The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-16
M E N, w O M EN-
A N D TIL l N G S

ohSc III grand opera th"t -'A'S
cided to comply with it, although
hope it win be my last.
1t came about in this way. On FRI
day afternoon after. ociocl. it was
found out that Madame TetrAzzini, on
account of serious throat and ear com
plications, was going to be unable to
fill her engagement. that night.
From p. m. things began 10 hapben
lively and only those in the midst or
the excitement have any idea Of the
anxiety of all concerned. First of
ger and then for her manager, the
manager of the theatre and for the
managers of the All-Star Coacert.
The madame stood to lose her voice,
while the others stood to lose their
money; but / want to say tnit all OF
those whose pocketbooks were affect
ed, lost no time in bewailing their fate.
but set about to see what could be
done to relieve as far as possible the
disappointment of the public.
Now, when some weeks back the
publicity was started that the great
diva was to sing in Birmingham, i was
interested because ! knew that II would
be my pleasure to hear the queen OF
Song" but little did l dream that
such a prominent way as to have to
make my bow three times to the brill
liant audience before the final curtain.
/ might, however, begin at the first
and work forward, for when | got down
Wednesday morning l went with Mes
danes Johnston and Shipman and
friend Sig Bauer down to sidetrack
at the Louisville and Nashville station,
where the private car of the concert
party was parked, to have the pleasure
of meeting the members of it
1t will be recalled that IL vas most
trying day. The weather vas extreme
ly warm and to add to the unpleasant
ness. it was unusually humid. [ have
learned that 1t is easy to stand extreme
cold if the air is dry, just as it is easy
to put up with hot spells If there is no
humidity. It's the low visibility which
gets the air pilots as well as the dwell
ers on terra firma
We all got out in a rain and were
ushered into the car which was almost
steaming, and the atmosphere laden
with cut flowers 1 read recently the
life of noted English singer who was
knighted by Queen Victoria, and was
astonished to find that ne and other
artists were at times greatly affected
by the presence of flowers on the stage,
in the concert hall, or in drawing
rooms. The odor in many instances
lowering their vitality and making i'll
difficult to sing.
But I'll not pursue the very interest
ing subject of doors, but tell som ething
about the visit. We were cordially
greeted by w. H. Leahy, the manager,
who manages for the love Of managing
Just think of any one being able to get
sport out of having to do with tenn
peramental artist; yet, come to think
about it. / am sure it is a sporty prop
osition for fellow is liable to get his
moneys worth in being an impressario.
While waiting for "the Queen of
the three charming young men who arc
such splendid foils for the madame
The names of the trio being Max Greg<
ma cellist; ]. Henri Bove. flutist, aud
Francesca Longo. pianist. All of them
are fine types of young America with
laudable ambition to make names for
themselves in the musical world
through hard study end gruelling prac-
tice.
After bit in came Tulsa" do not
think / am taking any liberty with
her, but I set it down here that while
knew that this was her first name,
never dreamed that any mortal man
would have the temerity to call her by
it, and yet that is just the way she was
always addressed or spoken OF by Mr.
Leahy. I put him down at once as
most unusual individual. fer no crdi-
nary person would have been bold
enough to take such liberty
She is not one OF the kind who is
always worrying because she is not
sylph like, but good humoredly makes
a joke out Of being fat. can't put on
paper the way she let us know that
the heat was getting the best of her
for she is Italian and eyes and hands
and mouth were all talking at once. 1t
is always a Joy to one to come in con-
tact with man or woman who isn't
afraid to let themselves go and make
use of every feature which nature has
given them to express their personality.
After a pleasant visit l went back to
work and soon the concert was out OF
my mind But on the tail OF the aft
ernoon OF Friday. as I said before,
things began to happen lively DR..
Rucker had been called in ard given
orders for Madame Tetrazzini mt to
sing if she valued her voice. It was
expensive advice, when one took a.
short, view Of it. but in the long run it
was cheap. for it behooves a singer to
God has given them.
There was a hurry call Tor a confer
ence at the Jefferson between all OF
the managers interested IN the even
ing's performance. They viewed the sit
luation from every angle, and finally
came to the conclusion tna- the public
was entitled to hear the part of the
programme which could be carried out.
got an s. Q. S. call to come 70 the
Jefferson as quickly as possible. re-
ported and learned that was to be the
mouthpiece to acquaint the audience
with the facts.
l am no amateur when 1t comes to
facing audiences, for have looked into
the faces OF about a. many different