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The Brussels Post, 1921-12-22, Page 2The Princess of the Violin By C. COURTENAY SAVA .,C,�. lis, , 114:‘, � In sipite of the light whirl aaf :,low, number's and they're providing the which everyone said was seasonable, r peakere. There's sere to he a crowd considerii g that Christmas was only f that sad if you get across with crowd three weeks oft', there were a /gore ,xf'• ...well, you'll be able to go with any people waiting before the ticket win -1 crowd," dow of the Thompsonellle motion pic-) The 'aeneen's eyes sparkled but she Lure house. John Higgins, the -ern- did not speak.d sm prietor, saw the crowd 'aniled.! "Now about money. I'm not going He knew why they were there, teveety' to drag you : before the public and minutes before show time, and, with then have some rival manager grub the air of a man regarding a great you up if you make a big hit. How possession, glanced proudly at the much do you make playing around at showy b}ilboand': I these small town theatres? Net much, MARY JENNINGS t I'll wager," THE PRINCESS OF THE VIOLIN I "I average a hundred dollars a week, Ire read the sign a second and a though, of course, I seldom get an third time. Then he went quickly into engages, ,alt in the summer—that the box office era' opening the win- July and August.' is, dow began to sell tickets./ "A hundred a week. And you're It was half -past revert when Mary'paying your own expenses," the man Jennings made her first appearance smiled. He had an easy task before that ntpht, sandwiched between a him. con edy picture and the big feature cf "I'll give you fifty dollars and ex- t e -•.ening. She was a serail woman,:pensee to play in Ottawa. You'll only with dark hair and eyes, no longerhave to do four pieces. If you go over • re_elly young, and in appearance, for- right, I'll give you a hundred and fifty e:gn to the stage. In her simply cut a week and travelling expenses to be - dress, she could hardly he. called good- gin with. Afterwards you'll have locking hut she had a radiant smile more.' that was ell -enveloping. When the "I'll have to think about it," she epotlight caught her Cis she entere'l said softly, "I—it sounds wonderful!" from one tide of the •Cage, there was' "Yes, that's right—think about it. a heavy rear of wepl:wee, which the Show up at the Auditorium in Ottawa lifting of her violin checked abruptly. about three o'clock on the twelfth. Those cut front did not wish to miss That will give us time for a rehearsal, a single note. I've got to run now for my train. Mary Jennings bad played the violin Good-bye!" since childhood and she could make the; He was gone from the room before inseeeee nt laugh and sigh, weep and she could really answer him, She sat sing and dream, As she eeneed the' there on the trunk, wide-eyed, but bow over the vibrating stria„ s, so eine blind to the things about her, until the swayed the hearts of thee« wee littera' call for her second performance roused ed. She was not a great art'. t. S:hn her. The epplau.c was as generous as usual, hut i, had lest flavor. Ottawa! A world tour! Was she dreaming? friendly smile and wordy, aekee iter SV hen she went back to her dressing audience to tell her what they would{ room John Higgins was waiting. like. The first two 'requiem. pieces' ' What did he want. Mary?" he came quickly and then with a joyousasked quickly. "Be. said that he was , a concert manager. Does he want you clamor they called for Home, Sweet: to work for him?" Home—cad-fashioned, forever beloved She nodded. Home, Sweet Home. Just as a cer- "Yes, he said that I was a good taite great singer hae always sung thee, player. He said that I might have an ballad beet, so it was rhe chs rest engagement with one of his bands number in Mary Jennings repertoire.' making a world tour. I'm going to After she had. bowed acknowledge-? play at a concert for him next Mon- ment to their eancere applause, they /my the twelfth—to try me out." rattled back for the feature picture' For a minute the man did not ans- and Mary Jennings' work was over war. From out of doors came the faint until it was time for the second pea; formance. sound of sleighbells as some of the To -night, as she entered the small, l audience drove homeward. scrupulously clean dressing -room to' It•• -it's mighty fine for you, Mary," await the second pall, she found John; he said slowly, "but you'll rever get Higgins there,' and with hint a stran.: any better friends—any folks that like ger whom he introduced es Mr. Helm.: you more than we do " "Ian pleased to meet you. Miss Jen -1 "I know," elite answered him quirk - nines," Helm said cordially. He was; ly "Still it's my chance, and after all, a large man and by hie geneeea a N never get any more money than pearance, a man of success• ef- I'm earning now as long as I play in "Yea, he's been waiting to see you ale- a small towns." ---says that he has something very ! "Money! It don't seem right for you important to say." Higgins spoke al.: to have to be earning money—why ' most eagerly. Then ---I guess you `I know," she interrupted hint, "I fold's can get net without, me. You; kn w that you have this theatre and played wonderfully to -night, miss, there's the