THE DAY BEGINS.
The next morning Camilla trotted off to Felix Simon's just as if nothing
had happened. The Ursos were too sensible to be upset by vanity. The
triumph of their child only caused them to soberly consider what was to
be done next. Camilla must lose no time. The lessons must go on
precisely as before and until matters were properly arranged her life
would be unchanged. She must prepare for more difficult tasks. Having
proved her skill she must now improve it. Greater tests and severer
trials were in store for her. She must go to Paris. She must enter the
Conservatory of Music. But how, and when?
Long and earnestly they talked over the matter and laid their plans as
best they could. M. Urso was a fine flute player. Of course, he could
readily obtain a place in some theatre in Paris. Camilla's mother was a
charming singer and a good teacher. She could give lessons, and perhaps
sing in some church. Oh! and then there was the organ! Certainly so fine
an organist as M. Urso would soon get a good place with a comfortable
salary. Aunt Caroline must go too. She would keep house and help the
children. None of them had ever been to Paris, but the prospect seemed
brilliant and for Camilla's sake they ought to go as soon as possible.
Having decided to move they sold all their furniture, collected whatever
was due for music lessons and salaries and prepared for the flitting.
Camilla, her father and aunt Caroline were to go first. The baby brother
was too young to bear the journey, and when they were comfortably
settled in Paris, mother could follow them. The journey was a slow one.
It was mid-summer, and on the road came the news that the cholera was
raging in Paris. It would not do to enter the city till cooler weather
came. So they tarried at Tours for six weeks till the sickness abated.
The Conservatory of Music stood at the corner of the Rue
Faubourg--Poissonière and the Rue Bergère in the old part of the city of
Paris. They must take rooms as near it as possible so that Camilla would
not have too far to walk on stormy days. With all their hopeful
prospects and though they had quite a large sum of ready money in hand
they took simple quarters in a house on the Rue St. Nicholas d'Antin.
As soon as they were comfortably settled Salvatore Urso went to the
conservatory to ask if the little Camilla might be admitted as a pupil.
The Director, Auber, received him politely and asked what he wanted.
"Could Camilla enter the Conservatory?" The little shrivelled up
gentleman opened his small eyes as wide as he could and said, in a
squeaking voice, "Camilla! That's a girl!" Yes. Camilla was a girl. How
very shocking in her. Why was she not a boy? A girl. Oh! No it couldn't
be considered for a moment. A girl enter the great Conservatory of
Music! Such a thing had never been heard of in the whole history of the
world. The Conservatory was not for girls and they couldn't be admitted.
This was discouraging and M. Urso retired from the interview not knowing
what to do next. The idea that the great composer Auber would utterly
refuse to take the child had never entered his head. Of course, with her
undoubted genius the Conservatory would be proud to teach her. What
difference did it make if she did happen to be a girl?
It made a great deal of difference to the worthy officers of the
Conservatory. Not one of them would consider her case. The Secretary, De
Beauchesne was applied to with more success, but he was only one of the
officers and he could do nothing alone. He heard Camilla play and did
everything he could for her. He visited the family and was in every way
a friend. When Camilla's third brother, Salvatore, was born, he stood
Godfather to the child, so we may infer that he was quite intimate at
the Ursos'.
It would not do to give it up so. Day after day slipped past, the time
grew to weeks and still the doors of the Conservatory were fast closed
against the child. M. Urso called on Auber several times. Would he not
interest himself in the child? Would he only hear her play? No. It was
useless. She was a girl. She could not enter. Why had M. Urso been so
foolish as to come to Paris when he might have known that they never
took in girls. Besides, she was not old enough. Not even a boy could
enter under ten.
People of influence were consulted, and in vain. If the Directors of the
Conservatory would not take the child it was no affair of theirs. They
could do nothing about it. It did seem as if everything was against her
and she began to realize what a very unhappy thing it is to be a girl.
Still, she would not despair nor relax one effort to obtain her darling
wish. She would keep on studying just the same and all through the weary
weeks of waiting she practiced and studied as best she could under her
father's instruction.
