Lewis Clark State College - Yearbook (Lewiston, ID)

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gate, which gives entrance to thc park called Thiergarten. Here the tall memorial of warfare, the victory monument could be SCCII. This park was one of Alfreda's favorites. Nowhere did the nightingales sing sweeter. The debut of Fraulein Alfreda Amonda Schnellman in operatic repertoire had been the absorbing topic of all the newspapers for the past week. Her portrait had occupied the front page of the musical section. Six-thirty! A vast, restless, critical audience waited impiltielllly fOr the curtain to rise. A few moments mo re and the soft low notes were heard from the pianog as the curtain arose, a graceful figure in pure white glided to the center of the stage. Alfreda was welcomed with a riot of enthusiasm. She stood a moment and faced her first audience with a smile, as if she were saying, I am going to please you. Then she began to sing superbly. Such singing, such music, never was heard in the Royal theatre before. The people sat erect with their nerves tense to catch every note that fell from her lips. lfVhen she had finished, there was a stillness like death, there was nor a sound from the stupefied audience. Then the enthusiasm with whkh the audience was swayed in paying tributes of admiration and congrat- ulations Berlin had never seen before. She did not wait for them to finish their loud applause, but iitigilll again with Sei still, eine Stimme aus der Ferne, and all was instantly quiet again. After her first numbers, Alfreda had established her self-assurance and had forgotten there were hundreds and hundreds of people before her. She was thinking of the song she was singing and the song only. You sang ma1'velously, Fraulein Schnellman, as I knew you would, said Herr Weber after the program. You have made a great name, for yourself. Thank you, Alfreda said, for lack of something better l-Ierr NYeber had spoken truly. The next morning's, papers veritied his statement with kindly comment on Fraulein Schnellman and her unusual soyrano voice, a voice whose full resonance charlried the ear as few mites can, and whose Winsome charm and beautv nade her :l rare genius. i l.-'rau Sclmellman was much elated to hear of her daughterig triumph. She iirsi-eil Alfreda more than anyone knew. though Dr Strauss did his utmost to keep her contented and happy. The day of Alfred's next recital, bnought her a :Long epistle from her liulr mother, wishing her much success on 'lm evening, mm also annrftuncing' news that made her heart ache. Her mother said that she and Dr. Strauss were going to be quietly married when Alfreda came home for her vacation. Her mother going to be married! Long the lonely heafpsick girl sat deep in thought. Well, perhaps her mother was doing right. Perhaps her father would not return as he had promised. She buried her pink-flushed face among the pillows and wept bitterly. A note for you, Fraulein Schnelhnan, Herr Weber is down Stairs waiting. t Alfreda took the note from Frau Carson and read it, then sat down and wrote: l Please, Herr Weber, I would rather not go this afternoon, Give him this, Frau Carson. '