farm that has been such Mary, better than ever!" t a paying proposition but, John!" a "Thank you.," Mary Jennings said, Sudden tenderness came into her voice, smilntg, and the stranger, noting the •I love to play. When I carne past the eight in her eyes, concluded that the front of the theatre to -night and saw violinist and the theatre proprietor' that billing, The Princess of the Violin, must be more than mere business' it seemed to have made vp.for all the friends. i rough places I have travelled. I've "I understand that there are always been very happy playing here in the great houses when you play,' helm; small towns but now I want my chance said as the door closed. t to be great. We can always be wonder - "Yes, -they seeni'to like my playing." fel friends, can't we, John?" The woman motioned her visitor to at The man nodded but had no word chair and seated herself ore the top iforreply' of her trunk. 'She was very. ctarithu9! It seemed to Mary Jennings, as the and slightly awed. entered the taxi gab at the Ottawa "That's what I carne about—your Station the following Monday that the playing. One. of my advance men/ had never been more calm. And She heard you in Pembroke last week. Re: have been excited] At her feet sent acrcl to me and I followed you;w•as a hag containing the handsomest here. I heard you play this after - !dress ahe had ever owned. On the seat noon." i beside her was her violin, a valuable "Yes—?" she asked uneasily. instrument, bought after years of say - "And I'll hand it to you—you can'' ing and self-denial, With these as her play." t allies she was going to face her first "Thank you," she smiled again.I metropolitan audience. There was a long pause, Dade was; The orchestra had concluded its first thinking. !number and a member of parliament "You don't know who I am, deoe came speaking when she cae from her you?" he asked presently, "You dant! dressing -room, violin in hand, to stand place me?" near the wings. It was almost time. No, she did not place hint. ' for her to play. Helm, seeing her "I'm Carlos Heim 'the concert man- standing there, cams ferward, smiling. ager. I'm getting ready a big world "Play like a million dollars to -night tour for one of the bands that I sent: and that contract will be ready in the out, We're looking for soloiats. I morning. And don't be afraid." think you'd do for one of them—" She nodded. She was not afraid. If "I?' Per a Werke tour?" I anything, she was too unafraid! "Maybe. I'd' like to try you Oue."I She event slowly forward. There watt Ho was abruptly business -like, a Sprinkling of applause and she lifted "I don't know—" she said softly, ! her bow to play. 'She want through "No, neither do I. But I eoeId'soon!'the four numbers, two programmed find out. Suppose you plan to come; numbers and their encores, playing foto Ottawa neat, Mnd oay, We're hay-/ with all the skill that had made her a Jog a big concert there in connection, favorite in the rural districts that with a drive they are holding, pen' hailed her a; a princess. The audience, going to have fauror five, big MOS iced used to greater e'iolitilets, perhaps, but unable to resist the emotion of her music, gave 'ler a more than hearty welcome and a meat hearty recall, She had only been in her dressing- room a minute before Helen knocked. "I was atit front," he said quickly. "You made good." "Do you redly think so?" "•Sure ---you'll do. I'm not going to hand you any bunk that you're great. played with the donne L,,upe'rtn'nt. To -night she played three .t•.;'a- c!aasical meledios me! then, with C risimae ° Ba al 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 sung 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, Ga hasten now to your Christ and King. So they left their flocks and they went their way, As told by those angel voices:— The oices:—The manger they reached where the man child lay, (Hark! the wise men now rejoice), Then their precious gifts at His feet they icing, They knew that the Babe was their Christ and King. It was long, long ago, in Bethlehem, In a manger He was lying, But He died for us, as Re died for them, His atonement satisfying, And His voice now bids all His angels sing, Come, hasten now to your Christ and King. —Charistina 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?" I•Ie 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 one in Kingston next week, tenet:_er 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!" 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'll make every paper in the country retention 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 glisten- 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! Ill 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 hotelshe sent half a dozen telegrams, each one cancelling an engagement to play in a small town. Mary Jennings told 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 front 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," Hahn assured leer. "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 Shaver, 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 net 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 oilier, and Jahn 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, hehad not been able to break the Thompsonville engagement. She was to keep it and then report back to Ottawa. He would be •bade the day after Christmas and then the contrast for the long tour could 'be signed. She was disappointed, so much so Northern Pines I pass where the pines for Christmas Stand. thick in the crowded street, Where the groves of Dream and Silence Are paced by feverish feet. And fax 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 On 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. tee._... .:.,-_..ym,, .._:. -. '.