nord, rose from the
satin-tapestried chair and drew her
slipping furs up over her shoulders
THE poor old creatures have so few
treats, you know" Miss Radford and
Miss Lockwood, pianist and accom-
PIANIST, rose also, and looked their
sympathy.
|. Il think it's good of you Miss Van.
couver, to go to 80 much trouble in
preparing treat for them And
what shall we play?" asked Miss Rad
ford, moving toward the door with
their guest. - -e
och, something good you know.
Something classical and-er-reli-
gious, suppose That's the kind of
music old ladies generally like, isn't
it? They're all real old, you know,
and i'll, some of them, and they've
really seen better days, poor things,
and will appreciate good music.
"Then III say you'll come directly
the afternoons performance is over
she said. It's 50 good Of you; hard
ly dared dream you'd come. Two such
famous performers"
Its not 80 long since we we're in
famous performers" laughed Miss
Lockwood, "and, anyway, we're al
ways glad to do anything of the sort.
You'll let them know
'Tu go straight there now. It will
be their dinner hour and I'll tell them
to assemble in the parlor ats it
four o'clock"
THAT will do nicely"
Il sha'nt be able to be there myself
at that hour, and I'm awfully sorry,
for I'd love to hear you, but I've an
engagement week old for four. You
won't mind? The matron will take
care of you"
Four o'clock found half a dozen old
ladies, out of a membership of so,
gathered in the big parlor of the
home
Where's Mrs. Brainerd?" asked
one. "She's generally the first down
when anything's going on
She said,' volunteered another
quavering voice, that she wasn't
coming. She said they always sang
and played the same old things, and
she's tired Of them"
Another, leaning upon crutch,
paused in the doorway and looked in.
II had half mind" she said, mot to
come down the stairs for it. thought,
though, beings they're from the stage
maybe they'd play something a little
different"
The matron passed along an upper
hall and noting the many occupants
| of rooms who were not taking advan-
tage of the invitation, asked the rea.
son.
We'll hear all we want up here"
one informed her. Its sure to be
high-class' music, such as Miss Van
couver considers good for the com.
fort and elevation of our old souls,
and l. for one, can hear all 1 want
from here Others voiced the same
opinion in different manners, and
when, punctual to the minute, the
Misses Radford and Lockwood ap-
peared with music roll and violin box,
but few more than the original half.
| dozen met them.
'The Angels Serenade," most soul
fully and exquisitely executed by Miss
Alicia Radford, cpl ned the program,
and while ups jairs one old head nod.
ded to another as if to say, Il told you
so,' and here and there door was
closed, not too quietly, the parlor au.
dience greeted the finale with polite
if mild enthusiasm. The Holy City,
and "Jerusalem' followed, and their
conclusion found three out of eight
asleep.
The Miserere from II Trovatore
awoke the slumberers.. and the pierc.
ing sweetness OF its wall drew tears
from eyes whose brilliancy had long
since been washed away Poor old
Anna Tanning, weak Of intellect and
gentle of heart crept to stool in the
hall and sat wiping her eyes with her
apron and sobbing softly.
Profound silence greeted the end
ing. There was a depression of at
J mosphere that communicated itself
even to the hearts of the performers
They glanced about at the quiet old
faces, furrowed and scanned with
years and sadness.
For heavens sake, let's play some
thing more lively" whispered Miss
Radford to her accompanies, and
broke into a gay little mazurka which
to her relief. had the effect of dispel
ling, to some extent, the gloom, and
moved old Anna Tanning to hitch he1
stool a step nearer the door.
rs there anything in particular
you'd like us to play?" asked Miss
Radford. gently, when the mazurka
was finished. For few moments nc
one spoke. and then one, more rotund
Of body and brighter of eye than the
others, ventured her desire.
Do you-can you-play Hiawatha?'
she asked timidly.
The girls looked at one another and
smiled. Hiawatha was q BIT old and