PS 3515 .P4 L3 1905 Copy JlpdOtberhitk%im By Herbert l^ippe Hsjpbly ^-^ivar)d o r iViusic Ivau6t)t!er ar)a Love t^^ 4*" 4"^ Apd ObI)er Libble Tl)ii)^^ Ii) Pro^e ar)d Yer^e 4^ 4" BY HERBERT KEMPE HAMBLY Cover Design By MacLean Libbey. OBSERVER PUBLISHING COMPANY Washington, Pennsylvania 1 905 LiBftARYof 0CN6RESS Two Copies Receiveu IViAR g 1905 A Oop^riicnt Entry «LASS ^ XXc. Not /0C>99o OOPY B. ts^ ^-r^^,:r.r i .-J Copyright, 1905 BY HERBERT KEMPE HAMBLY. Press of Observer Job Rooms, Washington, Pa. i Autl|nr'a Nntp. previously appeared in various publications, but for the most part, they first see the light of day here. If you are "nothing if not critical," prithee delve not deeper into these pages ; but if, on the contrary, your sense of justice be tempered with mercy, to you I commend them, trusting that with a spirit of kindness and gen- erosity, you will overlook the many faults, and that you may find some few virtues. 'Tis but a trifle, but such as it is, I offer this little volume to the public without further apology, and lovingly dedicate it TO MY MOTHER. CONTENTS. PROSE. THE LAND OF MUSIC, LAUGHTER AND LOVE 5 The Story of a Violin. BABY 22 An Actor's Story. DOLLY DERRINCOURT'S NOBLEMAN 32 A Story of a Chorus Girl. MAT 38 The Story of a Super. SPRINGTIME. 44 A Pipe Dream. IN AN OLD GARDEN 48 A Fantasy. VERSE. HAPPY JAPPY 53 A V^AR TIME HYMN 54 THE CUP 56 THE SILVER LININ' 57 YOU AND 1 58 RIGHT OR MIGHT 59 THE DRAMA FOR THE MASSES 60 MY LADY MOODS 61 THE SHADOW 62 MEMORIAL DAY 64 THANKSGIVING 66 AN EPILOGUE 68 The Land of Music, Laughter and Love. "The Woi-ldly Hope men set their Hearts upon Turn Ashes — or it prospers ; and anon Like Snow upon the Desert's dusty B^ace, Lighting a little hour or two — is gone." — Omar Kliuytjum. I. ,(/-' ^-^A. HE theatre was an old one, dirty, ill*lighted S^ try ^ and uninviting looking. In its day it had % T y been one of the most important in the city ^^\^/i^ but time changes many things and now in- ^ stead of the great stars who once "fretted their hour upon the mimic stage" of the house, third rate actors in cheap road companies performed on the time honored boards. And this week a popular price repertoire opera company was in possession. The curtain had just fallen on the first part of the night's bill which was made up of two well known one- act operas. The orchestra pit was deserted save for the instruments which lay around on the chairs while the musicians took a rest in some mysterious cavern under the stage. "Poor house to-night", remarked the piano to the clari- onet as it looked over the audience. THE LAND OF MUSIC, "And just as chilly as it's poor", replied the clarionet. "Not half so chilly as the actors will be at the end of the week when they find that the ghost isn't going to walk", growled out the trombone. "That's no pipe dream", squeaked the flute. The old violin lay quiet amidst all the chatter and said nothing. After a few minutes silence the cornet looked at the violin and remarked : "What's the matter with you to-night, old lady ?" "I'm just tired", replied the violin. "Tired", yelled the trombone, "and what the devil right l^ve you to be tired ?" "Well, I think I've every kind of right", mournfully replied the string portion of the little orchestra. "For one thing I'm sick and tired of being played upon by such a miserable apology for a musician as the so-called violinst you call your leader." "Oh indeed, and doesn't he play well enough for your royal highness ?" mockingly asked the cornet. "Play!" cried the violin with increasing wrath. "Play! Why he doesn't know the real meaning of the word music. He's a mere mechanic and a bad one at that. He ought to be playing a grind organ instead of a violin." "Well, I guess he gets as much out of an old fiddle like you as anyone could", sneeringly remarked the piano. The old violin shook with rage. "Don't call me a fiddle", she said. "There's more blue blood in my veins than the rest of you ever even dreamed about. I've mixed LAUGHTER AND LOVE. with better company than any one of you ever even heard of, you — you — bunch of tin pans. Music indeed ! What do you or the masters of any of you, know about music ? Nothing. Why I could tell you tales about music that would make you rattle in your chairs. You may think I'm lying but I tell you right here, that before any one of you were made I was electrifying the world with the music my master made with me. You may think that because I'm old, and because the music that comes out of me now is poor stuff, that I'm a nobody, but let me tell you who I really am. I'm ." "Well, who the Dickens are you anyhow ?" said the trombone with a grin as the violin hesitated. The excitement had weakened the old violin, "What's the use of telling you ?" she sighed wearily as her strings quivered with emotion. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you and even if you did believe me you wouldn't understand." "Listen to my lady high and mighty", squeaked the flute. "She's no better than any of us for all her airs", said the cornet sharply. "She's full of her master's dope." From the corner of the orchestra pit, the bass drum who had been silent up to now, rumbled out an oath. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves, all of you", he said savagely. "Don't you know how to respect the feel- ings of an old lady. Keep your vulgar tongues still and let her tell her story." 8 THE LAND OF MUSIC, The bass drum's remarks had their effect. The other instruments were all more or less afraid of him for he was an old timer in the business and had made stage thunder in his day for many of the greatest players. Consequently he was looked upon as somewhat of a personage. "Thank you", said the violin quietly, "and now as my friend the bass drum wishes it, I will tell you a story about myself that cannot fail to surprise you, knowing me only as you do as the squeaky old fiddle that I am in my present owner's hands. You needn't believe me if you don't want to, boys, but God knows that it's the truth I'm going to tell you and it's a sad enough story. I won't mention any names because it would seem like sacrilege for me to do so, though I don't suppose I shall ever again see or hear of the chief actor in the pathetic drama in which I figured so prominently." II. "Ten years ago", commenced the violin, "the principal figure in the musical world was a certain great violinist. All of you. little as you know of real music and musicians, have heard his name. He sprung up suddenly into promi- nence and his marvelous music soon resulted in his being the lion of the hour in all the great European musical centers, London, Paris, Vienna, Berlin, St. Petersburg and Rome. The musical world of all Europe was at his feet. He was petted and flattered in courts and by the highest society in all the countries of the old world, but strange to say such flattery did not turn his head. Women wor- LAUGHTER AND LOVE. shipped him but he cared for none of them apparently, and though many famous beauties would fain have numbered him among their conquests, they were never able to do so. His identity was shrouded in mystery. Who he was or where he came from, no one knew and he offered no ex- planation. There were times when some fair lady, carried away with his entrancing music, would come to him with the love light in her eyes and say entreatingly, 'Won't you tell me who you are and where you came from ?' And then he would answer gaily, 'I came from the Land of Music, Laughter and Love !' And everyone wondered where that strange land was. "Great as was this man's fame, equally great was the fame of the instrument upon which he played and brought forth such glorious music, and he was just as secret as to how he became possessed of this violin as he was about his own personality. He guarded the instrument jealously and under no circumstances would he allow anyone else to touch it. To all the great musicians who pleaded to be allowed to play upon it, he would answer, 'No, this violin is sacred to me. It is all that I have in the world — yet.' And such lequests were never repeated. The tone of the violin was wondrous when played by the master hand. It seemed to speak with the soul of a human being and the great crowds that sat and listened as he played were awed and entranced at the wonderful music. "And I, my friends, was this violin, hard though it may be for you to believe, knowing me for what I am in my 10 THE LAND OF MUSIC, present owner's hands. And to me only was the mystery that siirrovmded this remarkable musician known — his be- loved violin was his only confidant. When he retired for the night in the Quietness of his room he would take me lovingly in his hands and talk to me as though I were really and truly human. "And it was not so strange that he should do so for had I not been his companion and friend from boyhood? Had he not wandered with me into the woodlands and poured out his soul's inmost thoughts to me year after year since when, as a little boy, he was first allowed the privilege of taking me in his hands? Little wonder then that he loved me and little wonder too that I loved him, my master — the only master I ever had or ever will have. New owners I may have but never masters. His entire history was known to me^ — his every thought — his every desire— and when I look back on all that happened it makes me weak and out of tune to think how such a beau- tiful life was crushed by the curse of a woman's faithless- ness. "This man, who became such a famous and picturesque figure in the great musical world, was a member of an old and noble family in a certain little principality in the heart of Europe— a country seldom heard of — one of those pic- turesque little kingdoms