The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-08-26

n N 49, JANUARY
1 Madame Heinrich Strassmore
~ sat in the large, lived-in look
ing music room of velours.
mahogany, chintz, bits of good brass,
crystal and books and opened her
large stack of mail.
1t was rightly termed music room.
The big alcove of circular windows
contained grand piano, smaller up
right, harp. two music cabinets and
signed photographs of most of the mu-
steal celebrities of the day.
The last of madame's letters occu-
pied her attention a bit more than the
rest. A brief note in blue and black
envelope with stamped. addressed
envelope of the same blue and black
enclosed.
Finally madame tipped this letter to
the top of handsome marquetry table
and let softly explode the word "twad-
die" from her wide. handsome lips.
Then madame walked out of the
sun-lit, stability pleasant music room,
through a dining room of good old
silver; several still life paintings,
handsome high-backed Heppelwhite
chairs ranged around the well-worn
but handsome dining table and then
into an enormous kitchen.
A cook looked up at her approach
and together there were conferences
over dinner the contents of two large
refrigerators were scanned by madame
and sip out of a large double boiler
range to inspect slowly simmering
Cruel
More conferences with parlor maid
who came into the kitchen Juggling
two pals, an inspection of new lit
ter of kittens under the back porch,
inquiry about the ice mans infected
finger and then madame, who wore
chintz bungalow apron over her tan
morning dress, climbed up the back
stairs to her children's nursery.
Three children who inherited their
mothers sturdiness of figure were hav-
ing their breakfasts of the recently
inspected Cruel, in sunny corner Of
that room with a fraulein who con-
French
There was a frantic clamoring over
madame as she entered. Kisses, tum-
blings, condolences, stories to be told
to her, "pieces" to be recited to her.
even a few tears to be wept to her.
For two hours madame remained in
the nursery.
At twelve o'clock she mounted still
another flight of stairs in the bright
old house, and knocked at door that
led into the sunniest room of all.
At a desk, under a green eye shade.
sat Josef Strassmore, the iron gray
scholarly husband of madame
There was an hours conference
there. The kind of conference none
of their friends had ever looked in on.
Madame and the professor were guilty
of the sort of sophomore absorption
in one another that would have re-
vealed surprising side of one of the
most famous mezzo-sopranos of her
time and her academic husband whose
name was equally eminent in one of
the more special realms Of science.
Considering their years. and. for
that matter, the sedate droop of the
professors shoulders and the enOr-
nous Brunhilde magnificence of
madame they were like boy and girl.
Obviously two people who were still
lovers
At one O'Clock the professor and
madame and the three children
lunched in a small secluded room
known among themselves as "the get
away" because it was there madame
and her family secluded themselves
when reporters or celebrity-seekers
invaded their quiet.
At two o'clock, messenger from
shop arrived with same samples of
chintz for the nursery and. for another
half-hour, madame and the children
and the professor conferred over color
and fabrics.
At three o'clock, the professor re-
turned to his retreat and madame. ac-
companied by fraulein and two of
the children, went in motor car to
the dentist, where madame held little
hands while cold instruments clicked
among small teeth.
At four o'clock madame was back
once more in her home and. at the
sound of her voice. the professor ven-
tured out of his retreat for few mo-
ments, arranged some music with her
and went softly out, closing the door,
locking it, and throwing the key back
over the transon, because already
madame's glorious voice was ripping
and pouring.
For three hours, with brief intervals
of rest, that sonorous avalanche of
melody rang through the house.
Messengers arrived, telephones rang,
servants scuttled on noiseless feet. but
no hand turned the knob of that
locked door.
At seven O'Clock. madame emerged
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