The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-12
A SOPRANO
TENOR
BY NORMAN THORNDYKE

were luleuueu lOT. W upl. WAS Ca
aiming candidates for my first lady "a
part young woman came to me who
desired the position. l tried her voice,
but could not quite place IL. 1t was
not exactly soprano nor was it ex-
actly an alto, being between the two.
Sometimes 1t sounded a little like q
mans tenor. did not exactly fancy
1t, but no other woman presented her.
self for the position except one who
wanted too large salary, and i en-
gagged the applicant. Miss Winifred
Richie she gave rs her real name and
told me that was at liberty to use ii
ON the bills.
Miss Richie was very good look ing
young woman. Sic was attractive in
all respects excepting that in ordinary
conversation her voice vas pitched
/ rather low for a woman and seemed
trifle harsh. But ais did not prevent
her turning the heads OF several OF
the male singers. Marionelli, my tenor.
whose real name was O'Grady, became
desperately smitten with her, and his
attentions being not to her liking was
|
in constant dread Of losing one or
both OF them in the middle of the sea
son and out on the road. where l could
not repair the deficiency.
The trouble with O'Grady was that
he was not man OF any refinement
and no rebuff could stand him off. One
day my leading lady came to me and
said that II l did not find way to
relieve her of his attentions she would
take the matter into her own hands.
what course will you take?" ask
ed. will you stick pin in him."
NO; I'll stick nothing into him. but
he'll get an eye that will keep him of
the boards for week"
/ smiled at the idea OF woman
repelling lover In such fashion. Then
/ asked he, in what way O'Grady Of
Tended her. She replied that in love
scenes on the stage which they were
compelled to act together he was much
more demonstrative than was neces-
sary in q stage embrace.
l had talk with O'Grady. in which
/ told him that Miss Richie would no
longer accept his attentions, and uil-
less he would let her alone | would
send him of as soon as could replace
him. But my warning was not effec-
tive. In the very next performance
he offended again. Nothing occurred
until the curtain was lowered at the
end OF the act. when Miss Richie land
ed blow on O'Grady's eye that turn
ed 1t sickly green.
/ was much put out with Miss Richie
for incapacitating my tenor and rated
her soundly
Miss Turnlee, my understudy." she
said. rs quite capable of taking my
part, and | will take OGrady's part
WHAT
an take o'Grady's part. l can sing
tenor"
After she had convinced me that she
was serious tried her voice and found
that 1t was a far better tenor than So
prano.
What does this mean?' asked her.
ut means that | can sing in two
different voices"
The next performance was given as
she had suggested, Miss Richie being
dressed as man, and she produced
far better impression than OGrady.
Indeed. as a man singer she was OF
far more value to me than O'Grady
or than she was in a sopranos part.
His love for Miss Richie had not
been enhanced by the blow he had re-
,eived from her, and now that he had
been discharged on account OF it he
was in fury with her. He rushed
nto the wings and began to abuse her.
When she had given him the black
we she had taken him una Now
lie confronted her as an enemy. But
he had the advantage Of being untram-
neled by skirts and stepped toward
lin with clinched fists. Naturally
verse to such an alteration with
Woman he had so recently loved. he
etreated. But she followed him up
nd by quick stroke landed her fist
nder his jaw, lifted him off his feet
nd sent him spra wiling on the boards.
Hearing something drop. | ran to
be scene of action and prevented any
lore lighting. put O'Grady out and
Did him not to show himself to me
r any of my company again.
The next day l made new contract
18th Miss Richie. doubling her salary.
, sing tenor parts and put her under
Judy permanently in her place. My
nor was soon recognized by few
ersons who had seen him in wom-
rs part. and it began to be whispered
lat he was Miss Richie and not
gnor Marascherio. as he was advef-
sed The fact that ] had woman
nging a mans pasts drew the curl
is. and my attendance increased. lit
me they became so large that gave
Y tenor another raise. and finally he
as receiving as much IN a month
before he had received in year.
| brought my company back TO my
arting point when the warm weather
me on and disbanded It. asked
ISIS Richie If she would sign a con
act for the next year. and she agreed
do so on condition that her true sex
ould be known. Then a secret came
L
Tom Thurston. a good tenor singer
10 could sing marvelously like wo-
in in falsetto. hearing that ! wanted
soprano. had appeared to me in wo-
ms sarb and applied for the place
Miss Richie.