MARIE HALL'S DOUBLE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1384, 9 March 1912, Page 10

MARIE HALL'S DOUBLE.

Mario Hall, the violinist, whose visit to Australia about three years ago will be remembered, tells the "Scotsman" that she has a double in the United States. Through a mistake she was onco late in arriving at a place of entertainment in which she had. to perform. "When ten minutes had passed the excitement and annoyance of tho audience had become so pronounced that something had to be done. Sending a messenger off post haste to see what had become of me, my manager was on to tho platform to try and calm tho people when the local manager of the hall assured him that I was sitting in the front row of the stalls. "N'ot knowing what (o think, my manager, went to see for himself, and could hardly believe- his cy«s, for the girl referred to was so like me in every feature that he had to look several times before he was satisfied that it was not indeed myself. Moreover, she was evidently ii violinist. She occupied the end seat of (he front row, and beside her was a violin in its case. She was, in fact, a teacher of the instrument at a sehcol in the town, and had come to my recital on her way home, as it was a hulf-holiilay. "Fearing that it might still be some time before 1 arrived, iny manager wcut quietly into the body of the hall, and, approaching the girl, whispered to her that 'Miss Hall would like to speak to her.' • He could not say more there, but this proved enough to 'draw' her, and when she was behind ho explained the situation, which was becoming eijeh moment more desperate, and begged her to go on in place, and play something, anythin" to satisfy the audience, which by thU°tinii- was getting exceedingly angry at tlu- delay. "She did'it. She played the very niece that 1 was to have played! My mana"er told me afterwards that no sooner had she congenial than he was filled with a inoM, awful fear lest she might be a very bud player. But she played very well indeed, nnd got such an ovation that when I arrived in the middle of (ho applanso 1 could not think what was happening, and when I met my 'double , as she came off, blushing but proud, I began lo think I must be dreaming. "When I went on myself next time tho audience seemed a. little surprised at Hid rapidity with which I had changed my costume, but they never know of l.he deception that had been practised upon them, and never will, for I am glad to siiv that my manager was able to obtain for my obliging double a good position in a much larger town very lnnny miles awny, where fho has remained ever since, pledged lo seiTcey, lint very proud nf W only experience (is an impersonator.".