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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance, 1921-12-22, Page 2The ' ham A vance1 Published at Winghaar, Ontario Every Thursday Morning A. G. SMITH, Publiaber Subscription rates: -- One year, $2.00: six months, $1.00 in advance. Advertising rates on application. Advertisements without specific di- rections will lee inserted until forbid and charged accordingly. Changes for contract advertise- ments be in the office by noon, Eon- day. onday. BUSINESS CARDS Wellington Mutual Fire Insurance Co. Established 1840 Head Office, Guelph Risks taken on all classes of insur- able property on the cash or premium note system. ABNER COSENS, Agent, ;iTingbam DUDLEY HOLMES BARRISTER, SOLIGiTOR, ETC. Victory and Other Bonds Bought and Sold, Office—Mayor Block, Wingham R. VANSTONE BARRISTER AND SOLICITOR Money to Loan at Lowest Rates. WINGHAM ARTHUR J. IRWIN D.D.S., L.D. S. Doctor of Dental Surgery of the Pennsylvania College and Licentiate of Dental Surgery of Ontario. Office En Macdonald Block. OR, G. H. ROSS Graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons Graduate University of Toronto Faculty of Dentistry OFFICE OVER H. E. ISARD'S STORE W. Re HAMRLY B.Sc., M.D., C.M. Special attention paid to diseases of 'Women and Children, having taken postgraduate work in Surgery, Bac- teriology and Scientific Medicine. Office iw the Kerr Residence, between the Queen's Hotel and the Baptist Church. All business given careful attention. Phone 54. P.O. Box 113 Dr. Robt. C. Redmond M.R.C.S. (Eng). L.R.C.P. (Lend). PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON (Dr. Chisholm's old stand) DR. R. L STEWART Graduate of University of Toronto, - Faculty of Medicine; Licentiate of. the Ontario College of Physicians and Surgeons, Office Entrance: Second Door North of Zurbrigg'e Photo Studio. JOSEPHINE STREET PHONE 2e Dr. Margaret C. Calder General Practitioner Graduate University of Toronto, Faculty of Medicine. Office --Josephine St., two doors south of Brri'newick Hotel. Telephones—Office 281, Residence 151 I SELL The Princess of the violin Be- C. CQURTJ N{ .Y SAVS1.GE. In spite of the light whirl of snow, which everyone said was seasonable, considering that Christmas was only three weeks off, there were a score of people waiting before the ticket win- dow of the Thompsonville motion pic- ture house. John Higgins, the pm- prietor, saw the crowd and smiled. He knew why they 'Were there, twenty minutes before show time, and, with the air of a man regarding a great! possession, glanced proudly at the showy billboard: MARY JENNINGS THE PRINCESS OF THE VIOLIN He read the sign a second and a third time. Then he went quickly into the box office and opening the win- dow, began to sell tickets, It was half -past seven when Mary Jennings made her firet appearance that night, sandwiched between a comedy picture and the big feature of the evening. She was a snalI woman, with dark hair and eyes, no longer really young, and in appearance, for- eign to the .stage. In,her simply cut, dress, she could hardly be called good- looking but she had a radiant smile that was all -enveloping. When the! spotlight caught her as she entered _from one side of the stage, there wase a heavy roar of applause, which the lifting of her violin checked abruptly.! Those out front did not wish to miss a single note. Mary Jennings had played the violin since childhood and she could make the instrument laugh and sigh, weep and sing and dream. As she swayed the bow over the vibrating strings, so she swayed the hearts, of those who listen- ed. She was not a great artist. She played with the divine temperament. To -night she played three semi- classical melodies and then, with friendly smile and words, asked her audience to tell her what they would like. The first two "request" pieces came quickly and then with a joyous clamor they called for Home, Sweet Home—old-fashioned, forever beloved Home, Sweet Home. Just as a cer- tain great singer has always sung that ballad best, so it was the choicest number in Mary Joining's repertoire. After she had bowed acknowledge- ment to their sincere applause, they settled back for the feature picture and Mary Jennings' work was over until it was time for the second per- formance. To -night, as she entered the small, scrupulously clean dressing -room to await the second call, she found John Higgins there, and with him a stran- ger whom he introduced es Mr. Helm. "I'm pleased to meet you, Miss Jen- nings," Helm said cordially. He was a large man and by his general ap- pearance, a man of success. "Yes, he's been waiting to see you —says that he has something very important to say." Higgins spoke al- most eagerly. Then—"I guess you folks can get on without me. You played wonderfully to -night, Miss Mary, better than ever!" "Thank you," Mary Jennings said, smiling, and the stranger, noting the light in her eyes, concluded that the violinist and the theatre proprietor must be more than mere business friends. "I understand that there are always great houses