The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1851-10-15
From the New Orleans Delta.
Confession of a Flu:c-Playcr.
froI'Sp IN oITR GARprTl

! WOUND IN oeN SAhNEI.I
l am a musician of impulse, making
want a melody, and necessity theme fol
imprOrisatore. | have a staunch friend
in my flute, that travels around with me
like the organ mans monkey for want
of better employment. Yes, my flute is
a faithful friend, firm ally, brother in
adversely, and an uncle in prosperity.
am never without my flute, which
carry in case in my coat-tail pocket, and
which is as potent as the mystic ring of
Aladdin, and is passport in all circles Of
society.
| am ill used by certain people, who
(although they are few) term me a
"spmge,' ga diner-out," &c., &C., but
| turn my back on this, for Shakespeare
says, " that those who have no music in
their souls, arc only fit for treasons STRAIT
agems and spoils," and | think Shakespeare
was right.
My coat is scedy, to be sure, and my
feet have strangely wandered from the
bottoms Of my pants, Or | may have run
my legs too far through them. Yet, what
of that / do not 60 often 8. to BARRIERS
with my BEARD" for | prefer letting it
grow like Adams, and regret that it
should excite envy.
am something Of wit-or at least l
pass for one-as | have read Punch, 10
Miller, and the Comic Annuals of Turner
and Fisher, and gathered a host of stale
jokes, which | string in bunch, like fish,
and retail ont in bar-rooms and on corners,
to the great delight Of myself, and the ed
ification of muddy -pated, worky-day NOR
tails, who have never read anything but
"reviews Of the markets." in the dur
mails. Altogether, | am looked upon as a
funny fellow. am also immense on con-
undrums, and always have new one"
My favorite one is about the Ducks, who
go to the bottom of the pond for dirers
reasons.
am obliging TO fault, to friends. and
have been known on numberless occasions
when their new boots pinched their feet,
to wear them for day or two, just to
stretch them and indeed l have been
known to wear them out for them.
| am put often TO a great many shifts,
but always introduce my flute, which
brings me out and if ha ppen to be on
steamboat and meet friend, wherever he
stops, stop; and take care to be at the
hotel first and register my name with his.
Of course l am always obliged to leave
before he leaves, in,imating to the book
| keeper that lit will be all right which
is understood with tclegraphic velocity by
him.
have played great many games of
{. draw" (Which means poker) at dime
':ante, - and although have been charged,
must here deny that | would be guilty Of
giving - items "-primping the cards, or
staining them with tobacco juice. have a
soul above tobacco juice and & items"
was once a clerk to lawyer, but left
him with his consent, as business was
dull, and the neighboring Offices dislikcd
my flute. departed, however, carrying
with me the regrets Of a young lady over
the way, who, ike myself, was lover Of
sweet sounds, and used to come to her
window every morning in her blouse and
night-cap, to bid me good day.
| have seat in the orchestra at all the
theatres, and attend regularly every night,
but was never knownto laugh at comedy,
or applaud tragedy.
In the winter, my flute is my oyster
supper, my Scotch ale and my Cabana by
night, and my roast beef and plum pud-
ding by day. l would be something in the
world if | possessed the merit, but really
my only accomplishment is my flute. AT
dinner parties where am invited, my
flute is the dernier plat, and at little eve
ming sociales, the premier sOupir; and |
am always in the due at the piano, with
the Juveniles, whom Byron ulgarly calls
{: bread and butter misses"
| composed march once, in F flat, for
the flute, but it did not sell, and l gave
up the business.
In the summer, l travel ad Hbitum,
wherever fancy dictates, taking care, du-
ring the winter, to make the acquaintance
of the purscrs, captains, and command
ers Of all popular sea crafts. This paves
the way for a northern trip, and if you
visit Newport, Saratoga, or any other
fashionable watering place, you will find
me always the first in the ladies' parlor,
with my very identical 1lutc. Ii
don't exactly get an invite to travel on the
steamers, l go aboard to get carried Of by
accident. CA good way, is to be drinking
a parting bottle with a few friends, and
when informed that the plank is hauled in,
to reply-being of course very tight
that you don't care tinkcr's d-n. OF
course, the next morning when you come
to, you request to be put ashore, which,
you know, cannot be done. You will then
as matter of course, have TO draw on
your friends for shirts, and some small
change, until you can draer on home, at
the same time, ,deploring your dcviish bad
luck. On such occasions, vocal or instru-
mental is invaluable, and you pass for an
unIucky, but devlish clever 4" iellow.")
never refuse to play my flute, either
at birth or DEATH Money Musk" for