The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1851-06-11
Wonderful Musical Invention. ,;7

One. ofthe most extraordinary musical
inventions ever conceived by the human
mind, will shortly be submitted to tho public
of Philadelphia, at the Musical Fund Hail.
The ideaiwns5 conceived by Mr.. Anthony
Faas, heimaker of tho celebrated Amcri-
can ACCORDION, which attracted SO much
attention at the annual exhibitions of the
Franklin Institute, for which he received
two silver medals. The musical inventions
which will shortly be introduced to
Philadelphia audience. consists of nine
dut0inald, rs large us life. There are two
flute players, one clarionettc player, two
trumpets, three bass horn players, and a
bass.drummor.--1'he figures are dressed
in the Tyrolesan costume, and present
quite q natural and imposing appearance
by pulling. a slender wire the instruments
are partly raised and the heads ofthc figures
drop forward in the most natural manner.
The machinery Of course is complicated,
and OF immense power. The music is en-
'cellent, and one can scarcely rcalizc that
tho figures are not human beings The
drummer, in beating time does his part to
perfection. Marches, polkas, Wales, pa
triotic tunes, and opera pieces, can be per-
formed with remarkable precision and
sweetness Of tone.
Mr.. ,Faas has bestowed ten years labor
on this work He. nf course, laborcd under
the greatest difficulties. Even the drum.
mer, that would seem to be the easiest
made, caused him three years of almost
undivided attention.
When blaclzelPs automaton chess
player and automaton trumpetcr were in
troduced TO tho citizens, they created all
immense sensation. The encomiutns then
passed were fully deserved; but how much
more interesting and ingenious is it to
array nine, with variety OF instruments
and to. mako them play so well that some
Of the bands OF musicians OF our city might
blush. Mr.. Faas never permitted any one
outside his own domestic household to
know what he was doing. lie was an
object Of suspicion to some Of the police.
They had seen ACCORDION valves lying
about his house, Mt different timer, and
they conceived the idea that these wore
unstampcd German silver counterfeit
quarters and they watched close.
Tho unsuspec'ing ingenious gentleman,
who was pursuing his invention under the
greatest difficulties, couldn't ride in an
omnibus but that an officer would ride in
the same vehicle. In conversation with
him, attempts were made to find out what
uc ulu III u certain room IN ms house. l1c
never divulgcd the secret, and this fact
alone strengthened tho officers suspicion.
All this time, Mr.. Faas did not know what
they were after. One day he proceeded 10
Red Bank, New Jersey, for pleasure; SO
did mn officer. At another time he went to
Reading, Pa, on business, and strange as
it,may seem, an officer whose face was
familiar to Mr.. Fuas. had business there
too. AS the men OF law never could get
any evidence that would warrant an arrest,
Mr.. Faas, Of course. remained free. 1t
was not until recently that the sccrc, OF the
Invention became known, and thus the
doubts of oil have been removed.
Mr.. Faas, is one of our most respectable
German residents, a man of great skill, in
genuity and goodness of heart, and is high
y. esteemed by all who have the pleasure
OF an acquaintance with him. lie has al
ready taken the Musical Fund Hall for
limited period, and in Il short time our
citizens will have an opportunity of looking
at and listening to one of tho most wonderful |
musical Inventions ever conceived by the
mind Of man,-Eohila, iSuu.