when you play," Helm said as the door closed. Town and Farm Properties. Call and "Yes, they seem to like my playing." see my list and get my prices. I have The woman motioned her visitor to a seine excellent values. - chair and seated herself on the top of her trunk. She was very curious and slightly awed. J. G. STEWART WINGHAM Phone 184 Office in Town Hall DRUGLESS PHYSICIAN CHIROPRACTIC It is easier to keep well than to _e- eover lost health. Chiropractic Ad- Justments i5 the Key to Better Health. They remove the Cause of Disease. DR, J. ALVIN FOX Phone 191. Hours -2-5 and 7-8 p.m. DRUGLESS PHYSICIAN OSTEOPATHY DR. F. A. PARKER Osteopathic Physician, only quaiiflod Osteopath in North Huron. Adjustment of the spine is more quickly cecured and with fewer treat- ments than by any other method. Blood pressure and other examine - tons made. OFFICE OVER CHRISTIE'S STORE "That's what I came about—your playing. One of my advance men heard you in Pembroke last week, He sent word to me and I followed you here. I heard you play this after- noon." "Yes—?" she asked uneasily. "And I'l1 hand it to you—you can play." "Thank you," she smiled again. There was a long pause. Each was thinking. "You don't know who I am, do you?" he asked presently. "You don't place me?" No, she did not plaoo him, "I'm Carlos Helm, the concert man- ager. I'm getting ready a big world tour for one of the bands that I sent out. We're looking for soloists. I think you'd do for one of them4--" "1? For a world tour?" "Maybe. I'd like to try you out." Ifo was abruptly business -like. "I don't know—" she said softly, "No, neither do I. But I could soon find out. Suppose you pion to come into Ottawa nest Monday. We're hav- ing a big concert there in connection with a drive ti'ey are holding. I'm The British Houses of Parliament going to have four or five big mussicaI cover about tight acres of ground. - - We2d out the low producers from the herd. They wilt not return enough to brake it worth your while to take uric of thein, The oldest piece of British music in en:ate-nee is now in the X ritielx Mus neum. It was 'composed in 1226 by et iocnk of the Abbey of Reading, numbers and they're providing the speakers. There's sure to be a crowd and if you get across with that crowd Swell, you'll be able to go with any crowd." The woman's eyes sparkled bat she did not speak. "Now about money. Pm not going to drag you before the public and then have some rival manager grab you up if you make a big hit. How much do you make playing around at these small town theatres? Not much, I'll wager." "I average a hundred dollars a week, though, of course, I seldom get an engagement in the summer—that is, July and August."' "A hundred a week. And you're paying your own expenses," the man smiled. He had an easy task before him. "I'll give you fifty dollars and ex- penses to play in Ottawa.°You'll only have to do four pieces. If you go over right, I'll give you a hundred and fifty a week and travelling expenses to be- gin with. Afterwards you'll have more," "I'll have to think about it," she said softly. "I—it spunds wonderful!" "Yes, that's right—think about it. Show up at the Auditorium in Ottawa about three o'clock on the twelfth. That will give us time for a rehearsal. I've got to run now fcr my train. Good-bye!" He was gone from the room before she could really answer him. She sat there on the trunk, wide-eyed, but blind to the thingsLabout her, until the call for her second performance roused her. The applause was as generous es usual, but it had lost flavor. Ottawa! A world tour! Was she dreaming? When she went back to her dressing room, John Higgins was waiting. "What did he want, Mary?" he asked quickly. "He said that he was a- concert manager. Does he want you to work for him?" She nodded. "Yes, lie said that I was a good player. He said that I might have an engagementwith one of his bands making a world tour. I'in going to play at a concert for him next Mon- day, the twelfth—to try me out." For a minute the man did not .ans- wer. From out of doors came the faint sound of sleighbells as some of the audience drove homeward. "It—it's mighty fine for you, Mary," he said slowly, "but you'll never get any better friends—any folks that like. you more than we do " "I know," she answered him quick- ly. "Still it's my chance, and after all, I'd never get any more money than I'm earning now as long as L play in these small towns." "Money! It don't seem right for you to have to be earning money—why--" "I know," she interrupted him, "I know that you have this theatre and there's the farm that has been such a paying proposition but, John!" a sudden tenderness came into her voice, "i love to play. When I came past the front of the theatre to-n+;'rt and saw that billing, The Princess of the Viplin, it seemed to have made up for•afl the rough places I have travelled. I've been very happy playing here in the small towns but now I want my chance to be great. We can always be wonder- ful friends, can't we, John?" The man nodded but had no word for reply. It seemed to Mary