The Winter passed away and the Spring came. It brought very little hope
with it. Camilla could not enter the Conservatory. There were only nine
places and there were seventy-six applicants and every one of them boys.
When they grew up they could play in the theatres. That was the aim of
their lives. The Conservatory was opened to teach them, to prepare them
for this very work. Camilla would not play in an orchestra and, of
course, she would be of no use to the country and it was idle to admit
her to the classes.
Persistence finally carried the day. M. Urso fairly worried the learned
officers of the Conservatory into a consent. The irritable little
Director, Auber, lost his temper and said "Well, bring the girl. She is
sure to fail. We will hear her play, but she cannot enter."
The Ursos were greatly pleased with this concession. If they would hear
Camilla just once it would be enough. They could hardly refuse to take a
child of her great talents even if she did have the misfortune to be a
girl.
At last the eventful day arrived. The seventy-six boys and the one girl
were to be examined. Her case was quite hopeless, they said. She might
play like an angel and it would avail nothing. The boys would have the
places.
She never lost her courage, but with that quiet, serious manner that
only served to hide her sturdy character, she took her father's hand and
soberly trotted through the streets without a fear. She knew what she
could do, she had her piece by heart; she meant to break into that
Conservatory, it was her only hope and she would try hard to do her
very, very best.
M. Urso was excited and nervous. How would it all end? Would Camilla be
admitted. It was doubtful, still, her genius might win the day in spite
of the determined opposition that was raised against her. As for Camilla
she clung to her violin in stubborn silence, and patiently waited for
the great trial. All the candidates met in one room, the seventy-six
boys and their friends and the one girl with her father.
All the names were numbered and the numbers placed in a box and shaken
up. Then, some one drew them out, one at a time, and called off the
numbers. Camilla's number was nine, so her turn came quite early in the
day. This was fortunate, for she was fresh and eager to begin and the
jury had not become weary with their task. One at a time the boys were
admitted to the presence of the grand jury. Big fellows, fourteen and
fifteen years old, who had played before she was born. The case really
looked discouraging and desperate. Would she ever get in? She was only
seven, and looked hardly six. Her fingers were thin and her face pale.
She hardly seemed fitted to compete with grown up lads. It did not deter
her from trying, and when her number was called she felt sure she would
do her best.
They led her into a room where eight solemn looking men sat in big
green-backed chairs round a large table. Each had an inkstand and pen
and paper and every one had a look of severe dignity that was positively
appalling. There was the little Auber, the Director, Rossini the great
composer looking fat and grand in his impressive wig, Carraffa the
celebrated composer, Allard the violinist and four others looking
equally wise and solemn.
They placed her before the double quartette of players who were to give
the accompaniment and prepared to hear her work. She would try the
_andante_ and _finale_ from the _Fourth Concerto_, by Rode with
accompaniment for violin, second, viola, and violincello.
Here was her one grand chance. She must do her very best, stand just
right, and remember everything Felix Simon had said. Her father and
mother depended upon her.
The double quartette began to play and she forgot everything save the
music. The solemn judges never spoke, nor made a sign in any way
expressive of pleasure or disappointment. Some of them scratched their
pens over the paper through it all. Others looked straight at her in a
severe manner that was perfectly dreadful.
At last it was over. The eight gentlemen never smiled or uttered a word
or gave even a look that seemed like hope. She couldn't guess whether
she had failed or won. Somebody led her back to her father in the room
where the seventy and six boys were still waiting the result of the
trial.
Those men looked so black and really it was all so grim and solemn that
she was depressed and discouraged and for six long hours she sat in the
room by her father waiting for the verdict to be pronounced. It was
eleven o'clock in the morning when her turn came and it was not till
five in the afternoon when the last boy had been heard.
There was a tremendous excitement when the Janitor came out to read the
names of the nine successful ones. Every one sat perfectly still while
the names were pronounced. First a boy's name. She expected that and was
resigned. Then another boy's name was given. It began to be
discouraging. Then one more boy's name. Her chances were slipping away.
She would not be taken in. One more boy's name. There were murmurs of
disappointment from the crowd. Half the names gone. Poor Camilla was
ready to cry with disappointment.
