Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 250, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1913 — AT THE OPERA [ARTICLE]

AT THE OPERA

"There were about 4,000 persons lout to hear ’Parsifal’ the night I went," remarked Mrs. Grim to her husband. “Is that so?” responded Grim. “I didn’t know there were so many deaf people in the country." “What are you talking about?” demanded his wife. "One thousand people slightly deaf, not altogether deaf, deaf and middling deaf.” "I don't see the point yet. ‘Parsifal’ isn’t for deaf people, though parts of it are rather stormy." “Deafness is really an advantage at any of Wagner’s blowouts. But what I meant was that kt such places of entertainment there is always one deaf man to every three or four persons who can hear. “I’m sure I don’t object in the least to the deaf people being there. But I, do object to the people who go there with the deaf people. There is always a person who persists in explaining things to the deaf person. The explanations are uncalled for, and the deafness is perhaps a sort of protection against them. “The last time I went to hear the opera' I paid $8 for a seat. Every one kept asking me if I was going and then every one always looked supercilious when I said no, so I finally changed my mind and went. Having paid so much for a seat, I wanted to hear the music. "Hanged if an old lady, deaf as a post and rich as cream, didn’t line up right behind me! There were four friends with her, all anxious to talk to her. I think she owned the theater, because no one objected to the recitations on the part of those who were with her. "The old lady couldn’t hear a thing! Everything had to be repeated three or four times. Even then there Sere some things she never did hear. I got interested In the game and wanted to take a hand. At one stage they were all trying so hard to get her to comprehend that I could hardly stand it. They didn’t know how to talk to a deaf person. They didn’t enunciate clearly. I was always good at enunciation. “At last, when they were all talking together, unable to get the old lady to comprehend at all, either through stubbornness or meanness, I rose elaborately from my seat and turned and faced . them. "’Excuse me.’ I said, ‘but can I be of assistanee? Let me try.’ “With that I placed my two hands around my mouth and shouted- loud and clear: “ ‘They say your dress is coming open in the back!”’