LIFE AND WORK OF DR. A. A. MURPHREE


were held in the gymnasium, Dr. Murphree perceived the un-
usually clear and resonant tones of a tenor voice coming down
from a tier of seats in the balcony. Pausing in the midst of
a song the president held up his hand for silence, and looking
up among the faces where the voice seemed to have originated
he said, somewhat sternly:
 "Who is that young Caruso up there? Who was doing
that tenor singing?" After some hesitation a dark-haired
young man held up his hand in an embarrassed manner.
 "Come on down here to the platform," Dr. Murphree or-
dered peremptorily. Not knowing but that a calling down for
singing so loudly was in store for him the young man obeyed.
 "Now," Dr. Murphree said to him when he had reached
the platform, "I want you to sing a solo and show these stu-
dents how to do it!"
 The challenge was accepted. That the student tenor had
 a gifted voice was at once apparent to Dr. Murphree, who
 himself was a tenor soloist in his younger days. The incident
 prompted him to ask the young man to report to him for a
 conference, in which the president advised the student to take
 up the study of vocal music seriously, assuring him that his
 talents were outstanding. That advice was followed.
 Four years later the voice of that young man was being
 heard by hundreds and thousands night after night on one of
 the great radio systems. His picture smiled from the show
 windows of music houses the whole nation over from adver-
 tisements that were proud to announce that this singer featured
 certain songs. He was making what might be considered a
 fortune every year with his voice and the personality back of
 it. The student is James ("Jimmy") Melton, whose home
 town is Ocala.
 Dr. A. A. Murphree was a spiritual man, and in that side
 of his nature lies the chief explanation of his character. He
 did not stop to quibble over a theory of religion but made the
 factof religion an unquestioned influence upon all his thoughts
 and actions. A man of faith he was, and that faith began
 with a belief in God and extended to a belief in the noble
 nature and destiny of mankind. Some have felt that he was
 puritanical in his outlook, but those who knew him better