The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1913-07-03
ACHANGE OF
VOICE
By LUCY K. WYNKOOP

deed, the manager knew that he could
not do without her. But just ut the
time the piece was becoming popular
Miss Manning was taken i'll
Gordon. the manager. was beside
himself with disappointment He put
on Miss Manning's understudy, but she
did not please the public. The first
week that she sang there was q per
ceptible falling Off OF the receipts. The
second week showed that he must get
some one more capable of taking the
part or he would make a considerable
loss. He was In despair when he re-
ceived a note from Miss Manning say
ing that she was much better, but that
her illness had affected her throat and
changed her voice. 1t was now more
like a tenor than a soprano. Her ply
stefan had given her permission to go
out the next day and she would call
on him.
When she appeared he sat down at
the piano and asked her TO sing He
was very much puzzled. Her voice
had become tenor but high pitched.
and certain notes could not be told
from those Of 4 woman. He won
dered If he dare put her on again. 1t
would depend largely whether the
audience should be sufficiently pleased
with the lady's acting TO overlook the
defect In her voice. He resolved to try
her.
When she made her entrance upon
the stage the managers heart was up
in his throat. When she began to sing
he watched breathlessly the effect
upon her hearers. They seemed to
be puzzled Those who had heard
Miss Manning before were the most
puzzled OF all. 1t was Miss Manning,
but not Miss Manning's voice. And
yet there was something in 1t they
liked. 1t seemed to them that the sing
er was trying to make up for the
change in her voice by her superior
action. No one had ever seen her play
her part as she was playing It now.
When the first act ended there was
a hubbub OF discussion. All, or nearly
all, had heard OF her illness. and 1t had
been published that 1t had affected her
throat. Some claimed that her voice
had been spoiled. some that 1t had been
improved. A few declared that 1t was
more like a mans tenor than a WON
ans soprano. All agreed that 1t was
not the same voice as before.
BY the time the opera was finished
the audience realized that they had
heard and seen something that. what
ever 1t was. had pleased them. The
singular change in Miss Manning was
noted by the critics In the next NOM
ing's journals. and a great deal OF Gu
riosity was aroused. Evening came.
and there was a full house. The sec
ond night all seats were sold before
the date Of the performance and after
that were engaged a week ahead.
But one evening both the manager
and the audience received surprise.
The moment Miss Manning began to
sing 1t was plain that she had recov-
cred her original voice. Some were
pleased; some were not. The change
in her voice was accompanied by re-
turn Of her former inferior action.
Those who looked for superiority in ac-
ton were disappointed: those who
looked to the music for their pleasure
were pleased, for in the voice they had
heard Immediately after the lady's
sickness there was often a seeming
strain.
The critics in their mention OF the
matter in the newspapers were diver
sified In their opinions. Some Of them
had consulted throat specialists to
learn how a voice could be so changed
by disease and so suddenly recovered,
but had not derived much information,
since the doctors had not treated the
patient. The change back to the origi-
nal voice created as much comment as
tho change from the voice. Miss Man
| ming has completely recovered said
one. "You don't mean It? Does she
sing as well as ever?" Better" Il
must go and hear her."
And so crowds focked into the the
alter, and every night cards were put
up. STANDING Room Only" The man.
ager was delighted. What he had fear
ed would be a great pecuniary loss had
turned out a great pecuniary success.
Every day large profits were turned
into the bank, though Miss Manning
claimed -. -.iare Of the profits.
an a few months the interest in the
prima donna began to lag.
Cant you manage to get sick again
| end coma out of IL with n different
voice?" asked Gordon one morning aft
er a thin house.
Certainly can" said Miss Man.
ming, 'but I doubt II the public would
be as easily imposed upon a second
time. The critics might get on to the
humbug."
"Humbug. What humbugf"
"I'll tell you tonight In the green
room"
She went away, laughing, while Cor
don looked after her with a puzzled
expression. When he met her again
that evening she had with her twin
brother.
"This is my tenor voice." she said.
ITO help you and myself out when I
could not sing furnished him as my
substitute. He couldn't do his best
because he was obliged to use a sort
of falsetto most OF the time to make
his voice a soprano instead Of high