The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-21

OIh sun. f-fle GESCElBeS nCl pEDltG5tIiA
/ as making people smile.
/ You mustn't think that 1 am OF even
attempt to be the funny man in the
show" she explained to friend who
I saw her for the first time since the re-
! verses in her fortune. You know what
I can dO-nothing i'm particular, but Just
d little of everything. 1 could always
sing well enough to amuse the home
/ folks and our intimate friends, but new
[ er thought of taking part in concert.
My painting and sketching are of about
l a like degree of excellence, while as 10
| reading aloud I never took a lesson in
I my life nor tried to do it outside our
home circle.
Well when all the stocks that had
supplied me with an income stopped
paying dividends 7 saw that 1 must
either get busy or content myself with
living on my friends I had few Of
/ fers of assistance, but / decided to do
my own stepping into the breach.
Il knew of woman who was said
to be suffering from melanCholia. l had
never met either the woman or any
member Of her family. but friend who
did know them was always telling me
what hard time her family had to
keep her amused and how perfectly
CHASTITY it was for them to have her
around.
About the only thing l knew about
the woman was that she had been de-
voted to music and had studied abroad.
] had done that much myself. Without
asking for a letter of introduction from
my friend. I presented myself at the
door of the melancholy woman's house
and sending up word that I was a friend
of Mrs. Blanks asked to see her.
she received me in her private sit
H..rrT
her that ] had understood from my
friend that she had studied abroad un-
der a teacher Of whom I had heard. and
that I had taken the liberty of coming
to ask her if she thought her teacher
would approve of my way Of singing a
certain song of his composition.
II didn't speak Of her as a recluse or
i'm any way refer to her health. ] put
the question before her just exactly as
though she was still actively keeping
up with her music and the musical
world. She forgot herself sufficiently
to go downstairs where ] could use the
piano.
After singing that song I sang 9th
ers, several Of them. songs knew she
must have heard while studying abroad.
Then I went back and sang the first
song over. This time to the criticisms
she had given my first Interpretation
she added other suggestions, and sang
for me-.
7 was there just one hour. and when
1 babe her goodbye she urged me to
come again. 1 suggested a date a week
later, but changed it when she thought
two days later would be more cOnven-
lent.
"On my second visit the piano had
been moved up to her sitting room and
she had out a lot of her music. Just
before taking my leave that day 1 ex-
planned TO her that my object in fresh
ening up my music was to earn liv-
ing and why that step was necessary. /
That was another way of taking her
thoughts away from herself, and as
knew her to be well supplied with
means I was quite willing to accept her
offer to pay me for coming an hour
twice a week to play and sing to her.
Another musical client of mine is a
man over so. He is very fond of music,
and he insists that he sleeps. eats and
feels better for my visits. He is semi
invalid, and / go to him every evening
after he has been put TO bed.
1T is a weird performance. From
where I sit al the piano I can see the
old gentleman propped up among his
pillows in the next room listening until
ne falls asleep. He insists that he can
lttdt lA4E DEttEI Wiltii he GdIl SEE lie. 50
the piano cannot be moved.
Sometimes he wants songs without
the piano. then again he wants the
piano without my singing often he
falls asleep within a few minutes; then
again l have to stay more than two
hours. That is a strain, but I am well /
paid, both in money and gratitude.
Though the old man is the father of
a large family. he is now entirely alone
i'm his home. He explained to me that
early in life, when he lost his wife ne
determined that all his children should
have the same chance Of living their
own lives that he had had. He wouldn't
make the mistake that so many fathers
and mothers have made of allowing a
child to sacrifice his life for the sake
of keeping from feeling lonely.
His children all visit him once a day,
and one Of his daughters comes down
town every evening and sees that he is
tucked in bed comfortably. When I
make my appearance this daughter
leaves and I sing OF play him to sleep. /
He calls it good music, but you know
/ couldn't earn my salt on the concert
stage or giving lessons.
My two clients who require my ef-
forts as an artist are both devoted to
china painting. Neither of them would
be able to pay regular teacher to
come to her for the same length Of time.
As they are both confined to their rooms
it would be impossible for them to take
lessons in class
81 spend two hours a week with each
of them and receive IS in return. We
paint all sorts Of things on china. which
I understand are used as presents for
the friends of the invaHds While
painting of course we chat. Oh. not
about anything i'm particular, just
whatever happens to be going on in the
world
I've always had a ready tongue. /
though it may not be backed by a very
profound brain, and it stands by me
now that I have to fight for my bread. /
I find that gOOd-natured chat, inter
spersed with the current news goes a
long way with people who are shut off
from the outside world.
"A young man to whom 1 am now
reading every day confided to me a few
days after ! began with him that he
had decided to take his own life He
was allowing me to read to him. ne /
said, because his friends wished it and |
he was worn out opposing their wishes I
That night I had what has proved 4
to be an inspiration. The next morning /