Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-05-18
4 PLEA FOR oReAN.aRLSpERsi

The Louisville journal in short nbtice Of the
Italian orgsngrinders, harpsis and vioIinisis who
wander about over the country, discoursing their
music to Athe million" ssys
"Some of these strollers'are admirable violiuists
and harpists, having acquired proficiency and a
mastery over their instruments that can only be
acquired in a lifetime devoted TO nothing else
There are mysterious stories ahoat that these min
strels make cords Of money, that they operate un-
der regular organization, and so forth but we
doubt very much whether they make more than
enough TO keep their lazy bodies and careless souls
together AT least their appearance and manner
OF living do not indicate very great degree of
luxury, and if they bring us good sayage-soothing
music ard touches Of sweet harmony, ten cent
piece thrown at them, here and there viii never do
any particular harm"
We are glad to find, coming from so respectable
source, even this much of an apology for a class
of people, for whom have always felt a kind of
sympathy, aud regarded with feelings far different
from those generally entertained towards the wan
dering Ministries. To affect an adherence Of street
musicians, and street music, seems to be entirely
fashionable; and to drive rudely from the door, or
the sidewalks and, perhaps, to inAct upon the
poor unressting organ-grnder hard kick, seems
70 be quite an achievement, by too many We have
hardly ever, in our life, heard any of these wander
I1g musicians, that made really disagreeable music,
nd most of them, humble as they, and their call |
ig may be, produce exquisite melody and, yet you
my see a super-fashionable chap stop his ears. and
huy past them, in affected disgust, to 90 into a
parr, and counterfeit the utmost endowment in
listeing to some love-sck bundle of hoops tfiump.
from piano, discord that would produce headache
in teImnutesl
Fopur part, we confess to weakness for such
music an harp VIOLIN and flute, played upon
in corhrt by skillful hands will make; and even
Tor lnd-organ, we must say that from that
alone, have heard as sweet music as ever we
listened from any single instrument And then,
II they hi no other claim to our encouragement or
toleration,he pleasure these knights of the organ
and the hp afford to the little children, as they
listen TO TIN, in still wonder, at the front door,
should OF itsf commend them to us.
Inc most SIMON charge laid to these wander
ing minstreis that of lazness but even in this
we cannot join We should like TO know what
calling invoves'ore of active exertion of muscle,
U.s. " WV Gu" dYp than that OF packing
nea'y organ OF Up, on ones back, day after day,
ana 'ramp'hg unS buring sun, from city to city ,
anu through s'reeefter street, patienty and hum
Oily "uiscoursins sNt sounds" at your door, and
leaving the matter the little recompense they
eper get, to your opn alone. We cannot tbink
'na' theSe men cnoSeheir calling as one favoring
iaAy naoi' WIN any of them this humble =
calling is tier only retrce. They are reared in
i"hu where 'ne "aseof labor will hardly sus- r
'an HE, Out where mus is part Of nearly every s.
one euuca'lon' ana luxury for which all are
VIKING 10 pay even OUT their scanty means and e.
hei0e TINS street MUSIC Escorted to by SO many,
Us means Oh nVeiihooabhich, while it affords al
pleasure to others, is, at sa,ne time tho mos, :.
agreeaoie pursuit. anu maze the only one open
70 'noSe VINO 'o'lo" IT, 1t then, humanely, at
least, the humble, noffensi organ- or;ndori Is
you cast him dime, he recei II oratef,Iv and
plays some more; and even if listen and ,ivc
MN no'nihg' lie shouiuerS Emusic, sadly, yet
silently, and turning away, whit n word leaves
you anu your conscience 70 set the question of
your devilish meannessi