The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-03-22
THE MAN IN BLUE.

of that city; but tanatico per Ia mus
jca, IS the Italians say, music mad
Knowing that at his death each 0
his children would Inherit an ample
fortune, he permitted Us somewha
to neglect our other studies, so tha-
we might dedicate more time to his
beloved science, muse. My two Sis
ters played remarkably well on the
spinet, and sang dehciously. Kar
my Only brother, was the hutist o1
the family, and I devoted myself tC
the violin. At 16 years OF age,
believed myself to adept on this
difficult instrument. My violin was
my constant companion. Nothing
gave me more pleasure than to take
my dear Fortunate" for so
called it, into the woods, beneath
the rustIing trees, improvise new
airs, and vary old ones, to my heart
coLtent.
So greatly did my father delight
in displaying the talents of his chill
dren, that he organized every Thurs
day afternoon an amateur concert,
at which at least a quarter of the
town assisted-to listen TO- admire,
or criticise, about as much music as
could be crowded into a three hours
performance. divided into equal
parts. by tray of light refreshm ents
handed round by Karl and myself.
One fine Thursday afternoon in
autumn, Just as the first of our
pieces was concluded, a very singu-
lar looking individual entered the
COZ cert room. He was as thin and
pale as an earthly apparition, and
entirely dressed in shabby garments
of light blue cordury. His we'll
worn knee breeches were blue, his
jacket was blue, his vest was blue,
and the huge cravat that fastened
has great fapping shirt collar was
also blue. His face was the most
melancholy in expression that it is
possible to imagine. He had &
big, hooked nose, thin lantern jaws,
the only redeeming feature which
he possessed; his dark and intelli-
gent eyes were hidden by a pair of
google spectacles. His hair was
bright and red, and uncut, and his
beard, I verify believe, had never
been trimmed since it first began to
grow.
He did not attempt to apologize
for his intrusion into our company,
but without looking to the right or
to the left made straight for vacant
seat, and taking it, prepared to listen
to the mnsic with marked attention
It was my turn to play, but I was so
confused, so utterly dumbfounded
by the appearance of this strange
parsonage, that when I struck my
violin with the bow that I my hand
trembled so much that I could not
produce q sound. I tried again and
again, and was about to give it up
In despair, when the Man in Blue
rose from his seat and came direct
Iy to me. young man." said he
''you have more difficult instru-
ment there than you think for;
hand it to me, l will play it in your
stead" I mechanically gave him
Fortunate" Presently he COM
menced. Never in all my life had
l ever heard such playing. The in
strument seemed to have within It's
wooden frame q divine soul, capa-
BILE of expressing every possible
emotion-ioy, grief, passionate
agony, and triumphant jubilee. We
were all amazed and delighted, and
at the termination of his concerto"
such burst of enthusiastic ap-
plause greeted the singular perfor-
mer that he seemed quite overcome
and confused; he, however, bowed
his acknowledgements in the most
grotesque fashion.
I must here mention that we were
on the eve of of a grand musical
festival, at which some of the great
est musicians OF Germany had de-
clared their intention of being pre-
sent. My father, naturally con-
Guiding that our strange guest was
some celebrated maestro, who had
arrived incognito, fastened to thank
him for the favor 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
at first refused, then hesitated, and
finally accepted my fathers press
ing invitation.
For one week we surrounded him
with every attention, and he, by his
gentle manners and genius, soon
won our affection and respect. But
ali our attem pts to find out who he
was, and whence he came proved
vain; he took no notice of our dis
Greet hints, and not one of us dared
to ask the question point blank. He
set himself to word to teach me a
great many things about the violin,
of which 1 was previously ignorant,
ana to this curious man. l owe
many of my greatest triumps, "My
son." he would say, 'love music;
music is the food of the sLul-the
only possession we have on earth
which we shalt retain in heaven"
! If stranger happened to pay Us
visit, our new friend would i'm
mediately take refuge in the garden.
He liked to be alone with Karl, my
self, and his violin. One day a
merchant named Krebbs arrived on
business which he had to transact
with my father, AID as he entered
he stumbled against the Man in
Blue who was making good his es-
cape. The poor violinist, on pre-
ceiving merchant Krebbs, became
as pale as death, and tottered to
seat IN the garden, covered with
confusion, and hid his face IN his
| hands.
''Well, I am sure, said Krebbs to
! my fathn1 60 vn1l ara q odd man tn