Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-23


| which is said to constitute the language of
angels and so forth.
Curtis, on his part, proceeded with the
musical education of the cats, aided occa-
sionaly by johnson, and in month or so
he had complete choir, from the kitten of
two months, his trebles and falsettos, and
his pussy sopranos, up to the venerable
| toms, who growed out double base equal to
Carl Formes
His greatest trouble arose from the prodi-
gious number of tem cats turned loose by
| those reckless boys. AS might have been
expected in that immortal city. they soon
became dissipated vagabonds, keeping late
hours, visiting Curtis musical family with
out leave, and drawing away the thoughts
Of the younger ones from their professional
studies
But at length the organ was completed,
and the six octaves of cats arranged in due
order. A few rehersals were given before a
select audience of fcritics-mates, pilots, etc,
from the steamboats, in port, and these were
willing to make affidavit. if necessary, that
such a concert had never been arranged
since the days of Handel. Orpheus or Tubal
| Cain
| The second story of a warehouse near the
! landing was rented-a stage, drop scene, ,and
tiers of seats provided-the whole intended
to accommodate four or FIVE hundred people
! The organ and cats were safely transported
to the place of exhibition or performance
without accident, save that the two prin-
ciple bassos, being accidentally put in the
same box, had an awful fight all the way
up from Western Row, and were obliged to
appear before the public with very rueful
faces and bloody noses, which, however, did
not at all detract from their popularity.
Everything being in readiness, Curtis had
flaming posters stuck up all about the le-
wee, displaying in huge letters:
CURTIS CATHARMONICON!
Grand Vocal and Instrumental Concert
FORTY EIGHT CATS, ETC., ETC.
The house was crowded at an early hour
by the jolly boatmen, the spaces not big
enough for men being flel, as usual by
boys the omnipresent imps, who are always
on hand when there Is promise of noise, fun
or mischief. After the usual delay. which
elected from the audience any amount
of stamping, whistling, and imitation cater
walking, the curtain rose and the grand cat
harmonicon was disclosed to view. Two
rows of cat heads, two dozen each, glared
with their lustrous green and yellow eyes
straight at the audience Little ruffies were
around theirnecks; miniature music stands,
with books and candles, were placed before
them; the aforesaid two bassos, whose beau
ty was spoiled by the fight, being provided
with muslin bands, which added to the
gravity of their NcountenaRce. The whole
was indescribably comic, and was received
with due applause. Seated at the organ
vas johnson, in clean shirt, and as sober
"a he could afford to be on so grand an occa-
sion. As soon as he could be heard, Curtis
advanced and stated to the audience that
the first song Of the evening would be
AUD Lang Syne," or, as he pronounced
it, ''Old Long Zion," which would be fol-
lowed by Hail Columbia, '''Clar de Kitch-
Ell, and other patriotic and devotional
songs. johnson squared himself for the
task, ran his fingers tenderly over the keys
by way of prelude, and then dashed boldly
and vigorously into 'Old Long Zion," pro-
ducing such burst of music as was never
heard on this continent before, nor ever will
be again till another Curtis arises to carry
into more successful execution bis brilliant
experiment. The cats were excited to fury
in the presence of the new and uproarious
ly severe pounding of their tails They for
got all the lessons they had been taught,
they paid no attention to their parts, to
either time or tune, rhyme or reason, but
squalled and mewed, yelled, spit and phiz-
zed in the very madness Of pain and terror,
drowning the sound of the organ, which
could be heard occasionally droning out ''Old
Lang Zion, in the rear of the unearthly
tornado of caterwauling. Never was an au-
dience so completely enchanted-never was
delight so unusual. so unbounded and so Wig
orously expressed. Shouts, roars, yells of
laughter, such as Western men alone can
give, burst from the crowd, shaking the
building from roof to foundation. Curtis
was delighted-the cats were furious-John-
son was beside himself with joy, and ham,
mered away at the keys with all his strength
making, with the aid Of the choir, and the
plaudits of the audience, concord of
diabolical sounds never heard before on this
side of the Internal regions. Unfortunately
in his delirium he forgot the strength or
weakness of the bellows which supplied the
organ with wind, and which he worked with
his foot. He had not reached the end of
the song when the leather gave way and
brought the performance to a sudden close,
the cats alone continued the song or noise
till one after another they became silent, and
stood winking and blinking at the specta-
tors, in mute fear of a recommencement of
the torture.
Curtis now approached, and after exam
lining the catastrophe, addressed the audi
ence:
Gentlemen. said he ''the biler-I mean