Jennings, as she entered the taxi -cab at the Ottawa Station the following Monday that she bad never been more calm. And she should have been excited! At her feet was a bag containing the handsomest dress she had ever owned. On the seat beside her was her violin, a valuable instrument, bought after years of save ing and self-denial. With these as her allies she was going to face her first metropolitan audience, The orchestra had concluded its first number and -a member of parliament was speaking when she came from her dressing -room, violin in hand, to stand near the wings. It was almost time for her to play. Helm, seeing her standing there, came forward, smiling. "Play like a million dollars to -night and that contract will be ready in the morning. And don't be afraid." She nodded. She was not afraid. If anything, elle was too unafraid! She went silo;+ply forward. There was a sprinkling of applause and she lifted her bow to !,lay. She went through the four numbers, two programmed numbers and their encore% playing with all the skill that had made her -a favorite in the rural districts that hailed her as a princess. The audience, used to greater violinists, perhaps, hut unable to resist the emotion of her music, gave her a more than hearty welcome -and` a most hearty recall. She had only been in her dressing. room a minute before helm knocked. "I was out front," he said quickly, "You made good." ono you really think su?" "Sure—you'll do. I'nr not going to head you any bunk that you're great (Yrisirrzas 3'ard Hovering o'er with their snowy wings unfurled, When all the earth seemed sleeping, Their voices drift to the weary world, Where shepherds their watch were keeping, And the shepherds heard those bright angels sing, The song that proclaimed a Babe a King, See the great star shining, so wondrous bright, So pure in its radiant glory, Go follow its journey and mark its flight, (So the angels told the story), To you glad tidings of peace we bring, Go hasten now to your Christ and King. So they left their flocks and they went their way, As told by those angel voices:— The manger they reached where the man child lay, (Hark! the wise men now rejoice), Then their precious gifts at His feet they fling, They knew that the Babe was their Christ and King. It was Iong, long ago, in Bethlehem, In a manger He was lying, But He died for us, as He died for them, His atonement satisfying, And His voice now bids all His angels sing, Come, hasten now to your Christ and King. —Christina W. Partridge. • but you've got something that gets them and that's what counts." "Then you really think that I could play for big audiences—in big cities?" He nodded emphatically, - "I have always wondered," she said quietly, "and now—" her eyes spark- led. "Well, you've had your answer. You got across. You're staying at the Pal- ace Hotel, aren't you ? I'll call you up in the morning and we'll talk con- tracts," He turned and started from the room but suddenly stopped. "Say, by the way, I've a couple of open concert dates that I've got to have someone to fill. There's on Kingston next week, another in Belle- ville and--" he stopped, looking at her! keenly as if weighing his own wisdom. "Then there's the big Christmas festi- val in Montreal on the 24th. Say!"I he was suddenly enthusiastic. "You can play the kind of stuff that the' mob likes to hear and you play it well. I'll put you on at the Christmas festi- val. That'lI make every paper in the country mention your name." The little woman clasped her hands before her. To play at the Christmas festival in Montreal was a dream that few ever realized. • Her eyes were wide as a child's seeing its first Christ- mas tree. A tear of happiness glistgn- ed on her lashes. Yes! She would play to them the "kind of stuff" that they liked to hear. She would make every newspaper man mention her name, This meant success, the will - of -the -wisp that she had been blindly pursuing for nearly ten years. "How wonderful!" she •breathed. "I guess you can do it!" Helm said 'bluntly. "Good -night! I'll call you in the morning." It was several minutes before she moved. She stood there, thinking, thinking, her brain almost numbed by the glory that had befallen her. This had•been her day of days! When she went back to her hotel she sent half a dozen telegrams, each one cancelling an engagement to play in a .small town. Mary Jenningstold herself that these telegrams were the knives that cut her free for a wonder- ful world-wide experience. It was hours before she slept and from a fitful slumber her telephone rudely aroused her. It was a telegram from John Higgins. "Cannot release you from engage- ment 'Christmas Eve. Have made all arrangements for gala performance. Will release you all the rest of the week." The message angered her. How dare he! When Helm later called her on the telephone; she told him of Higgins' message. "Did you sign any kind of contract with him?" "Yes, a little slip of paper." "H -m! That probably constitutes a contract. Perhaps I can -buy him off." Mary Jennings said that she hoped that it would be possible. "Well, don't worry about it," Helm assured her. "I've got a lot of work for you to do. I've just had word that Albrie, who's been playing in a con-, cert town with -a pianist and Madame! Shavet, the soprano, has been taken sick. I want you to fill in his dates for a few days. Can you start this afternoon?" Could she start? She could have been ready in twenty minutes! It was ten days before she returned to Ottawa and Carl Helm's office. She had not heard from him for several days and was anxious .as to whether she was to start for Montreal at once, or if by any chance, she would' be forced to play the Christmas date at Thompsonville. Thompsonville! Suddenly she almost hated the name. For ten days she had travelled in luxury and lived at the best hotels. She had been playing be- fore audiences who wore evening clothes, who applauded correctly, who understood her music. Of course, the small town folk had been fond of her, and John Higgins loved her. But everything was changed now and sure- ly it was a right change. She found that Helm had gone West 'but had left an order for her. As she feared, he had -not been able to break the Thompsonville engagement. She was to keep it and then report back to Ottawa. He would be back the day after Christmas and then the contract for the long tour could be signed. She was disappointed, so much so • Northern Pines zpiss where the pines for Christmas Stand thick in the crowded street, Where the groves of Dream and Silence Are paced by feverish feet. And far through the rain and the street cries My homesick heart goes forth To the pine -clad hills of childhood, To the dark and tender North. And I see the looming pine -lands, And I thrill to the Northland cold, Where the sunset falls in silence Oil the hills of gloom and gold! And the still dusk woods close round me, And I know the waiting eyes Of my North, as a child's, are tender, As a sorrowing mother's, wise! —Arthur Stringer. 111111. 111 We are so constituted, so truly "members one of an- other," that it is impossible to injure another willingly without injury to ourselves, If we would be good to our- selves we must be good to possibly strike our neigh- bor without receiving the blow ourselves, This is the new philosophy which Christ taught. Before his day it was "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, blood for blood." That was the philosophy of Hatred. The new philosophy is the philosophy of Love. y A Christmas Prayer. . Lord! Grant to us perceiving eyes That, through the gross ma- terial bar, Through earthly mists that ever rise, We glimpse to -day in clearer skies The Guiding Star! How much pleasure we could give and how much unhappiness many of us would be spared if instead of struggling and strain- ing to give silly, useless Christ- mas presents which we really cannot afford to buy we would give freely of what Christ gave —love! that she considered playing sick and so cheating Higgins after all. She shivered at her smallness but argued with herself that she was right. For a whole day she moped about her ho- tel, one minute deciding that she mi;•? ; as well go, the next determin- ing that she would never play in Thompsonville again. In the end, however, duty won, duty plus a queer little feeling of resent- ment. She would go down to Thomp- sonville! She would play as she had never played before! She would wear the gorgeous gown that she had bought with the thought cf her Mont- real engagement in mind. She would show Thompsonville what it would be missing in -the years that were com- ing! It was after noon when she arrived, and she went at once to the theatre to find what part she was scheduled to play in Higgins' gala program. She found the lobby trimmed with ever- green and in a frame of holly was her name with the familiar Princess of the Violin heading. The stage, too, was gayly decorated. A piano was on the stage and the organist of the Methodist Church, the best Iocal mu- sician, engaged especially to play her; acconipaniments. She found, too, to her surprise, that there was to be no; afternoon performance. and only one; that evening. Higgins, so the man at! the box office told her, had gone to his sister's but would be back at seven. Her accompanist would meet her at four tq practice, - There seemed to be nothing .else to do but go back to her hotel room and put in the long afternoon. Last year, she, too, had been invited to John Hig- gin's sister's for over Christmas. But now a change had come. She had be- gun that change herself. At four she returned to the theatre to rehearse, then back to the hotel for a lonely meal and the dragging hours until the evening engagement. She dressed herself more than care- fully that night and the mirror re- flected her image as a handsome wo- man in startling raiment. She had not seen Higgins. She wondered if he were avoiding her. She hoped not, for, after all, she liked John. He had been very, very kind to her and, with hien, friendship had blossomed into love. She smiled when she realized that if she 'had wished, she might be Mrs. John