like the imaginary ones that modern novelists so often select for the scenes of their romances. His family was very proud but poor, and the boy was brought up with all the old pride of race strong LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 11 within him. From his earliest childhood the music that was in his soul asserted itself. He was a good bit of a dreamer and as a boy would sit for hours in a quiet nook in the grounds of his home — alone with the exception of myself — and the wondrous melodies that he would bring forth from me were his thoughts and dreams put into music. For two hundred years I had belonged to this old family. Fabulous sums had been offered for me but poor as the family were for people of such noble birth, no amount of money could tempt them to part with me. "Years passed by and with the time the man's wonder- ful mastery of the violin grew, but he played for the love of music only. No thought of playing for money ever entered his head though there were many who told him what a power he could be in the great world of music, would he but enter into it. But family pride forbade him ever thinking of doing so and it was not until the one great event in his life happened that for a moment he seriously considered the giving of his music to the world. "It was a woman, of course. A regal beauty, a mem- ber of another old family in the principality but people of a different stamp from his people. They were rich and powerful and riches and power were even more to them than pride of race. And when such a man as my master loves, it is with a love that is unquenchable — a love that comes from the very soul — deep, tender and true as steel. And so he loved her, desperately, madly, and she professed an equal regard for him. The music that he played in 12 THE LAND OF MUSIC, those first few days "of this new sensation that had come into his life, was love's own music, every note breathing the wonderful passion that absorbed him. Until this time he had known no deeper feeling than that of affection — save for the love he bore me — but that was a passion differ- ent to all others. God !, how he loved the girl ! And she — well I think she too loved him then — but not with a love like his. "One day he sought out the girl's father and impetu- ously told of his great love and begged the daughter's hand. So deep was the grand passion in his heart that he never dreamed of a refusal but the old lord threw his poverty in his teeth and told him in no uncertain words that blue blooded as he was he was no match for the child of such a wealthy family. 'Blood is blood', said the old lord, 'but the man who marries my daughter must have wealth as well as a noble name.' "For a moment the blow staggered the ardent lover and then suddenly a strange light came into his dark eyes. He turned to the old nobleman and said: " 'Is it my lack of money alone that is to make my dream of love a hideous nightmare ?' " 'Young man', was the reply, 'I like you and I honor you, you and your family. Had you but a fortune equal to the dowry that I will give my daughter when she marries, I would gladly welcome you as a son-in-law.' " 'Be it so', was my master's reply. 'I leave you now, LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 13 my lord, but I will come again and offer you both name and fortune.' "Then he sought the girl and told of his rebuff. Would she wait, he asked, for one short year, for in that time he vowed that the fortune that stood in the way of their happiness should be his. She protested undying love and promised faithfully to wait. " 'But how', she asked, "are you going to make this fortune ?' " 'Leave that to me, sweetheart', he said, 'but one year from to-day I will return and claim your hand according to your father's word.' Then he clasped her in his arms and kissed her passionately on her mouth, her eyes and on her lovely hair. Then breaking away from her he cried: " ' 'Tis not good-bye, sweetheart, but au-revoir. I go but to soon return. One short year and I will be ba-ck to the Land of Music, Laughter and Love. Under this very tree I will expect to find you waiting for me as the sun goes down one year from to-day.' "And then he left her and in his heart was a great and important resolution. He would give his music to the world — for one year only. To me alone he confided his intentions. To no one else he breathed a word of what he was about to do, but that night he quietly slipped away from the old home. He dared not meet his father and mother to tell them of his resolution but instead he left a letter saying that he was going away for a year. He 14 THE LAND OF MUSIC, asked their pardon for the seeming strangeness of his action and begged them to await all explanations until his return. Alas, I have never seen the old castle from that day to this. III. "How easily he succeeded in winning his way I need not dwell upon. One month from the day he left home his power was established and the fortune that was to bring him happiness and the girl he loved, had commenced to grow. He was able to command the most fabulous prices for his playing and he managed his affairs with a master hand. His private life he kept strictly to himself but I knew how he saved and how carefully and cheaply he lived through that one short year. The name he coined for himself soon became famous throughout the world, but no person ever fathomed the mystery that surrounded him. "The year drew to a close and finally the night of his last concert arrived. It was in the great Albert Hall in London and the house was crowded to suffocation with a mighty concourse of people, the cream of society and of the musical circles of the great metropolis. He had simply announced that after this night he would rest for awhile and little did the audience guess that his wonderful music would never be heard in public again . "And how he played that night ! There was a trium- phant, almost spiritual look in his face as he took me caressingly in his hands and commenced. My friends, there LALOHTEli AND LOVE. 15 was never more marvelous music made in this world than there was that night. It rose and fell in the most wonderful cadences. It was sweet and low, then wild and passionate, and it entranced, enthralled and held that vast audience like a vice under its spell. And when it was over there was a great hush for a few moments and then came the applause, a mighty avalanche of sound that swept the audience to its feet as it cheered, wildly, enthusiastically, madly. He bowed and bowed repeatedly and finally he raised me again to his shoulder and motioned that he would respond to the plaudits. ''There was no accompaniment this time for he played something that had never been played before — that will never be played again — for he improvised, and the music that he made came from his soul. It was the outpouring of a heart that was filled with a noble, passionate lovO' — the triumph of a soul that had set out to do great deeds and conquered. It was the cry of a lover to the woman he loved saying, 'I am coming, sweetheart, I am coming for thee to the Land of Music, Laughter and Love ! ' "The music ended and there was another tremendous outburst of enthusiasm. Before it had subsided he had taken me under his arm and quietly stolen away from the crowded hall, and the audience that continued to applaud, did so in vain. The great musician had given them his music for the last time." • 16 THE LAND OF MUSIC, IV. The old violin paused and not one of the instruments in the pit interrupted the silence. After a while it con- tinued : "I am now coming to the painful part of my story, friends, and it makes my old heart ache to tell it. But having once started I must go on to the end. "Within an hour after that final concert we were in a train on the way to the English coast and early the next morning we crossed the water. ,0n the next day, just one year from the day on which he had said farewell to his sweetheart we were in the grounds of her home again. The sun was just going down and we stood under the old tree under which my master and his lady had plighted their troth. "He was in a fever of excitement as he waited for her coming. Never a doubt entered his mind as to her faith- fulness. He had kept his word — no suspicion crept into his heart that she would fail to keep her's. The moments went by and in a blaze of summer splendor the sun went down — but she did not come. Anxiously he waited, pacing to and fro nervously, and watching the pathway down which she should come. But she came not. A sound as from many voices came suddenly from the vicinity of the castle which was hidden from sight by the trees. Cheer after cheer rent the air and then as a peasant came in sight hurrying towards the castle, my master hailed him and asked: LALOHTER AND LOVE. 17 " 'Where goest thou, friend, in such a hurry ?' " *I go to give a parting cheer to the bride and groom', replied the peasant. " 'And who, prithee, is being wedded ?,' asked my master. He was trembling as he asked the question and there was fear and terror in his eyes. " 'Where hast thou been that thou hast not heard ?' replied the man. 