The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-10
IheSynphony

since the little tneatef 0ad Deel
built was there such an audience
The manager was beside himself
with excitement, but the people be
fore the curtain did not confuse hin
half as much as those behind.
The weekly prizes of 81, 81. and s.
were always contested for eagerly by
the people of the Latin quarter
whose patronage the house solicited
and more especially this Friday
night 1t seemed. The manager knew
why such an unusual number ell.
bowed and pushed each other in their
eagerness to get near the door.
The winners of the coveted dollars
would not squander them this week
Instead, they would send them direct.
ly to the homeland, where relatives
and friends were in terror and sui.
fering.
"They cant all 60 on. Steve" said
the manager to his assistant, well
have to thin them out. See what
kind of a turn each one does and
| take the best; get the funniest ev.
cry 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 to squeeze
in 100 more"
The assistant hurried behind the
scenes and began sorting the per.
formers. 1t was no easy task, and
many we're the threats and curses as
one after another was refused q
chance to 60 on. He had almost fin.
ished his selection when he came to
swarthy little man In the costume
Of 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
imaginary instrument. ME playa
good. Ye-es."
mo pianists," said the assistant,
moving on. People no like. Get the
hook. Understand"
"But-me playa nice. Me no getta
da hook. Me maka da plan to talk"
mo doubt you can make 1t walk.
but l can't let you try. Next"
The little man turned away, NUT.
tering as his fellows had done, and
the curtain went up for the first per.
former.
There was something wrong with
the audience that night. 1t was ex.
tremely critical and hard to please.
The merriest Jokes fell fiat and the
cleverest trickster was only family ap-
plauded.
ITS funny" said the manager as he
and his assistant met in the rear Of
the hall. What ails them? That last
song was we'll done and mighty
catchy. Why don't they clap"
Il don't know" said the other.
gloomily. AT the rate they're turn.
Ing EN- down the whole bunch could
have gone on. What! l told that
fellow to keep o."
The little man In Sicilian costume
was standing In the middle Of the
stage. He looked a bit Of old Italy
with bis curly locks and long gold
earrings. Il come to play to you Of
the homeland" he said In his native
tongue. Il have the music that can
make you see II as It lies In the sun.
light. It will make you see the sea,
the olive groves and the clear blue
sky. Listen!"
The audience grew suddenly still
as he seated himself at the piano and
struck few soft chords. Then the
notes began to weave themselves In.
to story. and as the musician un.
folded It to his listeners his face
grew rapt and was beautiful.
When he stopped. the crowd broke
into frenzy OF applause. Men sobbed
and women screamed.
"WhatIl he do next" asked the
manager. THE man is a wizard.
That's fine! He's playing the Italian
National air. Hurry up. Bowley. and
throw the pictures Of the king and
queen on the screen before they stop
singing. The roofll fall with their
noise"
When the lights were turned on
again the excitement had spent itself
little. the man who had caused II all
was gone. A reporter for one Of the
dailies came hurrying up and seized
the manager by the arm.
How'd you get him. Davy?" he
asked Where is he? l want to in.
terview him. Quick. before he es.
capes."
Hes gone already" said the man.
ager. Il wanted to see him, too. He's
just the man for the place"
The reporter stopped him. DO YOU
mean to say YOU don't know who he
was" he cried. "IIe was Lorenzo,
the great composer"
Il was thinking some of hiring him
ut 10 per-" he said. The next minute
he added thoughtfully: What do you
suppose made him do it? He must
have had reason
Hurrying homeward was the little
man in Peasant costume.
All they understood" he unused.
Il knew they could. They loved il for