Smyrna times., 1872-04-03
NJ SC e//uu e Ou!s
The Man in Blue,

LIE MAN III Blue,
~ % Hu professor OF music, and was born in
ce Che last century at Salisbury, in Germ,nv NJ,
lather was rich and influential mnroban+ ~ ~
mat city; but Jimdtico per Ia D,usjcJ as t6a
itallans say, music mad. Knowirc that ~ ~
ueath each OF his children would inLnr;t nH
aunPle fortune, he permitted us somewLat ~
neglect our other studies, so that wa m;abt
ueulcate more time to his beloved science
music MY two sisters played remnrkahly
wen on the Spmet, and sang dclciouslv XII
niy only 9rother' was the futist of the family.
| ana L devoted myself To the v;,,I,,
sixteen years of age | believed mis.It sn n. ~
on thls dlhcult instrument. Nv violin vs.
my constant companion. Nothing gave mo
more pleasure than to take my dear Form.
nato, Tor SO | called it, into the wood. anI
'here' by the murmuring brook. benpath Tho
rustllng trees, lmprOviSe new airs, and very iii
ones, to my hearts content. 0'0
90 greatly did my father delight in d;snlov.
ing the talents of his children that he orrpniy
co. every thursday afternoon, am amateur con
1cI'' a' "Iich at least a quarter of the town as
sisted, to listen to. admire or criticiSe about ae
much music as could possibly be crowded ;nto
three hours performance, divided into two
! equal parts by a tray Of light refreshments
handed round by Karl and myself
One me Thursday afternoon in autumn. inst
as th9 hrSt or our pieces was concluded. n very
singular looking nlividual entered the conccrt-
room lie was as Thin and paleas an unearthIv
| appaHtion, ana entirely dressed in shabby gar
IneltS Oh Ight blue corduroy. His well worn
Snec-OreecheS were blue, his jacket was blue.
ms vest was blue aud the huge crayat thai
fastened his great tiaring shirt collar was also
blue, His face was the most melancholy in
expression that 1t was possible to imagine Hn
hau Big hooked nose, thin lantern laws. and
the only redeeming features which he nos.
seSSed, his dark and intelligent eyes. were hid
den by a pair Of google spectacles. His hair
was bright red and uncut, and his beard. |
verify believe, had never been trimmed since Il
hrSt began to grow
lie did not attempt to apologize for his ntru
SION INTO our company, but without looking to
the right or to the left made straiobt for voy
cant seat, and taking it prepared to listen TO
the music with marked attention II was nv
turn to play but was so confused. so utterly
dumO founded by the appearance of this strange
parsonage, that when | struck my violin with
the bow my hand trembed so much that
cou!d not produce a sound. | tried again and
again. ana was about to give it up in deSpair
"heh the Nan In Blue rose from his seat and
came directly to me. Young man" sid bo
you have more difficult instrument there
than you think for; hand it to me- | will plav
10 IN, your stead. L mechanically give him
fortunate: Presently he commenced
never IN all my life had heard such playing.
lhe instrument seemed to have within its
wooden frame divine soul, capable of EXPRESS
ing every possible emOtion-ioy, grief mas
slonate agony and triumphant jubilee. We
were all amazed and delighted, and at the ter
minatlon OF his concerto" such burst of
enthusiastic applause greeted the singular per
former that he seemed quite overwhelmed and
confused he however bowed his acknowledge
ments IN the most grOtesque fashion.
must here mention that we were on the !
eve OF grand annual musical festival, at which |
some OF the greatest musicians of Germany had |
declared their intention of being present Ny |
father, naturally concluding that our strange |
guest was some celebrated maestro who had !
arrived lncOgnltO, hastened to thank him for |
the IaVor he had conferred upon Us, and also |
to offer him the hospitality Of his house during
his stay in our town. The Man in Blue first |
refused, then hesltated, and finally accepted |
my fathers pressing. Invitation.
For one week we surrounded him with every |
attention, and he, by his gentle manners and |
genius, soon won our affection and rcsDect |
But all our attempts to find out who he was
and whence he came proved vain he took no
notice OF our discreet hints, and not one of Us
dared TO ask the question, point blank He
set himself to work to teach me great things
about the violin Of which | was previously
ignorant, and to this curious man owe many
OF my greatest triumphs. My son." he
would say, love music; music is the food Of
the soul-the only possession we have on earth
which we shall still retain in heaven"
If stranger happened to pay us visit our
new friend would Immediately take refuge in
the garden. He liked to be alone with Karl.
myself. and his violin One dav merchant
named krebbs arrived on business which he
had to transact with my father, and as he
entered he stumbled against the Man in Blue,
who was making good his escape. The poor
on perceiving merchant Krebbs, be-
come as pale as death, and tottered to seat in
the garden, covered with confusion, and hid
his face in his hand.
j, WELL L am sure, said Krcbbs to my father,
'yvcu are an odd man to take in that creature
Why, though he was in prison, or drowned,
DR. run over"
',Yon know him, then?" asked my father, {
with lll-disguised curiosity. i
Know him-of courge | do. Why his $
name is Beze; he is carpenter by trade a
But, bless you, he's as mad as a March hare /
some time ago our church organ was struck /
~ lightning. Beze came forward at once and S
proposed to mend IL gratis nrovided the parish