Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-23
THE OATHARMONIOON
IN Original Concert Western Music Forty
Years Ago.

h.l SANAsA
lar societies are doing much to improve mu
sic,r taste and skill, it may be well to col
Iact md preserve records of efforts in the
same line by the past generation, to show
the struggles of musical genius in the earli-
or DAYS of the West, and to prove that long
before the Dutch, with their brass bands,
conquered the country, there we're untutor-
ed Americans who we're filed with musical
inspiration, and who only lacked the oppor-
unity to astonish the world with their
achievements We will, therefore, try to
rescue from oblivion the history of one of
the most original attempts ever made in
the musical line-one that produced a re-
markable sensation from Pittsburgh to New
Orleans, at least in steamboat circles.
Among the citizens OF Cincinnati, some
forty years ago. there was one named Cur,
tis-we forget his initials-a guilder by
trade, aud genius in his way, but that way
ran in the line of mirthfulness rather than
money making. OF course, he was poor.
Did the reader ever sed merry rich man ?
But he was none the less popular among
biz special friends, the steamboatmcn, who
never employed any other to guild their
picture frames or horns" which the fast
est boat was always allowed to carry on her
pilot house.
Our hero was not at all contented with
his poverty. and many and original were
the plans he formed to to mend his fortune.
lie was an observing man, too, and had not
failed to notice how often fortunes were
made out of things apparently trifing He
nsticed particularly how easy money was
acquired by musicians, singers, concerts,
and all that sort of thing, and he believed
he could get up something of the kind that
would please the public and pay well, tho
IN truth he knew no more than mule about
flats and sharps, minimims and qnavers
But he had big crochet in his head and
determined to work it out.
p Living near Western Row where Yeats
abounded, Curtis did net lack oppertuni-
tsas to study the musical capacity of the fc-
line race. They had kept him awake ma
ny warm moonlight night when he pre-
tered sleep to their Internal serenades. So
he determined to get up grand Phlhar-
monte concert, in which cats should take
prominent part, aad if he failed to make
either music or money, he would at least
have the satisfaction ef having some fun
ogt Of it.
Taking few eats to experiment on he
ng 10 him IL
actcs they we're addicted TO- or excelled in.
he pinched their ears, twisted their legs,
stuck pius in their-their rotunditics, and
n1sri other pleasant kevices to dcvel0pe the
aasic. But he found no way so certain of
bringing ont the soune as the application of
the btck of 1 case knife across the tail. This
never failed TO elicit the note if there was
any tallant at all in the animal-the modu-
lations, piano and forte, being easily obtain
ed by making the blow ligha or heavy
This remarkable discovery Curtis believed
might be so maaged as 10 make him a for
tune equal to Nick Longworth's or any 9th
ca maa $. So up he goes next morning af
ter he had matured his plan, to Columbia
market, and enqured of every man, woman
and boy he met If they had any cats at home
Nspare Of course they had lots of them,
and before long he had more brought to
MIN than he supposed could be found in
Hamilton county He had employed an
hasshman named johnson. drinking fel-
Low, but musical wilhal, and who could
V4i.d orgaIs, TO make one to serve as an ac-
empanIment 10 the cat voices johnson
Informed hIm that one of six octaves would
u0' at least for the experiment. Curtis reck-
Uned up the Octaves and found that four
Dozen cats would ELL the bill But he order
5l tWJ dozen more, for fear that some
mlsat have defective voices, or prove OBJ
spnaie OF capricious, ike the 0peratic tribe
generally. Six dozen teen were ordered,
10a accommodations prepared for them in
sdnlFy boxes, barrels, kegs, &C., in the
Vaek yard. But, bless your soul six doz-
en- were nowhere. All the boys in all the
"uhteS around, in Kentucky as well as
0Ao' heard of this unprecedented demand
% tle animals, and every market day lots
might Ue seen with baskets anu
'1s' vending their way to Western Row, to
- toe quarter or half dollar" the
''l'e BurtIs established for kits and eats, as
tH size, In month or less his six dozen
made up, comprizing every age, size,
"a ana color Curtis then published that
I7 aaa his full complement, he could not
.ly =, any more, had no room for them But
- Il the boys came on, in almost unbroken
ana finding mo sale" incontinently
Jumped the cats down at his doom, whence
.l'y scattered up alleys, down cellars, over
.u'es and into doors, as Curtis often as
'''lr to the number of six hundred and
IVY he sometimes ae ded thousands.
'uason went on with the building of
I' organ and the adoption of the extra
= I-'ae Keys to the cats tails He arranged
~ -.ie singers should be confined in mar
~" boxes, which, while they allowed free
way 10 The lungs. guarded against clawing
having four holes in the bottom through
-I'A the legs protruded. The tails were
- 'ISeu u tubes provided With longitude
stOls--we ike to be scientific and pre-
descrlption-across which the blade