The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-05-21

home. and we're only waiting in
= London until il was time TO take
, the steamer from southampton. Alice
Ingram had seen Thorolds name on
one OF the bills that advertised the
-hundredth night OF his new opera
and on the chance sent note 10 the
theatre. asking him to call at the
Albemarle the next afternoon. She
had not seen him since early in the
spring. In Paris. when he had seemed
in a fair way OF being spoiled. and the
reports kind friends had given her or
him since were no, encouraging.
Thorold was one OF the Thorolds Of
Salem. All OF his immediate ancestors
had been born in Salem. and had gone
hack there 10 be buried, but had lived
in Boston and on the Continent. The
family had no particular characteris-
ticS." except the invariable good looks
OF its members and their strong Purl-
tanIsm. which they had inherited, and
which had developed itself IN the case
OF the women into something very like
prudery. and which had made prigs OF
the men. Their discreet actions and
we'll Regulated lives had always shown
as strong a family likeness as had
their fine proiles. and when Archie
Thorold developed into a musical
genius he was looked upon with sus-
plcion as the only member OF the fam-
ily whose conduct before the world
needed the slightest explanation.
He developed this taste very early in
his life, and composed Christmas
anthems and hymn tunes at the age
Of fifteen. at which time he was play
ing the organ in the Episcopal church
az Salem. Later while at Harvard, re
wrote the music for the Hasty Pudding
theatricals; and two Of the comic songs
Of that production. notably The Night
That McManus Went Broke" were
sung all over the United States.
Thorold's elder brothers did not regard
this as fame, and hoped he would give
up writing music Of any class after
leaving college: but he went OF TO
Baireuth. and from there to Munich
from which place they heard OF him
occasionally as being very busy study
ing thorough bass. He returned each
winter, and went to dances with his
sisters in perfectly rational and
charming way; but he was on again
in the spring. and when next they
heard Of him Lady Maud Anstey's
amateurs and some officers had played
and sung in a cantata he had written
them for a charity entertainment; and
a romantic opera, called The Cru
saders," OF which he had written both
score and book, was about to be pro-
duced in Paris. This met with sue
ces. in London, and later in New York
as well, and his family finally. on tho
first night Of the operas production
in Boston, experienced the sensation
Of seeing one Of their number leading
an orchestra. It was a marked social
asyell as theatrical event, and Thorold
looked very young and very much IN
earnest An he leaned forward and beat
his baton at the violins and scowleo
at the ladies Of the chorus. 1t was
after this that he wrote The Well OF
Truth"
This was a love-song, and almost
any one with the most Indifferent voice
could make others with any feeling
weep or sigh as it was sung to them.
By the time Thorolds second opera
. had been produced people had grown
tired Of saying what a wonder 1t was
his head was not turned, and wanted
b something new to say. so they said 1t
was such a pity so nice boz allowed
himself to be spoiled. and the critics
and paragraphers who had stumbled
over one another in their haste to be
among the first to recognize the new
composer now FASTENED TO- point out
that the young genius who had awak-
ened to find himself famous had never
"a
old had not given much weight to me
papers at the first. and so did not mind
their change Of tone at the last. or
their hints that ne was repeating him.
self, and that he was. after all, only
a clever plagiarist, and had too reten-
tive a memory. This had been said or
better men than he. But he did mind
what his friends said. for he believed
that they could be actuated only by
interest in his best self. and he was
at that time engaged in watching his
best self critically to see how well 1t
was withstanding this sudden shock OF
admiration and easily given sympathy.
"Confound my Puritan ancestors
anyway" he said ono day to Alice
Ingram. It's all their doing. They
gave me an artistic temperament and
an iron bound conscience. and expect
mo 10 decide which one OF them is
going 70 win. They won't compromise.
ui course.
That's right" said Miss Ingram.
ren,lesslv. Put all the blame on your
ancestors. or course you lave no re-
sponsibilitie2."
Alice" Thorold protested. meekly'
don't you think a Good Angel might
occasionall. be sympathetic?
YOU know don't like being called
a Good Angel" Miss Ingram answered,
81, sounds like such horrid sort or
a person; and. besides. you get sym
path enough from silly girls. and
Ict OF married women who ought TO
know better.
This was In Paris. Since then the
world, as far as the world could judge.
went very we'll with Archibald Thor
old. but Miss Ingram. through mutual
friends and from his infreQuent let
ters knew hat a struggle was going
on between the artistic temperament
and the Puritan conscience, and she
was very sad as TO the result IL
.seucd to her that the very fact that
me world was so ready to excuse so
much IN so charming and brilliant a
Young man for the work he had done
made il all the more necessary Tor
him 10 keep himself untarnished from
rho world and to refuse to accept its
irdulkences. because they were 10
easily given.
II was this quality IN Alice Ingram