NOT IN HIS DAY-BILL.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume VIII, Issue 27, 4 July 1891, Page 127

NOT IN HIS DAY-BILL.

Signor Blank is one of the best fellows imaginable. He has a fine, deep baritone voice which has been Ins means of livelihood ever since his boyhood. He is, probably, one of the best known professional singers in the country. We had arranged a ‘sociable evening' at our place for Wednesday night last, and the Signor had been invited. Of course we expected to hear him sing, but aside from that he has so many other entertaining qualities that we wanted him, ‘ sing or no sing,’ and so invited him. We live in a large family hoteljon the'west side of thetown. The ‘ party’ was held in the private parlours of one of the boarders, and when the Signor arrived 1 had to escort him through the large public parlour. ‘ There he is. Isn’t he going to sing?’ and similar exclamations from a bevy of young ladies greeted the Signor’s ears as we ran the gauntlet of the parlour. The Signor was evidently ‘flustered ’an 1 I made up my mind not to ask him to sing at all. After introducing the Signor to my friends we engaged in a genera) conversation ami then young Leonard asked the Signor to sing. The Signor looked at me as if in protest, but before I had a chance to say anything he had taken a seat before the piano ami commenced. There was a flutter of excitement out in the hall and the door was suddenly opened, disclosing the eager and expectant faces of a dozen or more uninvited young ladies. The Signor sang only one song, and then signified his intention of departing. He had only come, he said, to make his excuses, as he had lia<l a > rior engagement. I explained to him that we hadn't invited him merely to hear him sing, and then the Signor had something to say on this subject. ‘Oh, I understand that very well,’said lie, but I 11 tell you, though, that I am often invited to dine out, and almost before I have taken my coat off I am asked to sing. It is sing before dinner, sing after dinner, and sing at any and all times. Among friends I don’t mind it so much, but even then it is apt to become just a t rifle monotonous. Now if you had only invited me here to play a little game of draw poker — ‘ Signor,'said 1, ‘we’ll get up a game for your especial benefit next Saturday night, and you won’t be asked to sing unless you win.’ ‘That's different,’ replied the Signor, with a smile. ‘ I’ll be on hand.’