The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-05-15
INSTRUMENTAL CONCERT.
FORT Y-EIG HT CATS!!!

&C, &C., &C.
The house was crowded at an early hour BY
the jolly boatmen, the spaces not big enough
for men being filled as usual, by boys, the ON
nipresent imps, who are always on hand
when there is promise OF noise, run or mis-
Chief After the usual delay, which elected
from the audience any amount of stamping,
whistling and imitation caterwaulne, the
curtain rose, and the grand cat harmonico i
was disclosed to view. Two rows of cat
heads, two doze.i each, glared with their lus-
trous green and yellow eyes straight at the
audience. Little ruffies were around their
necks; miniature music stands, with books
and candles, were placed before them; the
aforesaid two bassos, whose beauty was spoil
ed by the fight, being provided with muslin
bands, which added to the gravity of their
countenance The whole was indescrbaby
comic, and was received with
due applause. Seated at the or
gan was johnson, in clean shirt, as So
Der as lie could afford to be on SO grand an
occasion. 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 pIonounc d it.
"Oit Lang Zion," which would be followed
by Hail Columbia" ''Clar de Kitchen" and
other patriotic and devotional songs. John
son squared himself Tor the task, ran his fin
gers tenderly over the keys by way of pre-
Jude, and then dashed boldly and vigorously
into Old Lang Zion, producing such burst
OF music as was never heard on thu CONT
nent before, nor ever will be again till anoth-
er Curtis arises to carry into more successful
exc cution his brilliant experiment. The cats
were excited to fury in the presence ct the
new and uproarous audience, and still more
under the unusually severe pounding OF their
tails. They forgot all the lessons that had
fh..x, r,os1 of 70 Ias
parts 10 either time or tune, rhy me or reason,
put squaled and moved, yelled, spit and
pnizzeo IN the very madness OF pain and ter
TOT 9loWnIn9 The sound of the organ, which
couia De heard occasionally droning out its
Oiu Lazy zion, IN the rear OF the uneartbly
to nado OF caterwauling. Never was an a,i-
d1ence so completely enchanted-never was
denSht SO unusual-so unbounded, and SO
vigorously expressed. Shouts rnars ual1s ~
laughter, such as Western men alopa "s 90 y,
give, burst from the crowd, shaking the bu;;d-
ing from roof to foundation. Curtis was de-
lighted-the cats were furious-Johnson was
beside himself with joy, and hammered away
at rhe keys with all his strength, making.
with the aid OF the choir, and the plaudits Of
the audience concord OF diaboIical sounds
never heard before on this side of the infer
nal 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 perform
ance to sudden close, the cats alone contin-
Jung the song or noise till one after another
t lucy became silent snd stood winking and
. DalnA'ug at TIE spectators, in mute fear of a
ioeonmencement OF the torture.
s1. We now approached, aud after examin-
The audiences iopne' aouresSeu
Gentlemen, said he, sthe biler-I mean
the 6elows-is busted, and the concert can't can't
20 anead toalSn an Tomorrow I'll have The
Producing choice classical songs. melodies ;a
etc. Anybody that wants his money ret"rr'
ed to night"-here he was interrupted with
"No, mop "Hurrah for Curtis p "neyer mind
the organp Go ahead on the cats' "Giye
us Old Hundred with the variations!' and a
storm of similar EXCAVATIONS, accompanied
with shouting, stamping, whistling and cat
calling, Curtis all the time standing, twirling