Higgins of Thompsonville, instead of Mary Jennings with the sure prospects of a glorious career be- fore her. As she stepped on to the stage that night, a chorus of "Oh's!" mingled with the thunder of applause. She checked it, almost imperiously, and -played, First. there was a lilting waltz which showed all the fire of her art. Then, scarcely waiting for the silence, she played the ever -beloved Christmas lullaby, Silent Night, Holy Night. The hush of a great peace was over the house. A woman muffled a sob. Mary Jennings felt the. spirit of her own music as if she were hearing another. It seemed to exalt her, to carry her above smallness and unrest. At their insistent demand she played the Christmas favorites they called for: Bark, the Herald Angels Sing, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and Good King Wenceslaa. A child in front started to sing familiar words. Mary Jennings nodded joyotsly to the little girl and called "Sing out, dear! Every- one sing!" And they did. "Come All Ye Faithful!" someone called and the words were repeated from parquet and box and gallery. They sang the mel- ody, quietly at first but in growing volume as the Christmas spirit that was in their hearts overwhelmed them. "Come, All Ye Faithful!" A thought fiilled the brain of the "Pr•in -est " How faithful they were, these "common people" --•vin their daily live;- -in their love for her. She turned suddenly weary. After all, Ale had had but lit - tie sleep in the past ten days. It was The Shepherd's Song. We be silly shepherds, Men of no renown, Guarding well our sheepfolds Hard by Bethlehem town; Baby Jesus, guard us all, Cot and sheepfold, bower and stall. Wild the wind was blowing, Sudden all was still, Laughter soft of angels Rang from hill to hill. Baby Jesus, Thou wast born Ere that midnight paled to morn. Seek we now Thy presence With our gifts of love; Felix brings "a lambkin, I will give a dove. Baby Jesus, small and sweet, Lo, we lay them at Thy feet. —Norah Holland. Mitlt all good xutstxes fox a 4tevj t61xxtstwas tiixd a aPp'IY gew hard to rest. even when one travelled in luxury. She would' play no more to -night. She walked toward the side of the stage and bowed, as if to end her program. "Oh, you've got to play home. Sweet Home!" shouted a middle-aged man down in front and the whole house echoed him. "Yes! Home, Sweet Heine! You've got to play that!" She smiled at them and touched the bow to the strings. "Mid pleasures and palaces--" the simple strain of the music flowed from her violin, and then, "home! home! Sweet, Sweeb Home," and so on to the finish of the melody. Obeying a warm, inward impulse she repeated the re- frain, the bow wandering in soft har- monies and variations. A sob rose in her heart. The old song was right! The old song was right! There was "no place on earth" quite like home. And to her, this little theatre, with the people who knew her best with John Higgins and his sister, was_ home to her. They loved her! There was not one of them that wore perfectly cor- rect evening dress; they might not understand her more difficult musical themes. But they loved her. She was one of them. After the last high, sweet note died. she took no bows, she had to hide, the free -running tears, She tumbled to the little dressing - room and dropped to a chair. They were real people, her own folk. And in the world beyond lay—what? Suc- success? Money? Yes but here were men and women who had driven miles through frosty air to hear her. After all, hearts were more than money, friendship more than fame. There was a knock at 'her door. It was John Higgins She smiled at hfm through her tears. "Crying? What's up? You were more wonderful than ever," he said, "I don't wonder the big world calls you. When you played that Holy Night piece, I almost cried --anti--" He stopped abruptly. "What's up —dear ?" "It's nothing," she smiled wanly. "I'm just tired." "That's all? Sure?" "They all love me so, John! It's been wonderful playing in the big cities but —`there is ne place like home( " and she sobbed outright. Ile drgpped to his kneese beside her chair. He took her hands in his. "You don't have to be tired any more,. Mary, 1 You don't have to fiddle.for city folks. You'll never have, to work again, but just play when y`ou will for the folks. that love you st. Why—" he stop- ped. She knew w at he meant. That the big farm and the theatre could keep them. That he wanted to marry her, The thought was as the sweetest music that filled her soul. It soothed the ache in her heart. "Holy Night!" she breathed softly, almost as if in prayer and leaned closer to him. John Higgiri.s understood. Througi: the :silence of the little. barn -like room Dame to him the glorious message that Mary's heart had won home. -she was giving him the best Christmas gift lin his life, a true woman's love. I E v e r y o 11 e. should regard Christmas as an occasion for clearing his heart of all grudges, for forgiving all offenses and all enemies.. It is a good time to forget and to forgive, a good time to forget self and think of others.