The morning journal-courier., 1908-08-20
The Pianist Sits in the Forest of Arden on Thirty
 fourth Street.
MANY TRIED, FEW CHOSEN
There Is No life in the Forest Trees for They Are Only
 Canvass.

 playing scales, On .he right side of the glade sat another man at desk. He listened carefully to the women who stood beside the plano, a moment at time, says the New York Evening Post, either beckoning to them or way ing them away
 There was no life In the forest trees. standing in stiff canvas groups, but continual waves of sound vibrated: there was the scraping of violns and tho booming of horns in some myste- | rious recess out of sight, and a thud- ding of hammers and mallets, with woven through the blur. now and then. soaring note from one of the singing women. l For the Forest of Arden was the stage of the Manhattan Opera House. And the man at the desk was Oscar Hammerstein, picking his chorus for the coming season. They filled the big auditorium quite appreciably, the own CTS of the voices. several hundred of them. All sorts were there, young and old. some hopeful, and some down. cast long before their turn had come.
 It is not simple task, picking an opera chorus. Each singer had her lchance unRrudgingly but brace of notes was often sufficient to show that a woman was utterly unfit. Even the layman could tell the difference be- tween tho candidates who had sung before and those who were beginners. Nervousness was an inevitable con lcomitant of lack of experience Time and again MT Hammerstein called a girl over to him and said. not unklndly:
 You are nervous, no? Why are you SD fooishP It Is nothing Sing out. unafraid. and be yourself"
 Or. perhaps. If girls voice sounded hoarse and hard. or If she looked weak he would tell her to go outside to the physician who was waiting. 10 have | her vocal cords and lungs examined The idea of having a physician In at- tendance at the trying-out was a new ono MT. Hammersteln thinks that many women who seem unable to sing at first trial are really only laboing under temporary handicap. due to lack of attention to their throate. And. on the other hand, many women who seem to he able to sing. are possibly 1 just about to lose their voices. Conse- quently. the doubtful ones were all re- ferred to the physician.
 Most of the seats In orchestra and galleries were covered with billowy folds of mosquito netting Around the edges of this area were scattered the candidates and their friends. with a few outsiders who had dropped in.
 "A country girl her face radiant with success. turned away, and, once more. the accompanlst heckoned The next from the long line which stretched back into the wings came forward slowly. trying desperately to appear self-con- l hdent and sure of herself She wore a draggled skirt and shrtwaist; her hat was tipped forward over face that care and toll had marred. One of her sister candidates just behind her snlck- cred A sweet-faced girl near by prodded the jeering one with an un- brells handle.
 Don't do that" she whispered Aren't you ashamed? The poor old thing"
 The singer was unaware of this bit of byplay. She 'yGs at the plano. her shoulders hunched The accompanlst looked at her doubtfully. and ran his fingers over the keys. Instead of the fresh notes that had come from the throat of the country girl. there was a harsh beginning MT. Hammersten raised his hand That Is enough" he said
 A buxom German girl followed The color came and went in her cheeks, but she clasped her hands bravely, and fol- lowed the notes that tinkled from the piano as best she might Because of her nervousness her voice was weak, and Mir Hammerstein called her to his ta- be.
 "you are nervous" he said Have you sung before7"
 Yes In Germany"
 "Well. you must not so foolishly be nervous You have pretty voice Now give me your name and address We will cure you of the nerves"
 After the German girl came person impressively dressed in what can onl, be described as creation" Her skirts rustled and she radiated conhd ence, none hand she clutched mus. lc-rol The accompanist she favored with a beaming smile. and bent hel head graciously to give him lnstruc. tions,
 When she sang, all leaned forward only to be disappointed. The voice wal thin and only fairly true.
 "I'm so glad you like my singing, she said at the desk. Down in Louis vile. where I come from. they say have quite a reputation. My repertory Is very wide. Ask for anything yot wish and I'll be glad to give it to you.
 The next candidate also carried z roll of music. With quaint half-cour tesy she stepped to the piano and wait ed for the opening note. It was blair that she was scared to death. But when she sang It was with all the ease of the mocking bird She retired blush ing happily, and every one clappet softly.
 Occasionally woman would ster from the shadow of the wings and al the bare sight of her Mr. Hammersteir would clap his hands
 You need not sing" he would say !. You have been In my chorus before Give me your name and address again please
 Whereupon the singer went away happy in having been remembered
 Women who had been studying mus Is were eaeily distinguished by their absolute lack of stage fright, Their training was brought out in many ways, even to the extent of making their carriage more graceful One who