Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1871 — Making Sure of a Tenor. [ARTICLE]

Making Sure of a Tenor.

The Cornhlll Magazine tells this story: A French impressario was taking out to New Orleans an opera company, which, by special arrangement, was only to include one tenor. Foreigners are usually bad sailors, and for the first few duys all the members of the company were seasick, one of the effects of which malady is that It weakens the voice so much that people aro frequently hoarse for several days after tlielr recovery. Accordingly, as soon as the singers could crawl on deck, they commenced to try their voices, and amongst them the tenor, who, always anxious to occupy a distinguished position, went on the bridge of the steamer for the purpose. What was his surprise on hearing an echo of his own voice—unother tenor. His amazement became disgust when he heard a third tenor running up the scale, a fourth, a fifth. He looked forward and saw two men eyeing him and each other with intense hatred; he looked aft, and two others similarly occupied. The five tenors simultaneously made a rush for the master’s cabin, iiiu demanded whether life had not expressly stipulated to each of them that he was to lie his only tenor. “ I know’, I know,” replied the manager; "and I will keep my word. You see, none of you have been to New Orleans before, or you would understand. When we arrive there the yellow fever is sure to be raging, and as you are fresh from Europe, two of you will probably be carried off’ before you land, and two more during the rehersal. One will probably survive; he will lie my first and only tenor.