The Yazoo City weekly Whig. (Yazoo City, Miss.) 18??-1855, 1853-09-16
Thc Mario Of Music.

Inc SpTlghtly correspondents oI the Iva
ltional Intelligencer. WHO'S travelling through
Syria, and at last accounts had reached the
ancient city Of Baalbeck OF Heliopols, gives
the following description Of the effect which
his flute and the negro melody has upon the
descendents Of 1shmael:
In travelling through Syria. as ii other
parts of the world, ! always carry my flute
with me.to relieve Che lonely hours atnight
and excite social feeling among the natives.
I had huted my way after the fashion Of
Goldsmith, through many a difficulty; and
now I was resolved to see what the magic
of music would-do in removing the preju-
dices Of the Arabs. As soon as it was dark.
we had good FIRE lit in the corner. and
pulling off our shoes, as custom required,
we spread our mats close by, and sat down
costly to enjoy the cheerful Ere. my friends
1.-THE southerner and the English captain)
smoking their chibouks. while brought
forward my knapsack, and commenced put
ting the pieces of my flute together. The
Arabs, who had begun to crowd in, were
greatly interested in the strange instrument
that / was getting under way. and Yusef
who was rather proud Of his civilization sat
by enjoying their remarks, and giving us a
running Interpretation. Some thought it
was a sort of pistol, with large touch hole;
but the notion was Tidiculed by the more
knowing ones. who said it was plain to see
that it was new fashioned pipe, and that
they would soon see me put the bowl to II,
and begin to smoke.
At last got the pieces adjusted. and
commanding silence by mysterious motion
of the hand, commenced playing that Clas-
steal air Of "old Zip Coon. Z which ! dare
say was never heard before among the ruins
Of Baalbeck. There was the most breath
less attention on al sides, interrupted only
by the suppressed exclamation of Tahib!
Tahib! GOOD. good! when I blew very
shrill or false note; aud soon the women and
children from the neighboring houses began
to crowd in, and there was gradually large
circle formed around the room. and the au-
dience squatting down in rows, till there
was scarcely space enough TO breathe. I
blew away with all my might. for not only
was excited with the success of my expert
ment. but rather inspired with The music I
was making, which / assure you was not
bad The familiar airs of home made me /
sentimental. and merged into the dolefull
air Give me back my heart again, which
was miserable failure; not damsel seem B
ID disposed to listen to it. They commenc-
ID in the very middle of the most pathetic
strain to call for "old Zip Coon When
ended. there was no end of the tahibs.
Mr.. Coon was decided hit.
In order to vary the entertainment, sill
snce was commanded again, and Yusef was
desired to.explain that there would be a
long; that it was a song Of an old black
gentleman who lived in America; who was /
] pacha among the blacks; that he was call
d Uncle Ned, because he was SO venera-
de. and being very old, the hair all fell off
lis head, and there was no hairat all in the
olace where the hair ought to grow; that he
hadn't any eyes to see with. and consequent
y was as blind as post or stone |
vail. or anything else that is supposed !
o be deficient in eyes; that he neither had
eeth to eat bread with, and he had to let
he bread alone and eat something else; that
lis fingers we're as long as canes IN the
freak: which was about an average Of six
cen feet;'and eventually. that one day when
le was outin the field, horrible monster, 1
alled Grim Death, came along and caught (
i'm By the heel and carried him away. and I
le mas never heard of any more except in 1
bis song. which was written in commemo-
alton Of these facts. %
Thereupon. having excited the most pro-
ound interest III the history Of Uncle Ned,
launched forth into the song, keeping as
ear The tune as possible. and going through
II the motions descriptive Of the badness
i bis head, The absence Of his teeth. and !
BE length Of bis fingers. When ! arrived
| the final catastrophe. where grim death
eizes the old gentleman by the heel, Imade |
sudden motion 1t tie heel of one worthy
no Was sitting near by completely upset
Ing him with fright. and causing laugh
rom the audience that seemed as If t would |
ever come % "a end Il was tie best BIZ 4
t tie evening and completely removed al !
The women had gradually mn