The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-04-17

the applicant, The applicant did no,
return the glance.
We'll. look here. In give vou a
chance; but. mind. I'll give you only
one | can give you a turn tomorrow
night I've chance vacancy. You
can sing that song you just sang to
me and one other. IL you catch on
wen. Vel see. Ill give you your
chance
The applicant bowed himself out.
Ills turn was the first on the pro
gram.
When the great curtain rolled up
and be walked nervously forward TO
the footliehts the audience was not
preposees-ed In his favor.
Tbs orchestra had finished the Intro
duction 10 the song. There was n
pause The conductor glanced nj the
singer
The singers eyes were nxed on the
brilliantly lighted house, tho rows OF
faces. and only three words beat nm.
eeaslngiy on his brain. MY one
ehancs-my one chance"
The conductor brought his baton
Sharply down upon his desk The or
chestra played the opening bars once
more and the singer suddenly began
10 sing. He was shaking from head 10
ioot, and his voice shook Also. II
shook so much that he stopped dead
IN the middle OF the first verse.
sense OF unuttsrable failure and de
spair swept over him.
lie had had his chance and failed.
The manager. In the wings, swore I'M
der his breath and vowed that never
again would he soften his heart 10
any applicant
The audience began 90 fidget impa-
tlently as the second verse began
haltingly. miseTably.
The singers really fine voice had not
chance OF making it's mark because
OF the poor mans nervous wretched-
ness
No wonder that the audience fidgct.
ed.
No wondcr that the livelier souls IN
the gallery prepared a series of cheer-
ful and discouraging remarks 10 greet
the conclusion Of the song or that
little buzz OF conversation was audible
throughout the house.
Nobody knew-how should he-that
this was the singers only chance:
that he had paid his very last dime FOR
cup OF coffee and pancakes IN the
afternoon and was faint with hunger
now; that II he was failure tonight
he would have no roof over his head
tomorrow.
The song was done.
The singer lifted miserable eyes for
a second and then dropped them hope
lessly toward the boards NJ his feet.
II was over. His chance had come
and gonel
And then a strange thing happened.
The theater going public Is a curious
and elusive quantity. You never know,
so 20 speak. when II Is with YOU
But Il possesses one unGailing quail
lty. II Is SO sorry Tor the losing side
That as often MS not It win applaud
he loser simply because he has lost.
There Is something tender kindly ana
generous about the thcatcr going pub.
II, with all ms fruits.
And now. looking down III the fail.
ire on the stage. the gallery. forgot the
.ude remarks II had proposed making.
rhe parquet no longer rccollected those
Kisses II had dreamed or II escaped
he memory II the rest Of The house
hat II had not intended 10 bestow
ny clanplng upon the sorry nerform-
nee. Suddenly great outburst or
pontaneous APPLAUSE broke out In cv.
~ corner ~ the building Alnd the
niger lifted his mlscrabkM IN
mite Amusement 4 man IN the gal-
'ry expressed the feelings that
romptcd the applause as he whis-
cred 70 his neighbor
Poor fellow he said. feels bif
ervous. dont-cher.know Amt had
iuch dinner You may bet your bottom
ollar Feels nervous-ike. a.snglu'
ere FOR The fust time. Let's cheer up
le poor wretch"
The singer was wonderfully. amaz.
Igly chccrcd by TINT strange. unex-
,ctcd burst Of applause II took him
his feet. II put new life into him:
give him new heart. a brightness
lmc into his despalrlng eyes MS he
archcd or 20 get his second song.
The manager whlstled softly under
S breath lie was so Surprised that
forgot 10 swear lie whistlcd IT.
: louder when the singer began 20
ng again. announcement had put
g singer on his mettle
with the applause still ringing IN his
RS. with kindly fresh applause to
Get him as he returned 10 face the
use again. he started his second
ne, He forgot 70 be nervous forgot
crything but that he must sing his
81 FOR those people who had been
"a 10 him.
md he sang ms he had hardly real
d. even 10 himself. that he had Il I'm
n 20 sing
Why, he's q singer. he lsl" said the
~ IN the gallery. "IIc has n voice.