�. . alai :, •.(_...._. 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 n e w philosophy which . Christ taught. Before his day it was '"An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, bloed for blood." That'was the philosophy of Hatred. The new philosophy is the philosophy iif`Love. 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! 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. ftatititallgopu'wisTtes'foxu Worm (&lXvlstnr,'ts tricot It gap1 J gran Scar. . that she considered playing sick and so cheating Higgins after all. She shivered at her smallness but argued withherself that she was right. For a whole: day she moped about her ho- tel, one minute deciding that 'she might 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 at resent= meet. She would go down to Themp- sonve/le! She would' play as she had never played beforel She would wear the gorgeous gown , that she had bought with the thought of 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 local mu- sician, engaged especially to play her accompaniments. 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 to 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 tome. ,She clod '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 ell, she liked John. He had. been very, very kind to her and, with him, 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 choclted it, almost imperiously, and played. Firstthere 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 aver the j house. A woman muffled a sob. Mary Jennings felt` the spirit of her owns. music as if she were hearing another. It seemed to exalt her, to carry her, above smallness and. unrest. At their insistent domand she played' the Christmas favorites they called for: Hark, the Herald. Angels Sing, It Came Upon the Midnight Clear and Good' King Wenceslas. A child in front started to sing familiar verde. Mary Jennings nodded joyously to the little, girl and called "Sing out, dear! Every- • one sing!" And they slid. "Come All i Ye Palthfull", someone called. and the/ words were repeated from parquet and box and gallery. They sang the mel ody, quietly at first but he growing volume as the Christmas spirit that ' was ih their hearts overwhelmed them,. "Come, All Ye Faithful!" A. thought filled the'' brain of the "Princess," How' faithful they were, thee° "common People"—in their daily lives --in their love for her, She turned suddenly weary, After all, she had haat bet lit- tle sleep in the past ten days. It was FM alta lila ., f:.-----i+'.:-4«rM:..,.. A CHRISTMAS 'TREK FOR THE BIRDS .After you have enjoyed your Christmas tree n it - •birds, TIe y areturat over this tine rarelyto-the Pressed to find food, especially if the wtimeinter'back is a yarseveredand otne, Take your Christmas tree out into. bed it don with presents' for the thirds•; that.. is, pre- pare efood'tree for 'them. ; Quce..you. try it, you will be amazed at how they birds will flock around the tree, eating,. chirping, and ere oying.themeelves, • Try to make your tree looli ate rough: as possible like an overgsw p littered with insect eggs and larvae. Only trees cut for this purpose should, -be used, for the 'hot liquid food I ant going to tell you about will kill a live tree. Valuable fruit trees in the yard or. orchard should not ,be used, In preparing the food for the tree,. melt 'beef or mutton suet and stir in other foods such as henna -seed, white' bread, meat, millet, poppy -seed, 'sun- flower -seed, ant eggs or dried berries,. and then pour • the food while it is at the boiling point on the 'branches of the tree. You should have about twice as much suet as any other kind of food, and in spreading it over the branches of the tree try to make the tree. look as much like a. tree covered with insect eggs and larvae as you can. After the suet has cooled'' if you will remain quietly near, you will soon see the birds flit into their Christmab tree and begin •peeking off the fine• presents you have placed there for them. I am sure that if you will try it you will experience a doubly pleas - hard to rest even when one travelled ant Christmas. Should' there he bird in Iuxury. She would play no more boxes already distributed about the to -night. home, the birds. having grown ascus- . She walked toward the side of the tamed to seeing you often, will pro - stage and bowed, • as if to end iter ably fly to the food tree quicker than gt if strange birds have to be newly at- tracted in this way. But don't be- come discouraged if.no birds appear clan down in front and the whole the first hour, for they have not yet house echoed him. ,"Yes! Home, Sweet' learned that you have given them a Horne! You've got to play that!" She i Christmas tree. smiled at them and touched' the bow To make a special new Christmas to the strings.' 