'Dost thou not know that my lord's only ^laughter this eve becomes the bride of the young lord of Ladisland, the wealthiest and most noble lord in all the principality? But do not detain me for I must hurry to join my companions to give the young couple a parting cheer.' "My master watched him depart and then pulling his large soft hat over his eyes and wrapping his cloak around him, he followed, and soon we were in a crowd of peasantry and retainers who were congregated in front of the castle. Just as we arrived the strains of Mendelssohn's wedding march were heard and a moment afterwards the young lord of Ladisland appeared on the terrace of the castle, and on his arm arrayed in bridal garments was the woman for whom my master had given to the world his music. "He turned and fled. On through the forest he tore and for hours and hours he uttered not a word. Finally, ex- hausted and worn out, he fell to the ground. And there during the livelong night he lay and sobbed and moaned, and his distress was pitiful to behold. His heart was broken and his reason partially lost. Can you imagine my 18 THE LAND OF MUSIC, feelings, friends, knowing all his misery as I knew. It was terrible, heartrending, and I knew that his was a nature that would never recover from the shock. "Early in the morning he arose and tramped to the nearest railway station and that night we were in Paris. He could not go back to the old home — all be wanted to do was to drown the sorrow that was in his heart. Not wishing to be recognized in Paris, he shaved off his beautiful black beard and moustache and then he started in on a year of dissipation that even yet is terrible for me to con- template. His excesses were the excesses of a man who cared not whether he lived or died — his expenditures were those of a man who cared not what became of his money. Women, drink, the gaming table, and every form of dissi- pation imaginable, he plunged into, and before a year had passed the fortune he had made for the woman who had deceived him, had vanished. His money all gone, he sunk lower and lower into a state of degradation and misery. But through it all he had kept me, guarding me lovingly through all his debauches. He never played upon me ex- cept on a few occasions when we were alone and he would have a quiet spell, but such moods would never last long. Sometimes at nights he would take me with him on his carousals but although his companions in vice would often ask him to play, he would always refuse with an oath. Finally the time came when he went out of my life. Stag- gering home one night, crazed with the vile absinthe, he fell in a dark alley and struck his head on the pavement. LAlGHTEll AND LOVE. 19 rendering him unconscious. And as he lay there another poor drunkard came along and stole me from him. The next day I was in a mean little pawnshop in the slums of Paris. "I have never seen my master again. He has never been heard of in the musical world since that last triumphant night in London and it is more than likely that he lies in a pauper's grave in the French metropolis. "I lay in the pawnshop for several months but one day I was bought by a poor mAisician for a few francs. He did not know my value and he soon re-sold me. I changed hands many times and finally one of my purchasers brought me to this country. He got into hard luck and sold me to a second-hand dealer on the Bowery and in this store my present owner bought me for a five dollar bill. "My story is over friends. It hurt me to tell it but you will understand me better — now." V. The old violin had just finished the story when there was some excitement behind the curtain. The leader of the orchestra — the violin player — was lying in the musician's room unconscious, the victim of an overdose of a drug he was in the habit of taking. It was past time for the curtain to ring up and the manager tore up and down the stage cursing his luck. No other violinist could be obtained at such short notice and the performance could not go on without one who knew his business. It was an unlocked 20 THE LAND OF MUSIC, for dilemma and the worried manager could see no way out of it. Quietly in the midst of the confusion, a middle-aged, haggard-looking member of the male chorus, stepped up to the manager and said: "I can help you out if you want me to, I haven't played a violin for some time but I know the opera and can pull it through all right." The manager was overjoyed and he clutched at the offer as a drowning man will clutch at a straw. The show would be finished even if it did go badly and he wouldn't t have to give the people their money back. And that was all the manager cared for — for he needed that money badly. . The orchestra filed in and the voluntary leader picked up the old violin. Even as he did so the other members of the orchestra noticed that he trembled and they heard him mutter under his breath, "My God !" Then he commenced to play. The opera was "Cavallieria Rusticana" and the soul of the violin awakened for it was being played by a master hand. The other musicians looked on and wondered. They had never heard the old fiddle bring forth such tones before. Soon came the Intermezzo that made Mascagni famous in a day. It was nothing new to the audience — they had heard it hundreds of times before — but never had they heard it played as it was now being played by this haggard looking stranger. Lovingly he leaned over the old violin and seemed to be whispering to it as he brought forth the wonderful rich tones. Such exauisite music the LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 21 audience had never heard. The musicians as well as the playgoers were entranced, and when it came to a close the crowd clapped, shouted and cheered with wild enthusiasm. No longer was the audience cold — the music had awakened it. In the triumph of the violinist the opera itself was forgotten. "Encore ! Encore!" was shouted. And some- one cried out, "Where does he come from ?" Then in the midst of the excitement the violinst arose and faced the audience and as he did so there was intense silence in the old playhouse. There was something strange about the entire proceeding and everybody seemed to feel it. The man's eyes were bloodshot, his face haggard and worn. Gazing straight at the people, the violin in his hand, he laughed aloud like a maniac. "Where do I come from ?" he cried. "Where ? Well, I'll tell you. I come from a strange land. A land you have never heard of. I come from the Land of Music, Laughter and Love ! " The words had hardly died upon his lips when with a maniacal scream, and before the people realized what was happening, he raised the violin to his lips and kissed it passionately, and then with a mighty effort he flung it with terrific force to the floor and trampled it into a thousand pieces under his feet. Another moment and he had fallen a huddled heap upon the fragments of the shattered violin. The strange musician was dead, and the soul of the violin had gone with that of its master. 22 THE LAND OF MUSIC, Wa BABY An Actor's Story. "Weep with me all -ye who read This little story ; And know for whom a tear you shed, Death's self is sorry." — Ben J on son. ,1^^ ^Ai,. T was in the early springtime when Baby (^ <5f >^ made her first appearance amongst us. The ^. I y, ^^y y dreary winter had passed, Kmg Frost had ""^^V^sA/i^ hied himself away to his home in the arctic regions, taking with him the north wind, and the gentle zephyrs of spring had taken their place. To us, a company of poor strolling players, the change was right welcome, for at the best of times our's was a hard, comfortless life and in the winter it was doubly so. And with the change of the seasons came Baby and her mother, the latter being engaged to join the company at one of the many little towns in the state of West Virginia. We heard from our manager that the mother's life had been a hard one of late ; she was utterly friendless, her hus- LAUGHTER. AND LOVE. 23 band had died but a year before, leaving her nothing but the little two year old baby girl, and since then she had failed to obtain an engagement, so that her struggle had been a weary one. Our manager having advertised for a lady, there being a vacancy in the company, she had applied for it, and as he had known her in former days, he had engaged her. So at the appointed time they arrived, she and Baby. From the first we saw that her health was shattered, that the struggle for life had been too much for her and that the dread seeds of consumption had already been sown into her poor, frail body. But she was cheerful enough and the pleasure of being at work again seemed to brighten her up considerably. Her love for the little girl was unbounded ; it was easily seen that whatever the mother might have suffered, the child had never been allowed to know of her suffering. And Baby, dear little Baby, I seem to see her now. A sweet little mite with great solemn blue eyes peeping out from a mass of golden curls and the little sensitive mouth that at times would utter the quaintest sayings. And what a pet she was with us all, coming into our lives as she did, like a little sun- beam after a long spell of cloudy weather. But from the day of her arrival it was Jack Lomax who was her especial friend. He, Lomax, was a mystery to us all. As to who he was or where he came from, we knew nothing. Some few months earlier, our leading man had suddenly fallen ill 24 THE LAND OF MUSIC, and that day a stranger had called on the manager, say- ing he had heard of the occurrence and offering to helpi him out. This was Lomax. His offer was accepted, and upon his appearance on the stage that night, we saw that he was a man of culture and an actor of more than the average ability. The sick man having to be left behind, Lomax was offered the position and he accepted it. No questions were asked, he volunteered no information about himself and now, at the time of my story, we knew no more about him than when he first joined us. He was a handsome, powerfully built man, apparently about thirty- five years of age and over six feet in height. He had never been a favorite amongst us, being of a silent, morose disposition and he had not become intimate with any member of the company. We saw little of him outside of the theatre and he became known