Just here Allard, one of the jury passed through the room and stopping a
moment said to Camilla's father:
"The little Urso is admitted."
Nobody could believe it! There was some mistake! That mite of a girl
taken in? The four remaining names given by the Janitor were hardly
heard in the uproar and confusion that broke out. The boys who had
failed and even their friends were for mobbing the child. It was
dreadful, an outrage, perfectly unheard of, a shame, and all that. What
right had a girl to come and take the place away from some good boy who
could undoubtedly play much better? M. Urso had used influence with the
jury and done many wicked things to bring about this unheard of result.
M. Urso threw up his hat in the air, behaved in a wild and happy manner
and gave no heed to the taunts of the people. He gave Camilla a ten
franc gold piece and conducted himself in a startling and peculiar
fashion generally that would have astonished his friends had they seen
him. As for Camilla her mind was absorbed in that gold piece. She had
never seen anything quite so magnificent. Here were riches, indeed, and
she didn't care a pin for the silly boys who stormed and roared about
her. What a noise they did make over it! "Stupid boys, they couldn't
play, and that was the reason they were so mad about it." She must go
home and show her prize to her aunt. How glad her mother would be to
hear of her success. Hugging her violin close she paid no attention to
the rude people in the room and silently suffered her father to lead her
away.
It was a happy day for the Ursos. To think that the little one had
fairly broken down the bars of the Conservatory and compelled them to
take her in by the simple strength of her genius. Soon after her mother
joined them from Nantes and the reunited family was indeed a happy one.
Since that time several girls have been admitted to the Paris
Conservatory, but they have to thank Camilla, the youngest of them all,
for clearing the way.
Now she began to think that all the weary months with the dumb violin,
the long hours of practice, the days and nights spent with dear, cross,
old Felix Simon were happily rewarded. With all the elation and pride of
her parents she seemed only to be glad, in a quiet way, that she could
now go on and learn more and more.
Many weeks must pass before the long summer vacation would be over and
the Fall term of the school begin. In the meantime not a day was lost.
Three or four hours practice every morning with her father, a walk after
dinner, and then two hours more practice. No pieces. Nothing but
exercises in long, slow notes to keep up the strong, pure tone, and
scales in every key.
There is nothing so successful as success. Just as the vacation was
nearly over the little Camilla had another most flattering offer of
instruction. De Beriot, whose music she had played at the concert at
Nantes, visited Paris and gave several concerts. While he was in the
city M. Urso called upon him and asked permission to bring Camilla to
his room. Yes. He would gladly hear her play. This was certainly a great
favor and soon after she went to his hotel and played some of his music
to him. He was greatly pleased with the child and at once offered to
take her to Brussels where he lived, and give her a complete musical
education at his own expense. He was at that time the first teacher of
the violin at the Conservatory of music at Brussels, a place that is now
filled by Vieuxtemps, and he was certainly a master of the violin. He
would do this freely if he might have entire control of her education.
She was not to appear in public till he was quite ready. It might not be
for many years. To be sure, in three years, by the time she was ten, she
would be a wonderful player, but by waiting longer she would become one
of the few great violinists of the world.
This was indeed generous. They were thankful and would be delighted to
place her under his instruction if they could go too, and be near her
all the time. They had no means of supporting her in another city. She
could not leave father and mother. They already found it difficult to
get along. Paris seemed very different from their anticipations. It was
hard to decline such a splendid offer, but it was harder to part with
Camilla, and she could not go.
Then came the Conservatory. There were several teachers of the violin.
She might have the choice, and decided to go into Lambert Massart's
class. He was the most popular teacher. He was known to be cross and
irritable. His pupils had a sorry time of it but they generally became
good artists. She meant to be an artist and she would go to him. It was
fortunate, for as soon as he heard her play and learned something of her
history and circumstances, he generously offered to give her private
lessons at his own house without money and without price.