1 tree for the birds, take an evergreen, "Mid pleasures and palaces—" the l if possible, but any kind of tree will simple strain of the music flowed from "do if you tie sheaves of wheat, corn - her violin, and then, "Hemp! Home!. stalks and evergreen branches all over Sweet, Sweet Home," and so on to the it to make it dense. If it is a large finish of the melody, Obeying a warm, tree it may lee hung with wire baskets inward :impulse she repeated the re - containing suet boxes with fronts re- (rain the'bow wandering in soft lar mover], containing nut meats, millet, monies and variations. A sob rose in sun-floner seeds, wheat cracked corn, her heart. The old song was right!,'bread-crumbs, rolled oats, etc. Cocoa Tho old song was right! There eves. nut shells cut in half and filieS with "no place on earth" quite like home.' dainttes that tits birds love can also And to her, this little theatre, with be hung front the branches. Have sew- the people who knew her best with.elral shelves on which place apples; John Higgins and his sister, was home lettuce, cabbage and vee tab?es. Of to her. They loved lien! There was not course, the suet preparation can also one of them that wore perfectly corer used on this tree. rect evening dress; they might not! Other foods that they eat at this understand her more difficult musical time of the year, but which are not themes. But they loved her. She ryas' especially suitable for putting etc one of them. After the 'last high,/ Christi -nes trees for them, are raw bis - sweet died, she tock no bows, she meat, pork rind, doughnuts, dog bis - had to hide the free -running tears. other notarid led,f peas ntThese She tumbled to the little dressing - can better boplaced on feedingruits. t room and dropped too chair. They. tablas, were real people, her own folk. And' and if you prefer, you could give the in the world' 'beyond lay—what? Sue.' birds a Christmas dinner instead of success? Money? Yes. but here werei a Christmas tree. mart and women who had driven miles At this season, too, birds need grit through frosty air to hear her. After to enable them to digest their food all, hearts were more than money, properly. ri oy' Sand such as canaries eat friend hip more than fame. i Have at least one or two deepboxes There was a knack at hor door. It almost filled. with cotton, whee the was Sohn Biggins She i:miled"at hirci through her tours. half -frozen birds can find shelter end p " v j'warmth. Many birds suffer from. thirst Cryion. Whtha uev You ssmd. during the 'winter. Heat a brick or more wonderful than ever; he sa}d. large stone and place ae pan of water.. "I don't wonder the big world calls you. When you played that Holy 'cm it. Night piece, I alntosb.eried—and—" 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 no plate like home,' " and she sobbed outright. He dropped to his.kneese beside her chair. He took her hands in his, "You don't have to be tired' any more, Mary. You don't have to fiddle for city folks. You'll never have to work again, but just play when you will for, :the follcs that love you .best. Why-" he stop - pea. She Icnew what 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 Higgins understood, Through the silence of the little, barn -like room came to him the glorious message that Mary's heart lied won home --she was giving him the best Christmas gift in his life, a true woman's love. Everyoneshould 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. pro program "Cli, you've got to play Home, Sweet Home!" shouted a middle-aged Holiday Goodien. Here are sometimely recipes for Christmas goodies, to be used as gifts or consumed by an appreciative family: Make• walnut wafers if you have walnut trees" To one pound of walnut meats add one pound of brawn' sugar, two eggs, six even tavblespoonfuls of flour, two-thirds tzaspoonfui cf welt, one-half teaspoonful of baking pow- der, Beat eggs very tight, gradually acid sugar, then salt, flour, and nuts, which have been 'broken, not chopped; drop in small spoonfuls on a greased pan, and bake in a moderate oven. Banbury tarts are toothsome. They require two eupfole of raisins, seeded and chopped, one cupful of sugar, one lemon. Grate the rind of the lemon and add it and the juice to the raisins and sugar. Let the mixture stand over night or for several hours. Cut rounds of rich pastry which has beets rolled thnt, half fill them with the mix- ture, chid cover 'like turnovers, pinch- ing the edges together. Bake ii deli- cate 'brown, A large pop -corn ball is' made thus Make a syrup of two cupfuls of granu- lated sugar and one-half cupful of water cooked together to the thread stage. Pour slowly over four quartd of popped corn which is still warns. Dip :the hands into cold water' and rapidly form the corn into one largo ' ball, Roll the ball in freshly -popped cern and set it in, the middle of the - table in a bed of evergreen branches, for a centrepiece. To serve it, break off pieces with a large fork. •This is an attraction for a Christmas or NOW Year's party.' t "Though Christ a thousand times In Bethlehem be born, If He not born in thee, Thy soul is all forlorn."