among us as "the disap- pointed man." But what a change came over him after the advent of Baby! On the first evening after joining the company, Baby was brought to the little, so called, opera house by her mother. The latter said that it would make her nervous to leave the little one in the hotel by herself all the even- ing, so Baby had to come along too. That night as Jack Lomax was standing in the wings with the usual surly expression on his face, he suddenly heard a sweet tiny voice saying: "What's 'oo's name ?" Looking down he discovered the little one gazing up at LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 25 him with her glorious blue eyes. For a moment he appear- ed bewildered and then a strange look came into his eyes as he said softly : "My name is Jack, little one, and who are you please?" "Oh, I'se Baby. What a deat big hand 'oo's got, Jack and what a deat big man 'oo is. I tink I likes 'oo Jack, 'oo can tiss me if 'oo likes." Great tears stood in the tall man's eyes as he took the child up in his arms and kissed the sweet little face. Then he listened to her prattle as she lay contentedly in his arms, talking to her in a way we thought Jack Lomax incapable of talking to anyone. He seemed like a changed being, all the love in his heart appearing to go forth into that baby girl. Soon she fell asleep in his arms and then he sought her mother and said : "Your little girl has made friends with me ; I trust you will allow us to become still greater friends." And the mother's eyes were moist as she thanked him, hoping that he and Baby would be always friends. That night and every night afterwards, he wrapped the baby up in his big cloak and carried her back to the hotel. Day after day that strange friendship seemed to ripen while we all looked on wonderingly at the change that had come over Jack Lomax. Even his expression changed, we no longer saw the surly, disappointed look, but a soft, kind expression had taken its place and he spoke gently and cheerfully to us all. He and Baby were now nearly always together. He 26 THE LAND OF MUSIC, would play with her, tell her stories, and when the weather was fine he would set her up on his strong shoulders and away they would go into the country together. As for Baby, all the affection that was not given to her mother was given to Jack, to him she gave all the love she might have given to a father. It was pathetic to see the two of them together, she, the little three year old mite, and he, the tall muscular man with the power to crush the life out of her tiny body between the fingers of his strong hand. I think we all .felt a kind of reverence for him now, and our hearts vv^ent out to the child who had wrought the change in him. But stronger proofs of his great love were to come. About a month after joining us, the mother's health gave way until at last a day came when she was unable to leave her room. .Jack came to the theatre that night bringing Baby with him, while in the hotel lay the poor mother in the care of a doctor and nurse. On our return to the hotel that night, the doctor came and spoke to Jack who then went up to the sick woman's room ; the nurse came out, and Jack was alone with Baby's dying mother. The next morning we knew that the soul had fled from the poor mother's body and that Baby was alone in the world. Alone with the exception of Jack Lomax. Neither he nor Baby appeared at breakfast that morn- ing, but just as we had finished that meal they came in together. He looked at us all for a moment and then he spoke. LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 27 "My friends," he said, "you all know the sad event that has happened, the event which makes this little one an orphan, and naturally you are wondering what is to become of her, so I thought it best that I should tell you at once." After a pause he continued: "You all know the great love I have for Baby and how she loves me. Such being the case and the fact that she has no relatives to claim her, who should take care of her future but I? Yes, Ba,by's mother has given her to me, I am to be her mother, father, all, and with God's help I will faithfully carry out the promise I have given." Then Baby looked up and said : "My mamma has don to heaven. Jack is doin' to be my mamma now." There was not a dry eye amongst us at this point. The women sobbed like children, then went up to Jack, begging him to let them help him in taking care of Baby. He thanked them all gently but said that for the present she needed only himself but that should he at any time need their help he would remember their kind offers. So the mother being laid in her grave, Jack and Baby started on their lives together. He took entire charge of her and to us it seemed wonderful how he managed it all, but he did, and Baby flourished. Always together, day after day were this strange pair, walking together, playing together, travelling together, in fact living their lives entirely together. Never was a father prouder of his child than Jack was of Baby ; never did a child love a father more fondly than Baby loved Jack, 28 THE LAND OF MUSIC, The weeks rolled by and we were nearly at the end of our tour when the events happened which I am about to relate. Outside the hotel at which we were putting up, there was a little garden and one morning in the middle of May, the men of the company were all sitting out there smoking and chatting, while Baby played around by her- self. It happened that someone was telling a rather inter- esting story and Lomax had turned to the reciter while it was being told. When he looked around again, Baby was not in sight. He jumped up, saying: "Where's Baby ? Have any of you seen her ?" We were startled. She had been there it seemed but a moment before and now she had disappeared. Within a stone's throw of the hotel there was a railroad crossing and it suddenly seemed to strike Lomax for he shouted out : "My God ! The railroad !" His cry was replied to by the whistle of a locomotive on its way down the track. Like a flash he was over the fence and in the road which led to the crossing while we all followed as quickly as we could. And there on the track was Baby, gathering wild flowers. Hearing us calling she turned, shook her pretty curls and laughed, utterly unconscious of the terrible fate approaching. But Lomax knew. He heard the train coming around the curve and screamed frantically : "Baby, come back ! Come back ! " But Baby only laughed, she saw no danger. On rushed LAUGHTER AND LOVE. Jack, his eyes nearly starting out of his head with terror. He reached the crossing with the piteous cry : "Oh God, the train is on her ! " On to the track he flew and had just reached Baby, when ********* Even now, though many years have passed since then, the thought of the scene that followed makes my blood run cold and brings hot tears to my eyes. Only a moment before we had seen Jack Lomax and dear little Baby in the glory of life and health. A moment after, all that was left of them was two crushed, unconscious bodies. It was a sight full of horror, piteous in the extreme, and I hope that in all my life I shall never witness such another. A doctor living near by was upon the scene immediately, but there was little work for him to do. There was a little life in Jack but his beloved Baby had been killed outright. The doctor applied restoratives to Jack and after a while consciousness returned. As he opened his eyes he gasped ; "Baby." Who was to tell him ! There was a short period of awful silence which was broken by the dying man as he said quietly : "Baby is dead, isn't she, doctor ?" And with a quivering voice the doctor replied : "Yes, she is dead." "And I ?" And we heard the doctor say : 30 THE LAND OF MUSIGj "There is no hope." And Lomax murmured, "Thank God." Then he looked up, saying, "Bring her to me." We did as he asked and raising him up laid the poor little lifeless body in his arms. There she lay with her wonderful solemn eyes gazing upward and the smile hover- ing around the sweet sensitive mouth, even in death. He looked at her tenderly and whispered softly : "Never mind, Baby, Jack is coming to you." Then he kissed the little dead face pasionately and closed his eyes. A moment later he spoke his last words : "Good bye, boys," he said, "You were always good to us. Bury us together, Baby and me." And so falling back he took a last look at the sweet little face of the child he had loved so dearly and said softly : "I'm coming to you, Baby." And so the great soul of Jack Lomax went to join Baby's. We fulfilled his request and buried them together in the churchyard of that little country town. There they sleep together and at the head of the little green mound is a small white stone erected to their memory. It bears the simple inscription : JACK AND BABY. ********* Years had passed and fortune had favored me, I had risen in my profession and had crossed the water to play LALGHTEii AND LOVE. 31 an engagement in the mother country. One evening during this engagement I overheard the following conversation in a dressing room of one of the London theatres : "Has anyone heard anything of Jack Lomax ?" "No, it is only known that he went to the States but there all trace of him was lost." "Poor old Jack. The death of his wife and child seemed to utterly unnerve him." "Yes indeed, for he loved them both passionately and his little girl was such a beautiful child. It's a terrible shock for any man to lose both wife and child within a week. Had only the little one been left to him, I think he might have got over it, for his love for children was always remarkable." The speakers were two well known London actors. I listened intently, for from them I had learned the secret of "the disappointed man." 32 THE LAND OF MUSIC, ^0«ci>0000^:>0000<:^'000000<:z>0000<^>Og Dolly Derrincourfs Nobleman. A A Story of a Chorus Girl. jj ^00000<=l>00<=:>00000000<:z>00<=>00<3>00<:^0? "Do not, for one repulse, forego the purpose That you resolv'd t' effect." — ^uikespeare. ,j.