"Heaven helps those who help themselves." Salvatore Urso saw his store
of money melting away fast. It was not easy to find a place in the
orchestras in Paris. There was not a church in the city that did not
have several applicants waiting for the position of organist. Evil days
were beginning to come upon them. Nearly nine months had slipped away
and Camilla had only just succeeded in entering the Conservatory. For
all that, she had entered and her talents had won a good friend in the
great teacher Massart. They had no noble patron to aid them, there was
no wealthy friend to help them along. Everything depended upon
themselves and Camilla. She, brave little girl had done well and could
now go on and fulfill her splendid destiny.
Her first lesson at the Conservatory opened her eyes to the life that
was before her. There were eight boys in Massart's class besides
herself. At first the boys sneered at her and resented her presence. Not
content with this they tried to annoy her with rudeness and to plague
her with boyish pranks. She took it all patiently, replied to nothing
and clung to her violin in stubborn silence.
Massart was a large, rosy faced man with an uncertain temper. He seemed
much younger than he really was, and though at times he was dreadfully
cross and savage, he was at heart a kind and generous man. His manner of
teaching was peculiar. One pupil played at a time and the rest looked on
in silence while the master walked up and down the room with a long
slender stick in his hand. At first she thought it was a baton to beat
time with or to point to the music. Presently she found it had quite
another use. One stupid boy did not take the proper position. Massart
told him how to stand and the boy put his feet in the right place.
Presently he changed one foot and down come the stick with a snap on the
boy's legs. "Oh! M. Massart that hurt" cried the boy. "I meant it
should," said he. "Do it right next time."
If, thought Camilla, that is the way, I'll remember it. Somehow it was
not so easy. Massart gave a direction once and then came the stick. They
must do it right once and for all. Before she knew it there was a slap
on her own limbs. It didn't hurt much because her skirts warded off the
blow. As for the boys they had to take it sharp and heavy.
Then that little finger on her right hand. It would spring up as she
moved the bow. Massart said very pleasantly that she must keep it down.
She put it down but presently it flew up again and then came a stinging
blow from the slender stick that was not so pleasant.
That poor little finger had a sorry time of it before it would lay down
properly. Many a time it ached with the blows of the switch, and once
she thought it was certainly broken. She was obliged to nurse it in a
cot for two days. At last it came just right and has never gone wrong
since.
Some days Massart was in a terrible passion and stormed up and down the
room, and the stick danced about the boys legs till the little Camilla
felt sore all over, out of pure sympathy. It made her very cautious and
careful and as a natural result she escaped much of the shower of blows
that the master offered so freely. One day a stupid boy persisted in
holding his violin wrong and suddenly it flew up to the ceiling in a
hundred fragments. Poor Camilla fairly cried with fright when the master
kicked it out of the pupil's hands and really had to take refuge in
sudden tears. She clung to her instrument with might and main after
that. He would not be able to kick it away in that style from her hands.
Up early in the morning, breakfast, then three hours practice at home
with her father, then to her lessons from two till four at the
Conservatory. Then home again to study till bed time. Such was her day.
Three times a week, at all sorts of hours, as happened to be convenient,
she went to Massart's house for the extra lessons he gave her as a
private pupil. He was a famous teacher and pupils gladly paid him twenty
francs an hour for instruction on the violin. Camilla had it all for
nothing. It was the only gift she ever did have. Nobody had ever given
her money. They gave her an education and that was worth more than
money. She must work hard and show that she appreciated the master's
kindness.
Besides these lessons, she studied harmony and practiced solfeggio at
the Conservatory. Her every hour was taken up with something. When her
fingers were weary with playing she could write out her exercises in
harmony.
So the days and weeks slipped away. Busy over her studies she hardly
noticed that the winter had come again till she began to need warmer
clothing. She went to aunt Caroline. Mother was busy on some embroidery.
It was strange how much time mother gave to that work now. She had not
done so at Nantes. Aunt Caroline gave her an old dress that had been
mended several times. Camilla put it on without remark. She thought it
odd, that there was no new dress for the winter but said nothing.
Somehow things seemed to be changed. Her father was discouraged and her
mother never went out, and worked hard all day at embroidery. What had
happened? She could not tell.