Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-11-10
$50 IKOKO.

He watched the chattering monkeys
hanging from the Yine-covered trees
His body was creased with oil, and
his little wooley curls were done up
In clay. Ise was stylishly dressed,
wearing bracelets and anklets of she'll
The little fellow rolled his eyes in
every direction, from the enormous
sleeping crocodiles and various water
birds to the white cranes floating like
a great cloud across the sky.
Some day Iso would be a great watch
doctor like his father and use his
great gift from a long line of ances-
tors. He had a wonderful voice, and
could initiate the many sounds about
aim, from the cry Of a bird or animal,
to the hiss of snake, or the rustles
OF leaf. He spent much of his time
with a naturalist who made his home
with the Belgian officials, and often
amused him with his voice. The nat
uralist wanted him to accompany him
TO far away country and learn to
sing beautiful songs This would
mean great sacrifice to Ikoko. for
he wanted to be a watch doctor.
Sidney Carter occupied an obscure
seat in the great theater In Carters
life there had been but one ambition.
He loved music and his felIowman.
His mind had ever been thrilled
with strange and unaccountable melo-
dies. He wanted the world to catch
the music which echoed in his soul.
He had hoped to do this himself.
There was wealth at his command,
but this was not enough While he
had trained under the best instructors,
and his dreams seemed about to be
realized, there had come the disap-
pointment. His vocal cords had be-
come paralyZed. The specialists gave
him up. He could never become a
world renowned tenor
Despair and disappointment had re-
suited in nervous breakdown His
doctor had advised travel Perhaps a
wise providence had guided the stu
dents steps to Africa. He -, would
soon know the worst, for he had in
vested in other talent. Patiently and
secretly he had carried On his. work
until the bill boards had at last an
nounced that Ikoko, the greatest of
all tenors was to appear in New York.
1t was a trying moment for Sidney
Carter. If Ikoko failed. the disap-
hn ho I'd 70
He had spent much money on the YEN
ture. Iso's number was the next on
the program. The audience was eager.
They expected something. :. They did
not even know how the tenor would
look AS the Kongo youth stepped
from behind the curtain there was a
ripple of laughter. Ikoko smiled, and
his ivory teeth were as. white as the
collar he wore. It was like joke.
There was the slanting forehead, the
thick lips, and fat nostrils. Could
this specimen be musical prodigy
Ikoko didn't notice the audience.
This was the great occasion for which
he had SO long trained. He imagined
|
by the Kongo. He would think of
them and the friend who had done so
much for him. He waited a moment.
The great theater was as silent as
though it contained not living soul.
Then the hush was broken. The audi
ence suddenly beheld black athlete
transformed into an artist of beauty
and power. The effect of the singing
defed analysis. 1t acted upon the
souls of the audience. The music had
quality unheard Of. It was natural
and esthetically beautiful. Its deli
cacy and tenderness was combined
with richness of quality, volume and
force. 1t was perfect melody and
harmony, conveying emotion. Iso
Ikoko bowed and passed behind the
curtain.
The audience remained breathless.
The people were waiting. They were
thinking. They had not yet recovered
from the spell. The song had i'm
pressed them. Then the silence was
broken by loud and continued ap-
pIause Ikoko came back again and
again. The house was wild in''its dem
onstration. The manager hurried
back to Sidney Carter.zssssYYeur= fortune
Is made,''s he said! Name your price"
Carriers lips trenbied with emotion.
He was not thinking of the money, al
though he was glad it would be forth
coming II have at last been able to
give to the world my songs he muir
INJURED, as his face radiated his inner
joy.-H. H. Hudson.