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By Root 916 0

never pay back a money, t'ink was all friendship. Sing in grand opera, marry a banker, get da money. Got da money, kick out a banker, marry a baron, get da title. 'Ave a sweetie on a side, guy she like to sleep wit'. Den all travel together, all over Europe, grand opera to grand opera, 'otel—a baron, 'e travel in Compartment C, take care of dog. A banker, 'e travel in Compartment B, take care of luggage. A sweetie, 'e travel in Drawing Room A, take care of coloratura—all one big 'appy family. Den come a decoration from King of Belgium—first a command performance, Theatre de la Monnaie, den a decoration. All coloratura 'ave decoration from King of Belgium—first a command performance, Theatre de Ia Monnaie, den a decoration. All coloratura 'ave decoration from King of Belgium, rest of a life twiddle a Ia valiere, talk about a decoration."

"Well—Los Angeles is some distance 'from Belgium—"

"No, no distance. Dees girl, make you no mistake, is big stuff. You know what make a singer? Is first voice, second voice, t'ird voice—yes, all know dees gag. Was Rossini's gag, but maybe even Rossini could be wrong. Must 'ave voice, yes. But is not 'what make a singer. Must 'ave music, music inside. Caruso, 'e could no read one note, but 'e have music in a soul is come out ever' 'note 'e sing. Must have rhythm, feel a beat of a music before conductor raise a stick. And specially coloratura—wit'out rhythm, wit'out music, all dees ha-haha is vocalize, not'ing more. O.K., dees Veeda. I work on dees girl one week. She sing full chest, sound very bad, sound like a man. I change to head tone, sound good, I t'ink, yes, 'ere is a voice. 'Ere is one voice in a million. Den I talk. I talk music, music, music. I tell where she go to learn a sight-read, where learn 'armonia, where' learn piano. She laugh, say maybe I 'ave somet'ing she can read by sight. On piano is a Stab'at Mater, is 'ard, is tricky, is Rossini, is come in on a second beat, sing against accompaniment t'roW a singer all off. I say O.K., 'ere is little t'ing you can read by sight. So I begin to play Infianunatus, from a Rossini Stabat Mater. Madame, dees girl hit a G on a nose, read a whole Infiammatus by sight, step into a C like was not'ing at all— don't miss one 'note. I jump up, I say Jesus Christus, where you come from? She 'laugh like 'ell. Ask is little 'armonia I want done maybe. Den tell about Char!', and I remember her now. Madame, I spend two hours wit' dees girl dees afternoon, and find out she know more music than I know. Den I really look dees girl over. I see dees deep chest, deer big bosom, dees 'igh nose, dees big antrim sinus in front of a face. Den I know what I see. I see what come once in a lifetime only—a great coloratura. I go to work. I give one lesson a day, charge one a week. I bring dees girl along fast, fast. She learn in six mont' what most singer learn in five year, seven year. Fast, fast, fast. I remember Malibran, was artist at fifteen. I remember Melba, was artist at sixteen. Dees girl, was born wit' a music in a soul, can go fast as I take. 0. K., you 'ear Snack-O-Ham program?"

"Yes, I did."

"A Polonaise from Mignon, is tough. She sing like Tetrazzini. Oh, no, Madame, is not far from Los Angeles to Belgium for dees girl. Is no good singer. Is great singer. 0. K., ask a pipple. Ask a pipple tuned in on a Snack-O-Ham."

Mildred, who had listened to this eulogy as one might listen to soul-nourishing organ music, came to herself with a start, and murmured: "She's a wonderful girl"

"No is a wonderful singer."

As she looked at him, hurt and puzzled, Mr. Treviso stepped nearer, to make his meaning clear. "Da girl is lousy. She is a bitch. Da singer—is not."

This seemed to be all, and Mildred got up. "Well—we're all entitled to our opinion, but I would like if, if you don't mind, if you'd send your bills hereafter to me—"

"No, Madame."

"Have you any particular objection?"

"Yes, Madame. I no enjoy a snake bite. You come in 'ere, you try to make me play little part, part in