- -A^ HE opening scene of the second act of the y '[r V POP"!^'' extravaganza, "The Up-To-Daters" was \ \ p over. The chorus girls had a twenty minutes J» iL' j.gg|. j^Q^^ and Dolly Derrincourt — one of the prettiest of the bunch — hunted up a cozy cor- ner and settled herself down to take it easy. Dolly was tired, for there had been a matinee that day as well as a morning rehearsal, so that any little rest was welcome to the weary choristers. Dolly was not an old timer in the business, in fact this was her first engagement. A romantic mind had led her to become a chorus girl and she possessed all the necessary requirements for such a position, having a pretty face, a good figure, and a voice of fair quality. She was a New York girl, having been born and raised in the metropolis, but so far she had seen but little of the pleasures that are to be enjoyed there, for her parents were very humble LALGIITEli A^D LOVE. people, and poverty had been her lot all her life. But sordid and imromantic as her home life had been, Dolly had always possessed a romantic turn of mind, and even as a child she would read all the cheap romances she could secure, until her mind was satiated with thoughts of mil- lionaire husbands and the pleasures that wealth brings with it. As she grew older she began to think seriously of the best means she could employ towards obtaining her heart's desire — a rich husband — and one day she read a newspaper story about a chorus girl who had been wooed and won by an English lord. That settled Dolly and there and then she decided to become a chorus girl too and in such a ca- pacity to play her cards to catch a nobleman. She had little trouble in securing an engagement, for pretty girls with good figures were greatly in demand that season and the result was that Dolly, very soon after she made up her mind tO' go on the stage, became a member of the famous beauty chorus in the "Up-to-Daters," the most popular Broadway success of the season. She had been with the company six weeks now but she was still as far away from the goal she aimed to reach, as ever. As she sat in a corner of the dressing room on this particular evening, she was turning it all over in her mind and wondering if her hero would ever come to claim her. She was feeling rather sick at heart but she had by no means lost hope and she was thinking to herself, "It's weary waiting, but he'll come some day." And so think- 34 THE LAND OF MUSiCj ing Dolly closed her eyes and pictured it all out in her ignorant little mind just as she had done hundreds of times before. Suddenly she was aroused from her reverie by the voice of one of her fellow chorus girls who threw a letter into her lap, saying, "The doorkeeper just gave me this for you, Dolly." Dolly opened the letter and as she read what was written there her eyes began to grow dim and her head grew dizzy. For this is what she read: Dear Miss Derrincourt, I saw you on the stage this evening and your soul- ful eyes and transcendant beauty have taken my heart by storm. Your loveliness haunts me, Miss Derrincourt, and it is my earnest desire that you will give me the honor of your acquaintance. I say honor, for I am an honorable man — and a rich one — and though for years I have traveled seeking for my affinity, I never met her until to-night. I feel that it is fate. If I can only make you love me, I shall be the happiest of men. My brougham will be out- side the theatre after the performance and I will be stand- ing by it wearing a white rose in my buttonhole. Will you come to me ? I impatiently await the hour — and your answer. Your devoted admirer, HAROLD, Earl of Northshire. Dolly read the letter over again breathlessly. At last he had come. At last the romance in her life was to begin. LALGHTEIi AND LOVE. 35 Never a shadow of doubt as to the man's sincerity entered her simple little mind, and as to her complying with his request, she had made up her mind to do so before she had even finished reading the letter. He was an earl, too — a real noblem.an ! Oh how slowly that last act seemed to run that night — it seemed to take hours instead of minutes but it came to an end at last and half an hour after the curtain had rung down, Dolly tripped out of the stage door looking pretty as a picture and with a new and very significant light in her eyes. And there, sure enough, was the brougham and stand- ing beside it was a tall, handsome man wearing a white rose in his buttonhole. When Dolly came to within a few feet of the carriage, her heart began to beat unnaturally fast and for a moment she stood still and a frightened kind of a feeling came over her. The man who was waiting for her saw her hesitation and he came up to her and said impulsively, "Miss Derrincourt, are you angry with me ?" "No — o — o," murmured Dolly, and before she knew how it happened she was in the brougham lying in the arms of my lord of Northshire, who was making violent love to her. "Miss Derrincourt — Dolly," he whispered, "I love you, devotedly, truly, with my whole heart and soul. I want you sweetheart, I want you for my own darling wife, to love and cherish and to take care of until death do us part. Dolly, dearest, I am a rich man, the head of one of England's proudest families and I can offer you everything 36 THE LAND OF MJJtilC, a woman's heart can desire. This is unconventional and sudden, but I couldn't wait, dear, and I want your answer now. Don't keep me in suspense; it is life or death to me." Now this was just the sort of thing that Dolly had dreamed of all her life and that it could actually be real almost took away her breath. But it didn't take her long to put her lover out of his misery for as he ceased speaking she sank resignedly in his arms and softly murmured, "I love you dearest and am yours for ever. I have waited for you for years. You are my ideal — my fate." And then — well what would be the logical thing to happen then ? A period of time given up to osculation, of course. The brougham rolled on and the Earl of Northshire said : "Dolly, I looked and hoped for this answer and prepared for it. To-morrow I have to leave for England and I want you to accompany me. So that you could do so with propriety, I took out a marriage license and made arrangements with a minister to marry us to-night. Here we are now, dear." The carriage drew up at a house and Dolly saw the door opened by a gray haired old clergyman. Her lover gave her no time to say anything, he almost carried her into the house and the next thing she knew the marriage service had commenced. She heard the minister say, "Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife ?" Then she heard a rich, musical voice reply, "I will." And LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 37 then, turning to her the minister said, "Wilt thou have this man to be thy wedded husband ?" Dolly tried to utter the response, when ■ — ********* "Hurry up, Dolly, we'll be on in half a minute and you don't look fit to be seen. Here, let me help you to make your hair look a little bit decent." It was one of the chorus girls who was speaking. Poor little Dolly ! It was only another dream. From latest reports she is still waiting for her nobleman. Maybe he'll come some day. Stranger things have happened. 38 THE LAND OF MUSIC, MAT The Story of a Super. ilnlnlnlrtnWnlftriininirilnininlJi^^ "Out, out, brief candle ! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his ho\u- upon the stage And then is heard no more." — Shakespeore. iL" -Av MET him first in a dingy old theatre in the y *3r V ®^^^ ®"^ ^^ London, one of those wretched old vfi 2y J/ ramshackle buildings that are now things of ^"^^^isA/Mr t^® P^^t ^^^ ^^^ remembrance of my first entry into it will never leave my mind. It was on a dreary November day with one of the worst kind of "pea soup" fogs overhanging the great city, when I, a youngster of eighteen, made my first entrance into the theatrical world and it was with a certain amount of dread, mixed with a large share of hope, that I wended my way to the theatre that day. I came to the stage door at last, (a horrible entrance, wedged in between a tripe shop and a baked potato stall) and mustering up all the courage I could, I entered. My stage career had at last commenced. And there on the dirty, dark stage of that dingy old LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 39 theatre, I met Mat. He was not an old man, but drink and poverty had made him prematurely so. I could see what a different man he must have been once, and the dull, bloodshot eyes would at times brighten up wonderfully. I think he became interested in me from the first, prob- ably because of my youth and inexperience and that I lent a willing ear to all his hysterical talk, and he soon singled me out as a confidant for all his troubles. The people in the theatre knew that once he had been a most successful actor, but no one could tell the story of his downfall. The men suggested drink — the women, love, but, bless you, women attribute all ills of men to Cupid's pastime. But here he was now, a half mad, hungry super, treading the boards with a pasteboard head at a shilling a night for his pay. As I have said he singled me out from the others and told me all his miseries of the present and ambitif nr, for the future, but of his past he told me nothing. ''These cursed managers," he would say, "won't give me a chance and all the men are jealous of my acting, for I can act better