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At last the set day for the little journey to Berlin arrived. Alircda was ready with her pretty but simple outfit- Her mother SlI0Od at the gate, waving good-bye, as big tears rolled down each cheek. Frau Schnellman felt as she did on. the day of her husband's leaving, which was now almost fifteen years ago. She remembered the day well, and the song' Alfreda had sung. Dont worry, mother dear, I will take care of you until father comes, she called, and then she was gone from sight. III. I ' it was all so strange-to be alone in Berlin without her mother, or even a friend-Alfreda had never been away from home before. The first week was a very long and lonely one for her, and she suffered much from homesickness, but she soon made many new fflU1ldS arnvong those who also were studying for the opera. Most of her time she spent energetically on her music at the conservatoire. She was de- termined to make a success. At her trial performance the ll1?1UZ1g'CI' was delighted with her voice and spoke very encouragingly. Although Alfreda was tired wlhen her dayls work was over, she did not forget her mother, and each night before retiring, she wrote a letter, telling of her work and friends, and there were always cheery passages to gladden the heart of the reader. A few days before Alfreda's first appearance at the Royal Opera, she was taken seriously illg too ill to go to her studio She was greatly alarmed for fear she would be unable to make her appearance, and so be discharged. Then what would she do! A caller to see you, Fraulein Schnellman, announced the land- lady. A tall, dark, well-groomed young man entered the rofom- Alfreda recognized her manager, Herr Carl VVeb.er, I-Ivow do you do, Fraulein Schnellman? Not very well- apparently, he said, as he advanced- toward her.', I am very sorry indeed to hear of your illness, but I have been afraid that you were bringing this upon yourself. You are too concerned about your work. You have been exerting yourself beyond the limitations of your strength. Oh, Herr Weber! I must make a success. My mother - There is no need of your being disturbed. You have a remarkable voice and one you need not fear to test. I should have told you before and saved you from this, he said frankly. Your recital has been postponed until you have regained your health. I hope you will soon recover, he said, picking up his hat and walking stick. Alfreda did soon recover and was at her work again with renewed vigor. I-Ierr Weber had given her a few orders. One was that she should not spend more than five hours a day at the conservatoire. Thursday had been the day set for Alfreda's recital. It came as all eventful days do- Alfreda was feeling confident. She was not tired or nervous as she feared she would be. It was all due to I-Ierr Weber'G kind interest in her. She had not been allowed to .confine herself at her work for long periods at a time, for he often came in to carry her awlay to observe inspiring plays such as the Don juan, or Fideles at the Theatre Platz. Several times they had been on long drives along the shady avenues, past dripping fountains, bridges which were works of art, flower plots, marble statuary and through the Branderburg

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All right, but whatever is the trouble with you, honey? You aren't worrying about your singing tonight P she asked, patting her head gently. , No, Frau Carson, I can not tell you, said Alfreda wiping her swollen eyes. During the long continued clamor of applause which followed, the stage was literally covered with flowers. The first halflof her pr0- gram was over, and she sat meditating, in her restroom. She was un- usually beutiful that night. Her dress was of a rich black crepe Cle chine with soft folds of black meline draped from her well-shaped shoulders' Her fair neck and arms looker like white velvet 21gHiI1St the black, and her cheeks were tinged deep pink, from excitement. Her only ornament was a magnificent bouquet of white roses, which Weber had sent that afternoon. She sat listlessly dreaming into space, when she heard a soft step approaching behind her. Did I startle you? Never mind, I understand. There is some- thing troubling you. Won't you confide in me PM pleaded Weber. Alfreda gazed at him with soft, blue eyes that shone brightly through tears, and shook her dainty head, in answer. All right 5 I just came to tell you that the audience has asked if you will sing one of your own compositions. Alfreda sat thoughtfully for a moment, and then with a far-away look in her eyes, she said: Yes, Herr Weber, you may tell them I willf' Her father had been uppermost in her mind every minute since She had received her mother's letter. It was not strange that she should have sung his song, the song she had sung for him-now fifteen years ago-neither was it strange that every eye in the vast multitude was moist with tears, nor that in giving this song of reminiscence, she should break downwith emotion and have to leave the stage. T110 last Alfreda remembered as she was entering her dressing room. wfas the sight of an old decrepit, shabbily dressed man, rushing toward her with outstretched arms crying, My child ! A-physician, was hastened immediately and Alfreda was carried un- conscious in Carl Weber's strong arms, to her own rooms on Second avenue. Carl had heard Alfreda speak often of her mother, but had never heard her mention her father, and supposed he was dead, so he sent a message to Frau Schnellman saying that Alfreda had suffered a nervous breakdown, and would be brought home the following day which was just three days sooner than Frau Schnellman had expected Alfreda. Oh, the joy there was to have been in her home coming, but now- to be brought home ill -. For days and nights, did faithful Dr- Strauss, the mother and a prO- fessional nurse work patiently and untiringly by the bedside of the sick girl. . June the first came and went-the day that had been set for the wedding, which Alfreda's illness had made necessary to postpone. ' ' ' IV. It was evening in I-Iamlburg. All the lights were burning in the streets and behind the tall windows of the magnificent lmilllings which jut out into the water. All the lanterns and lights on the boats, float- ing swans, and ships were blazing out in the water, and mirrored themselves in the waves. The scene was like fairy-land. y Does Amonda live here P inquired an old man.