The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1910-01-06
SYMPHONY
at 1.-THE GAIETY"
Ry Alice DaOa Warren.

C~~N~~~-~-~-~-~-~~~-~~ N~-~~~~~-~ON~~-N~~~'
II was amateur night" at The
Gaiety' and the house was packed
Never since the little theatre had been
built was there such an audience. The
manager was beside himself with eX-
element, but the people before the
curtain did not confuse hirs half as
much as those behind. The weekly
prizes Of 81, 81, and IS were always
contested for eagerly by the people Of
the Latin quarter, whose patronage
the house solicited, and more especial
ly this Friday night it seemed. The
manager knew why such an unusual
number elbowed and pushed each 9TH
err in their eagerness to get near the
door The winners Of the coveted dol
lars would not squander them this
week. Instead they would send them
directly to the homeland, where rela-
tives and friends were In terror and
suffering.
They can't all go on, Steve" said
the manager to his assistant, wen
have to thin 'em out. See what kind
Of a turn each one does and take the
best; get the funniest every time. The
people have cried enough this week
they're paying TO be amused tonight
so be careful not to get any weeping
willow acts. Hustle up, now! I'll look
after the seating The law allows US
70 squeeze in a hundred more
The assistant hurried behind the
scenes and began sorting the perform
ers. 1t was no easy task and many
were the threats and curses as one
after another was refused a chance
TO go on. He had almost finished his
selection when he came TO a swarthy
little man in the costume of a Sicilian
peasant.
"Hullo!" said the assistant. What
do you do. Speak up?'
ME playa de plan said the little
man, moving his fingers over an i'm
aginary instrument. Me playa good.
Ye-es."
mo pianists," said the assistant,
moving on. people no like. Get the
hook Understand"
"But-me playa nice. NJ no getta
da hook. Me maka da plan TO TALK"
mo doubt you can make it walk,
but can't let you try. Next"
The little man turned away, mutter-
ing as his fellows had done, and the
curtain went up for the first perform
er,
There was something wrong with
the audience that night 1t was ex-
tremely critical and hard to please
The merriest jokes fell fat and the
cleverest trickster was only family
applauded.
ITS funny" said the manager as he
and the assistant met in the rear OF
the hall. What ails them? That last
song was well done, and mighty
catchy. Why don't they clap?"
"Durued If | know said the other
gloomily AT the rate they're turn.
ing 'em down the whole bunch could
have gone on. What in thunder!
told that fellow to keep off,
The little man in Sicilian costume
was standing in the middle of the
stage. He looked like a bit of ole
Italy with his curly locks and Ions
gold earrings. 81 come TO play to vol
of the homeland" he said in his ma
tive tongue. u have the music tha
can make you See 1t as 1t lies in tn,
sunlight. 1t will make you see tn,
sea, tho olive groves and the clear blu,
sky. Listen"
The audience grew suddenly still al
he seated himself at the piano anC
struck a few soft chords. Then thu
notes began to weave themselves int,
a story, and as the musician unfoldet
it. to his lis,ners his face grew rap
and was beautiful.
They saw an Italian fisherman sit
ting at his nets in his boat on tn,
bosom Of the calm blue sea. lie wa
singing a Sicilian love song. Man,
a man listening had sung the sam
In his youth years ago. A girl cam