than any of them and could I only get the chance I would set all London talking of my Hamlet, my Richard and my Romeo — ah yes, my Romeo!" He dwelt lovingly on the name of Juliet's lover, and then suddenly launched forth into the balcony scene, reading the beautiful lines with such exquisite expression that my young ears were astonished at his power. "God ! If I only had the oppor- unity !" he cried out as he finished the scene. Then his L 40 THE LAND OF MUSIC, whole expression changed, he mumbled under his breath like the poor, half mad super that he was. Poor old Mat. I well knew that despite his undoubted genius and the brilliancy with which it would shine forth at times, his acting days were over and that never again could he be what he once had been, that the chance he prayed for would never come. He was too much of a wreck, both . mentally and physically, to ever hope to rise again from the depths to which he had fallen, but, because I saw that it gave him pleasure, I always humored him and he would come and talk to me at every opportunity. It was a peculiar attachment between the two of us. I, a young and inexperienced youth, beginning the great strug- gle for life, and he the poor broken down, prematurely aged man, whose life had already been lived. It was one of the old time stock companies that we were in and the whole of that winter I played there, so that I had plenty of time for learning more of Mat, but he never told me anything about himself — I never learnt his name. How he lived on his pittance of six shillings a week, I could never tell, but he made no complaint as to his financial condition, though many a time I feared that he would break down altogether. His short hacking cough told the tale of the dread disease that was upon him, which, it seemed, must surely release him from his wretch- ed life before long, but all through that dreary winter he never missed a performance or a rehearsal. Once, and only once, I offered him pecuniary assistance and then he LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 41 drew himself up and replied proudly, "I never yet accepted charity from anyone and I never will. Please remember that I am still a gentleman, whatever else I may not be." Then seeing the crestfallen look on my face he said softly and kindly, "I know it was only your kind heart that prompted you, but it pained me, lad, so please never do it again." And I never did, though God knows I would have gladly shared the little I had with him. The time dragged wearily along and some weeks I would see but little of Mat. At those times, he was the half mad, hungry super only, and he would sit alone in some secluded corner of the stage and mumble strange things to himself and hardly seem to recognize me when I came near him. Then, again, he would change and WQuld seek me out, sit down by my side and break out into all the old maledictions upon the heads of the managers and actors who were holding him down, as he said. "But," he would almost scream, "It can't last forever and my chance will come. It is coming, I tell you ; I can feel it here !" And he would throw himself into an attitude and lay his poor, thin hand dramatically upon his heart. Yes, his opportunity was coming and little we knew how soon. But it came at last. One night, the horrible cry of "Fire ! " rang out in the theatre and in a moment a fearful panic arose. Who, that ever saw a fire in a crowded theatre will ever forget the experience? It was awful. Men shouting, women scream- ing, little children crying ; all struggling in a horrible 42 THE LAND OF MUSIC, mass to get out of the burning building, while on the stage the fire was slowly but surely spreading. In the rush, I lost sight of Mat, but, as I finally got out of the doomed building, I heard a woman's agonizing scream, "God ! My child is in there ! " The woman was a member of the company and her little one was a general favorite and a great pet of Mat's. The next thing I saw was the figure of Mat springing upon a ladder and in a moment more we saw him fighting his way through the dense smoke and then disappear. We waited breathlessly. Would he ever come out again ? The suspense was awful but in less time than it takes me to tell it, he was out of the building again with the child in his arms. Down the swaying ladder he came, as a mighty cheer rent the air and then, after laying his burden in her mother's arms, he fell back unconscious, into mine. There was a doctor in the crowd and together we carried the poor fellow to my room which was near by. He was living and was not badly burned, but it was the shock that I was afraid of, knowing his weak state of health. We undressed him and laid him gently upon my bed and the doctor applied re- storatives. Soon consciousness returned and as he opened his eyes and caught sight of me, a wonderful expression of relief and happiness came into them. "Jack," he gasped, "didn't 1 tell you my opportunity was coming, and it has come at last, at last." He was getting excited and we tried to quiet him, but our efforts were in vain. With eyes wildly LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 43 gleaming he went on, "And Romeo, too, my pet of all. And Juliet, yes, thank God, it is she, my Juliet, my own Juliet. Hush ! Listen to the applause ; hear how they welcome me back. I am not forgotten, no I am not for- gotten," Then his eyes gradually softened and raising himself in the bed he began : "He jests at scars that never felt a wound. But soft what light through yonder window breaks ? It is the east and Juliet is the Sun ; Arise fair orb and kill the envious Moon, Who is already pale and sick with grief, That thou, her child art far more fair than she. It is my lady, ah it is my love. Would that she knew she were." On, on through the scene he went, his voice rising and falling with most exquisite musical cadence. Finally he came to the lines : "Sleep dwell upon thine eyes, peace in thy breast, Would I were sleep and peace, so sweet to rest." Then a soft and marvelously happy light came into his eyes and with outstretched hands he fell back upon the pillow. The peaceful sleep had come. Poor Mat ; his opportunity had come at last. And he had taken it. 44 THE LAND OF MUSIC, SPRINGTIME A Pipe Dream. ^' -Aj^ PRINGTIME ! Glorious, exhilarating Spriiig- ^ Qf^ '^i time ! The time when the world seem;3 its vfl dS^ y fairest ; when the soft, balmy air takes the ^^AivAA/i^ place of the bitter, biting winds of Winter ; ^" when the song birds, awakened from their lethargy, trill forth their most beauteous and joyous songs, making the air harmonious with their voices as though they were praising and giving thanks to the Maker of All Things for the glory of the season. Springtime ! The very word seems to make one scent fragrance in the air and to make one praise the God from whom all blessings flow. It is the time when Hope enters the soul — the time when the heart is young. Little child of the Springtime you are much blessed. Life is all before you and you are too young to know any- thing of the dull Autumn or the cruel Winter. You have some faint idea of the Summertime of life — you call it the time when you will be 'grown-up" — and you think some- I LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 45 I times that that state of life must be, oh, ever so pleasant ! But such thoughts of the future don't bother your dear little innocent head very much, Springtime. The present is joy enough for you. Your beautiful great gray eyes are bright and clear ; your sv/eet little Cupid's bow of a mouth ripples out peals of happy laughter, and the songs you sing in the blitheness of your heart, are songs of happy, carefree childhood. You are of the world, but you don't know the world yet, happy little Springtime. Happy ? Aye, indeed ! There is no time like the Springtime for life's happiness. How glorious Youth is ! You don't realize all the blessings that are showered upon you, little Miss Spring- time. You don't know that life will never be quite so sweet to you as it is now. You cannot fully appreciate the glory and the exhilaration of the Spring season of life. You know so little, dear little Springtime ; you don't know how supremely happy you are, and it is in that lack of knowledge that your happiness lies. Knowledge may be Power, but Power is not Happiness. In ignorance lies the bliss. When other seasons come and you look back to the Springtime, then, and not till then, will you know how happy a time it was. Not to know — yes, that is the real happiness. You are very beautiful, little Springtime. Artists look into those wondrous eyes of yours and long for the power to paint them truthfully upon their canvasses. Grown people look at your cherubic little face and say to one another, "How lovely she is !" Old, white haired folks, gaze upon 46 THE LAND OF MUSIC, your lithesome, supple and graceful little figure, as you play around, shouting and laughing in the exuberance of your youth, and they murmur sadly to themselves : "Alas for my long lost youth ; that time of happiness with- out alloy ! " But this beauty of face and form that God has given you, has not yet turned your head, little one, because you are too young to know the meaning of it. But it may be, Springtime, that this beauty of yours will cause you much pain and sorrow some day. Be happy then, thrice happy in your ignorance, sweet child of the awakening season of life ! Knowledge will come all too soon — seek not for it too early in life. Be happy, light hearted and ignorant, as long as you can, little Springtime, Go out into the wood- lands and join with the song birds in their poeans of praise to the God of Life, of Love and of Nature. Shake back those golden curls, lift