The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1867-01-09
A SCRIPTURAL PANORAMA-HOW IT
WAS FITTED TO MUSIC.

u
tells the following interesting history of
the scrlptural panorama:
There was fellow travelling in that
country with moral religious show-a
sort OF scriptural panorama-and he
hired a wooden-headed slab to play the
piano for him. After the first nights
performance the Snowman said
'My friend, you seem to know pret-
ty much all the tunes there are, and you
worry along first-Iate. But, then, didn't
you notice that sometimes last night the
piece'you happened to be playing was a
little rough on the proprieties, so to
spe k-didnt seem to jbe with the
general gate ofthe picture that was pass.
ing at the time, as 1t were-was a little
foreign to the subject you know-as If
it.didn't neither follow suit nor trump.
you understand 2
well, no., the fellow said. lie hadn't
noticed, but it might be; he had played
along just as it came to hand.
So they put it up so that the simple
old dummy was 10 keep his eyes on the
panorama after that, and as soon as
stunning picture rolled out, he was TO
/
fit it to dot with piece of music that
would help the audience to get an idea
Of the subject, and warm them up like
'aSmp.meeting revival That sort of
thing would corral their sympa;hies, the
Snowman said.
There was big audience that night
mostly middle aged and old people,
who belonged to the church and took a
strong interest in Bible matters, and the
balance were young bucks and heiters
They always come ont strong on the
panoramas, you know, because it gives
them chance to kiss one anothcr's mug
in tho dark.
Well, the Snowman began to Swell
himself up for his lecture, and the old
mud>dobber tackled the piano and run
his fingers up and down once or twice
to see that she was all right, and then
the fellows behind the curtain commenc.
ed to grind out the panorama. The
Snowman balanced his weight on his
hips, flung his eyes over the scenery,
and sald
Ladies and gentleman, the painting
now before you illustrates the beautiful
and touching parable of the Prodigal
Son. Observe the happy expression
breaking over the features of the poor
suffering youth--so worn and weary
with his long march note also the
ecstacy Deaming from the uplIfted coun-
tenance of the aged father, and the joy
that sparkles in the eyes of the excited
group of youths and maidens, and seems
to burst in welcoming chorus from
their lips. The lesson, my friends, is as
solemn and instructive as the story is
tender and beautiful'
The mud-dobber was ready, and the
second the speech was finished, he struck
up:
ooh, we'll oil get blind drunk,
When Johnny comes marching home.
Some of the people glggled, and some
groaned little. The Snowman could
not say word. lie looked at the pl-
ano>man sharp, but it was all lovely and
serene--he didn't know there was any>
thing out Of gear.
The panorama moved on, and the
Snowman drummed up his gift and
started In atresh.
Ladies and gentlemen, the fine pic
ture now unfolding itself to your gaze
exhibits one oftbe most notable events
in Bible history-our Saviour and his
disciples upon the sea of Galilee. How
grand, how awe-inspiring are the rehec-
tions which the subject invokes. What
sublinity Of faith is revealed 10 us in
this lesson from the sacred writings :!
The Saviour rebukes the angry waves
and walks securely upon the bosom OF
the deep!
All around the house they were whis>
pering, oh, how lovely, how beautiful !
| and the orchestra let himself out again
oh, life on the ocean wave,
And home on the rolling deep.
There was q good deal OF honest
snickering turned on this time, and cona
siderable groaning, and one or two old
deacons got up AMI went out The
Snowman gritted his teeth and cursed
the piapo-man to himself, but the fellow
sat there like knot on log, and seem-
cd to think he was doing first rate.
After things got quiet, the Snowman
thought he would makc one more stag
ger at it anyhow, though his confidence
was very shaky, The supes started
the panorama to going along again, and
he says: