New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-12


with delight TO her music And Signor Phidor-would
Sgnor Philior do his portrait; He would pay
He Strengthened, put his enormous hand upon his
chest, elbow out and took dramatic pose Of the head
He was wonderful. Markham brought his
sketching materials and drew him. while the Others
crowded about looking the shoulders Of Monsieur
Phiior, and watched the feat accomplished. Not until
it was done Clcoiontc permitted to Sec 1t would
spoil the pose
And then che magrifCo piHWd! 1t was nothing
short Of a miracle, The nose perhaps little short but
Madye Dict what could expect in twenty minutes
Did not the mustachc need little smoothing, On the
morning OF the performance was Clcoiontcs custom
dress it with pomatum The cap, the earrings, the
mole on his check, everything was AS like as possible
ST. Monsieur Phlidor a great artist, very great
artist-hc Clcoiontc Fabiani, said sol
But when Phillor took the sketch from his pad and
presented it 10 Clcoiontc with his compliments the
athlete delight knew no bounds He showed his teeth
and stood first upon foot and then upon the other
the sketch held before him by the very tips Of his stubby
fingers the Sgnor relnquishing the brmbHo to Hernia
and looking over his shoulder pleased even than
he After that nothing would DO but that the visitors
must stay for supper. Nothing much,-a soup, some
rye bread peas and lettuce; but if they would con-
descend he Fabian, would be highly honorcd. Hernia
accepted with alacrity. She hungry again. Mark
ham smiled, and glanced up at the smiling heavens,
fastened Carissis pack, and brought out roasted
chicken, a loaf Of bread, tin pot, and bag Of
coffee which he brought to the frcsdc.
The Signora insisted on preparing the meal 50 Mark
ham filled hspipc and helped Hernia to the baby
"You will pardon said Fabiani. But this is the
hour Of practice, while the supper is preparing. Luigi,
Stella we will 90 on, if you please
THE child rose rather rucully, Hernia thought, and
took her place upon the mat where under Luigi's
direction She went through the exercises that were to
keep her young limbs supple for the approaching per-
fornanccs 1t was the familiar thing the slow bend
ing Of the back until the palms Oh the hands touched the
ground in which position the child walked backward
and forward the contortons OF the slender body the
split the putting of the legs round the neck. Hernia
had seen these acts at the Ambassadors and at Madison
Square Garden when the circus came; but had seen
them at a great distance under blaze Of light, part
of a great spectacle in a performance that went so
smoothly that gave a thought to the diff
Guilty of achievement There in the silent shadows Of
the wood barred Of its tnscl and music, the rehearsal
took on a different color. She the strainng muscles
Of the child the beads OF perspraon that stood on
her brow the ivid face with its tortured expression.
An exclamation Of pity broke from her lips
as it not enough?' she asked
Cleofonte only laughed through his cigarette smoke.
II seemed like great deal he said. She had not had
her practice Yesterday II would be still easier tomor-
row. And then he Signaled for the performance to be
repeated At last Hernia turned to the baby and
would look no more She tasting life other pco-
pies, at the springs, John Markham had promised,
and it not sweet.
There was a brief rest, after which Luigi and Stella
did an acrobatc performance of tumbling and baanc-
ing in which at the end Cleofonte joined with master
full air, punctuang the acts with cries and handcaps,
and at the end of each they all bowed and kissed the
tips of their fingers right and left to the imaginary audi
ence The rehearsal ended in applause from the visit
ors As for the Signora, having put the coffee on to
boil she was now nursing the bambno
Ceofonte came up putting and blowing and tapping
his chest "The performance is ended he exclaimed,
ain tricks with Tomasso is the name OF my bear,
and in great feats Of strength, as have told you,
wrestling challenge.