up your lovely little head, and gaze at the wonders of the universe. Open up your healthy little lungs and shout in exultation for the youth that God has given you — to be lived but once. These days of unalloyed happiness will never come again, dear little Springtime. Pain there may be in store for you ; long nights and days of silent suffering, perhaps, but you can never return to the sweet Springtime days. You may long for them some day, little one, with an intense and painful longing, such as you never dream of now. Your youth once gone, is lost forever, and though you may live long into the winter of life, searching for and finding knowl- LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 47 edge, there may be days when you will kneel and cry to your Maker, "Oh, God ! Give me back my ignorance ; make me a child again, and bring me back to the Spring- time !" But such cries, born of an aching heart, will always be in vain. Lucky little Springtime, for not knowing all this. Happy, blessed, aye thrice happy and blessed little Spring- time. 48 THE LAND OF MUSIC, •^ Ir) Ai) Old Garder) A FANTASY. There is no Light when Hope is gone." I. it' I N a neglected corner of the old garden, hidden away behind a tangle of shrubbery and weeds, % A/ a little rose bush first saw the light of day Unnoticed and uncared for, it grew up, and one day the greatest event in the life of a rose bush happened — a little bud was born. Unnurtured and uncared for — just as the mother had been from its infancy — the bud grew, and developed into a bloom of wondrous beauty. And alone in the dark corner of the old garden, it lifted up its head to the glorious sunlight. For many days the beauteous rose blushed unseen in its hiding place utterly unconscious of its beauty — but the knowledge came at last. And as knowledge often brings pain with it, so pain came into the heart of the lonely rose. I LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 49 11. The old garden was ablaze in the glory of the sum- mer splendor. Flowers of all kinds grew there in profusion and the air was sweet with their fragrance. But of all the flowers in the garden, the old gardener loved his roses best. Neither kith nor kin had the gentle old man, and the love and tender care that other men give to wives and children, he had given to his roses. From infancy he had reared and nurtured them, and each succeeding summer they grew more beautiful and more fragrant. And as year after year passed, the love of the old man for his roses grew deeper and stronger. III. One day the rose that bloomed alone in the neglected corner, peeped through an opening in the shrubbery, and saw the glory of the garden. Visitors were there — sweet faced women and beautiful young girls — and the solitary rose heard their expressions of admiration as the aged gardener pointed out his choicest treasures. From rose bush to rose bush they went, and the old man explained their various beauties. Finally they stopped before one rose, more beautiful, more majestic than all the others, and the lonely one heard the old man say : "This is the peer of them all. I think it is the most beautiful rose in all the world." Then a strange sensation came into the heart of the 50 THE LAND OF MUSIC, lonely rose, for it suddenly became conscious of its own beauty, and it knew that beautiful as the gardener's favorite was, it was itself, more beautiful still. And the rose in the corner was sad because of its loneliness, and it longed for recognition of its beauty. IV. That night as the dew was falling and the flowers looked as though they were weeping, the lonely rose said to itself : "What is the use of being beautiful if one is unknown and neglected ? Why did God give me life and wondrous beauty if He intended me to live alone, unseen, unheard of ? Why should I live at all when there is nothing in life for me to live for ? Oh, Thou who created me, take away this life Thou hast given me ! Let me die ! Let me die ! " And big drops of dew fell from the shining petals of the lonely rose. Then a common, homely weed that grew nearby, looked up and said : "Most beautiful one, do not despair. Some day the gardener may find you. While there is life, there is always Hope ! " And that night the rose slept peacefully, for into its heart had come the Light of Hope. , LALOHTEIi AND LOVE. 51 There were visitors in the garden again the next day, and the heart of the rose beat high with expectation as the visitors drew near the neglected corner. A woman's voice said : "Why don't you tear out these old weeds and make this corner bright and beautiful like the other parts of the garden ?" "I will never do that," said the old gardener. "For years I tried to raise a rose of all roses there, and failed. The bushes would grow a little, then die away — never a bud came. I wasted good years of my life watching and tending rose bushes in that corner, and now it reminds me only of failure — and death. Let anything that will, grow there now. I will never touch it again." And blooming alone, within reach of his hand was the rose of all roses he had longed for. But the old gardener knew it not. VI. Then the Hope that had come into the heart of the lonely rose, died. And that night the dew fell upon a withered blossom that would never again hold up its beau- tiful head to welcome the glory of the morning sun. I ^OOO<=>)0O0O0O000O0O0<:z>O()O()^^ I V E RS B j HAPPY JAPPY. With apologies to Rudyard Kipling and "Fuzzy-Wuzzy." You really wouldn't think so much of him From his miniature appearance on the map, But at scrapping he is full of dash and vim, Is this "hit 'em hard and come again" young Jap He's a fighter on the style of Uncle Sam, Though in size he's hardly up to Sammy's knee. And he evidently doesn't care a d n, For the Russian on the land or on the sea. So here's to you, happy Jappy, You are on the road to fame. Your creed it may be heathen But you'll "get there" just the same ; So here's to your little soldiers And your little sailors too, You're an up-to-date and snappy Little Japanesy crew. 54 THE LAND OF MUSIC, The nut you have to crack is pretty tough For the Russian bear is big and strong and grim, And you haven't got a "cinch" by any means When you undertake to get the best of him ; But you've learnt the lesson well, my little Jap That Sam and John and others gave to you. And you've got the brains that always tell the tale When there's such up-hill fighting work to do. So here's to you, happy Jappy, Here's a right good health to you. May you keep the good work going As you've started out to do ; And here's to your little wifie, Home in flowery Japan, She may "honorably" proud be Of her snappy little man. A WAR TIME HYMN. God of the Nations, hear us ! God of both right and might. Hear thou our prayer arising Hear it and grant us light. Light that may guide our footsteps, Light that may show us the way God of the Nations, hear us, Answer our prayer to-day ! LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 55 I I God of the Nations, look clown ! Show us our duty now As thou hast done in by-gone days ; Humbly to thee we bow. Give to us power, O God, most high Let the oppressed go free God of the Nations, hear us Praying on bended knee. God of the Nations, hear us ! We lift up our hearts to thee In thee we trust, O God most high, Who rulest o'er land and sea. Help us to fight for freedom's right Help us the crushed to free ; God of the Nations, hear us ! Grant us the victory. God of the Nations, hear us ! 'Tis not for blood we cry ; Ruler of earth and heaven Hear thou a Nation's cry ! List to the call of those pleading For life and for liberty ; List to the cry from Cuba's Isle Help us to set it free, GOD OP THE NATIONS ! HEAR US ! 56 THE LAND OF MUSIC. THE CUP. The result of an overdose of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. The tempting CUP is ever at our side ; It sparkles, and it pleads for us to drink ; It cries : "Oh, mortals, taste of me, I pray ; Live while ye may — and pause ye not to think ! If, then, this Cup of Life we freely drain. And find the dregs composed of poison dire ; Shall we then curse the Cup that brought us joy — And AFTER dragged us deep into the mire ? And this great passion that within us lies — That fierce unrest that maddens while it thrills ; Shall we that passion stifle — or instead. Abandon PRUDENCE for the JOY that KILLS ? Or suffering, should we thus philosophize ; "A moment's pleasure's worth long hours of pain ; And, as we in this way soliloquize. Cry, "God ! but grant me such great joy again ! " BUT NO ! Dash down the Cup upon the ground ! Flee from it far — its sweet temptation smother ! Ill drown my passion in another Cup, And through its potions thus forget the other. And yet, maybe, for one brief hour we'll live In heav'n, while yet on earth ; if that be so, LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 57 Why should we stifle then our heart's desire ? That OTHER paradise we ne'er may know. Let us then take the BITTER with the SWEET, And sweeten all the bitter 's best we may ; The little God of Love MAY prove most kind, As AFTERWARDS we go upon our way. Drink, You and I, the Cup to its last dregs — Drive tne swift steed like lightning while we may ; Knowing there may be naught with which to fill The CUP TO-MORROW— as there is TO-DAY. THE SILVER LININ'. What's the use of kickin' 'bout the weather ? What's the use of growlin' 'bout the rain ? What's the use of feelin' badly, An' a-looking at life sadly, Just as if the sun would never shine again "^ Just think awhile about the silver linin'. That is always hid behind the blackest cloud ; Don't set your blood a-bilin'. But always keep a-smilin', An' sing the anthem "Thanks for Life" aloud. Remember when you hear the rain drops fallin'. That a blessin' to this good old earth 'twill brin^ ; For the trees will soon be sproutin' An' all creation shoutin' A welcome to the comin' of the spring. 