The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1914-05-13
A SINGER WITH
TWO VOICES
Episode In the Life of an
Opera Manager.

cations of candidates for the chorus
A girl with brown eyes and comely
face and figure was admitted.
You are he asked.
"Leonaretta Traver."
"You sing
soprano
After trial of her voice she was
engaged.
Leonaretta sang SO well that she was
! soon cast for one of the inferior parts.
| At the first rehearsal after the assign
ment she astODished the manager by
singing deep contraltO. Few women
| could reach the notes she struck.
whats the matter with your voice?"
asked the manager astonished.
| Don't know. sir"
| "You have been singing soprano for
two weeks and now you have bloomed
into contralto."
Sometimes my voice Is much lower
than at others"
"Your part isn't written for con-
tralto. I'll have to change it or change
you. / don't want to do either"
Il may be able to sing soprano when
90 on in costume"
The manager studied the matter,
looking the while at the girl curiously.
1t was a very strange case.
Leonaretta sang contralto till the
evening of the first performance. when
she came to the theater looking pale
and thin.
by Jove." said the manager, "y0u
look as if you'd been keelhauled! hope
there's no new voice to provide for
"I've had sick SPELL" replied the
girl 81 think my natural voice has
come back"
"What?''
II shall sing soprano tonight"
The manager hurried off to attend to
another matter. but his mind was on
the girl and this remarkable change of
voice When Leonaretta went on she
Itsang soprano like bird and so delight
ed the audience that the manager was
delighted also and cast her for high
er part at the next performance.
managers private Office drawing her
salary, when he looked up at her and
Ifsaid:
Il I'm going to put on piece next
foweek with a mans part in it that
Ewould just suit that contralto voice
you took on not very long ago. Now. if
you could only call it up at will. I'd
4 cast you for- the part and pay you $50
week."
when is the first rehearsal?"
ION the 18TH
~ may sing contralto by that time"
!, "What makes you think so?'
"Well. I'm liable to relapse at any
time and haven't had one for long
while. It's due now
B Nonsense"
He engaged baritone for the part.
swho deserted three hours before the
, performance. Leonaretta was with the
amanager when he received the unwel-
come news.
, " "Tll take the part" she said.
, "You? Has your voice relapsed?"
mot yet. but think it will before 8
, o'clock this evening"
"Well upon my word! Do you mean
, ito say that
r "Ill be here ready for the part
At $40 o'clock she went on with one
of the finest baritone voices that had
been heard in that house during the
season. She had been announced YER
bally rs Signor Barilli to take the part
of the man whose name was on the
!, program At the end of each act ST.
gnor Barilli was called before the cur
tain and at the end of the opera re-
ceived a perfect ovation.
"Now. see here" said the manager
, after the performance. You're "A won.
+ der. You're worth much more than
am paying you. A girl who can sing
soprano or baritone at will is worth a
, fortune. We start on the road next
: week. and If youth go with me and
will guarantee to sing the different
, parts as | may require I'll give you a
l hundred week and all expenses. You
+ + STE. save Tue
expenses of one principal role. I'll
!: make you another proposition" He
g dropped his businesslike tone and
: spoke fervently. You know very well
!. that you have long been my favorite
g in the company. Indeed ! may say
2 that ever since | first saw you I've
, been dead gone on you. Will you
marry me?"
e The girl burst into a laugh.
. Come home with me" she said
land talk it over"
The manager consented, and wheT
they reached Leonaretta's lodgings she
excused herself for few moments
! She soon returned hand in hand with 6
young fellow. the very counterpart Of
herself. her twin brother
Il am Leonard Traver." said the boy
land this is my sister. Leonaretta
When she fell i'll some time ago | tool
her part, though couldn't sing so
: prano. Tonight | sang the baritone
part and received your proposition O
marriage. My sister would answer ii
but now that you know there would b.
two salaries and expenses to pay in
stead of one presume it is with
y drawn"