The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25

did so because the patient folk in the
street wanted to see over their heads.
The kneeling was absolutely a secular
action, but It had the effect of Christ
mas devotion. There was the picture
Of the throngs and throngs Of people
on all the radiating streets, some in
the shadow. dim buIks of dark, broken
by the lighter tone of the faces; those
in the paths of the light showing the
colors Of their holiday raiment. the
flashes Of millinery, of reds and pur-
pies, of scarlet holly berries at corsage
and coat lapel the bright expectant
eyes, trained on the platform; the peo-
pie on the platform made the sloping
sides of the pyramid-the white sur
plices Of the carol singers, with the
heavy golden cross standing erect in
the light, as if the throngs were
armies of pilgrims from the four cor
ners OF city, about to pay their de-
votions at a Christmas shrine; and as
the apex of the scene was Tetrazzini.
her nodding white plumes as the tip
OF the prospect.
Paul Steindorff, bareheaded, his fine
gray hair flowing from his brow, bowed
to his musicians
It's the last rose of summer, left
blooming alone"
TetrazZini had become a street singer
in the city that had given her fame to
the United States. Tetrazzini was Civ
ing her Christmas present to Cali
fornia- Tetrazzini, the marvellous Ital-
ian woman, had come across the seas
and across the continent to give her
voice to the throngs in California s
city, to add new charm Of romance to
the Golden State, to make a Christ
mas eve party, to sing in the streets
OF city on a night when, according
to the proverb. Santa Claus can only
travel with reindeer and sleigh. In air
that had become almost balmy, Tetraz-
zini sang, giving her precious voice to
San Francisco's element and trusting
that those elements would be true TO
her and return it unblemished. She
won by her faith.
NOTES MINGLE WITH vIOLIN'S SOBS
1t was a piece of poetic contrast for
Tetrazzini to sing THE Last Rose of
Summer" in San Francisco, where
there are no last roses, but always a
perpetual chain OF wondrous posies
blooming in the gardens THE Last
Rose of Summer could never have been
written by a California poet. unless he
were an imaginative pessimist.
The clear notes of the singer sounded
sweet above the sobs of the violins
The throng stood in silence Kearny
street was still. Geary street was still,
Market street. as far as the eye might
see or the ear carry was still. Only
from the stand by Lotta's fountain
came the sweetest sound from human
lips.
The song ended and Tetrazzini be-
came radiant as the crowds broke the
spell of quiet and thundered their ap-
plause, peal on peal, rumble on rumble
from street and street and street.
Tetrazzini was as enchanted as the
crowd. Impulsively she leaned back
and cIasped Mayor McCarthys two
hands in her gloved fingered.
MAGIC SILENCE PREVAILS
Then came the gay waltz song from
Romeo and Juliet. The notes danced
and firted and poised and quivered
and sperkled true and clear from the
wonderful voice. The spell of magical
silence was again on the throng.
The second song ended.
From the throngS in the many streets
came the shout of delight. The roar
of applause, of ecstacy, of artfculate
rapture and gratitude. Gratitude was
strong in the shout of the people that
had stood for hours to hear the singer
Tetrazzini in the role of a street singer
achieved her greatest ovation.
Six years have made a change in
Nine. Tetrazzini such as can come to
years ago, come this spring, an italian
name for herself in Italy and Mexico
what that fame was we knew but
vaguely, came to the Tiyoli opera