58 THE LAND OF MU8I0, YOU AND I. Dear, this thought is ever with me, Shall we try- To float down life's stream together, You and I ? If you love me as I love thee, I would try From all care and harm to shield thee. That would J. Let us trudge the world together, Love is nigh ; Hand in hand we'll never sever, You and L In our love we'll rest contented, Ne'er a sigh ; Heart to heart by love cemented. You and I. Never minding stormy weather. You and I Will keep sailing on together Till we die. Clouds must break, and then the sunshine Will outpour ; Love is life, and we'll be loving Evermore. I I LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 59 RIGHT OR MIGHT. There's war in the far off east, The Jap and the Russian Bear Have cast diplomacy to the winds, And the demon of war is there. Go forth ye Japs and Russians — fight ! And God give victory to the Right ! There's war in the far off east, A struggle for life or death. And the world looks on with anxious eyes, And hot drawn, quickened, breath. Two mighty nations are out to fight. So God give victory to the Right ! There's war in the far off east, And we know that "War is Hell ;" There'll be desolate homes and weeping wives, And the pitiful funeral knell. But if quarrel ye must, go forth and fight. And God give victory to the Right ! There'll be widows away in the east. There'll be mothers bereaved and sad. There'll be pain and suffering, fear and grief, And the wail of the orphan lad. But the word's gone forth — and the word is — fight ! So God give victory to the Right ! k (iO THE LAND OF MUSIC, THE DRAMA OF THE MASSES. Let society have society plays, With marriage vows all torn asunder, (Those high toned shows of modern days), But we'll still stick to blood and thunder. Let Pinero and H. A. Jones, And Fitch, that most prolific dreamer. Keep writing for the social drones — But let us have our Theo. Kremer. Let Ibsen please the morbid mind. Let Bernard Shaw grow even smarter — We'll always far more pleasure find In plays by good old Lincoln Carter. We really don't appreciate The plays that smart folk call "artistic," — We're satisfied to "gang our gait," And cheer the broadly realistic. 'Tis true there may not be much art In Carters or in Theo. Kremers, But somehow they can touch the hearts Of working folk who are not dreamers. For generations past and gone This style of play has pleased the masses, But been severely frowned upon By those who style themselves the "classes." LALGHTER, AND LOVE. 61 The critics they may scorn our tastes, And knock us with their little hammers ; But when the problem plays are dead, We still will have our "mellow-drammers." MY LADY MOODS. I don't know what to make of her, My Lady Moods ; So variant is she that she seems Some strange creation of my dreams ; She is the limit of extremes. My Lady Moods. 'Tis strange how changeable she is, My Lady Moods ; But there is one mood when her smile Would any male thing's heart beguile ; But she must change — once every while. My Lady Moods. She's spring one moment, summer next, My Lady Moods ; Then frozen winter — hard to thaw ; Her moods they know not any law — She's simply — well — "Je ne sais quoi," My Lady Moods. 62 THE LAND OF MU8IC, THE SHADOW. "In the midst of life we are in death." 'Hundreds are dead," the papers said ; 'Trampled and burned in their efforts to flee ; Men and women, and children dear, Who a moment before had laughed in glee. And full was the air with the Cries of despair. Of the hundreds of seekers of pleasure there." ***** Only a nine days' wonder, that's all. The thoughts of the people soon turn away From the gruesome scene ; and soon forgotten Are they who are resting beneath the clay ; But the Shadow of Death and the Terrible Fear, Of the Unknown Horror, is always here. To-day as we're doing our daily work. With life and hope in our every breath. How little we think that even now, We're standing close to the Shadow of Death ; Which hovers around us night and day. This Terrible Shadow, grim and grey. We know not when the moment may come, For the Reaper to call us away from earth ; LAUGHTER AND LOVE. In the busy race that we daily run, We little know what our lives are worth. For the fateful Shadow hovers around, And danger is lurking in every sound. "In the midst of life we are in death ;" How forcefully oft are the words brought home ! And then for a moment we shudder and think That always we stand on the brink of the tomb. But tne thought speeds away with the toil of the day. Yet the Shadow is never from us far away. It is here, it is there, wherever we be, That Horror, the Shadow, is ever at hand ; And it may be you and it may be me. Who next will be called to the spirit land. For sooner or later over us all. The Shadow of Death must some time fall. Though well we know that 'tis ever near, But little we fear the Shadow grey. For we drink to the dregs the cup of life, And give slight thought to the Last Great Day. Hearts are as light as the days are long, And we meet the Shadow with laugh and song. 64 THE LAND OF MUSIC, MEMORIAL DAY. In the North and the South, in the East and the West, Mid the pine clad hills, and in valleys fair, There is many a beautiful City of Rest, And each God's Acre has got its share Of heroes true and patriots grand, Who fought and died for their native land. And whether we live in the North or the South In the Eastern states or away in the West, As loving tribute to those brave hearts. To-day we visit those Cities of Rest ; And over tneir graves sweet flowers we lay On this, the thirtieth day of May. Dear to true hearts of the North and the South Is this custom we have on Memorial Day, Of placing the garlands upon the graves Of those who have passed through the Shadowy Way ; Of those who fought for their country — their God, And now lie sleeping beneath the sod. So we honor the dead of the North and the South, Of the East and the West — and we go to-day To those Cities of Rest where — their work being done — The heroes sleep — till the Judgment Day ; Who fought the good fight for their country's cause. And boldly marched into death's dark jaws. LALGHTEli AND LOVE. 65 There are mothers and widows throughout the land, Who will mourn to-day for their soldier dead ; There are sisters and brothers, and orphans sad, Who many a tear to-day will shed, For those who have gone at their Lord's command To be soldiers of His in the heavenly band. So cover their graves with the blossoms so sweet, Scatter the garlands so bright and fair, Lay them upon the little green mounds With loving hands and with tenderest care ; With God's fairest flowers the resting place strew Of the heroes who died for the Red, White and Blue. The Sons of the North, and the Sons of the South Are now One People in this great land ; One flag alone floats over them all. In war and in peace they go hand in hand ; And in many a City of Rest to-day Together they'll weep — the Blue and the Gray. THE LAND OF MV8I0, THANKSGIVING. Thanksgiving Day — again we give Our thanks to Him for his good grace ; And happiness we fain would see To-day on each and every face. To-day we feast and merry make ; With song and laugh the festal board Will ring out true, and happy hearts Will echo with respondent chord. Give thanks to Him who gives you health To laugh and jest while thus you dine ; Give thanks for home — for friends — for those Whose loving care makes comfort thine. Give thanks for Love — which in your heart Makes all the world look clear and bright ; Give thanks that you are what you are — For faith that helps you win the fight. There may be some who'll say to-day, "No thanks for aught have I to give, 'Tis naught to me this festal day, I care not if I die or live." I ^%r LAUGHTER AND LOVE. 67 Because skies frown — because the pain And sorrow's gnawing at your heart. Don't cry "No thanks for life I owe" — For sorrows, pains and fears depart. E'en though the world may seem unkind — E'en though you're in the midst of strife — Fight fortune fair — and offer thanks To God, for His great gift of— Life. I 68 THE LAND OF MUSIC, AN EPILOGUE. (Wrirten on the occasion of F. R. Hallam's revival of the classic play, "Damon and Pythias.") Hail, Damon ! Aye and Pythias, too. True noblemen of bygone age ; Whose story now is told again By players on the mimic stage. Hail, fair Calanthe, sweetest type Of womanhood of long ago. And Hermion, spouse of him to whom Was honor far more dear than life, all hail ! And hail to thee, oh Dionysius ; Tyrant thou wert, but true nobility E'en touched thy heart. To all old friends, to Procles, Lucullus, Philistius, Damocles, All hail ! Thou com'st from out the shadows of the past, From that dark age, so long, so long ago. Before HE came to earth and taught the truths Of purity, and innnocence, and love. Thou com'st to us as types of noble men And noble women, who in all ages LAUGHTER AND LOVE. Have lived, and loved, and suffered ; And when we look at thee, and hear thee speak, And feel with thee thy sufferings and distress. We know that thou art not mere shadowy figures, But men and women of real flesh and blood, And so we welcome thee and say. All hail ! And on thy noble story has been founded A noble lodge of men of modern days, Who're known throughout this broad, fair land As Knights of Pythias ; who teach to day thy lessons Of Friendship, Charity, Benevolence. Damon and Pythias, though centuries have passed Thy teachings yet remain — and will remain To make men better, nobler, stronger, Than they had been if thou hadst never lived. ■n 015 873 457 6