The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-03-09
From the Aldine for March.
T II E III A N IN BLUE
BY RICHARD BOYLE DAvEY.

am professor of music, and was
born in the last century, at Salesburg. in
Germany. My father was a rich aud in
fluential merchant of that city; but faint
1co per la mus ca, as the Italians say, music
mad. knowing that at his death each
of his children would inherit an ample
fortune, he permitted us somewhat to ne
glect our other studies, So that we might
dedicate more time TO his beloved science,
music. My two sisters played remarka-
"bly we'll on the spinet, and sang delicious
ly. Karl. my only brother, was the
fiutist of the family, and devoted myself
to the violin. At sixteen years of age, [
believed myself an adept on this difficult
instrument. My violin was nv constant
companion. Nothing gave me more
pleasure than to take my dear "Fertuna,
to, for so | called it, into the woods, and
there, by the murmuring brook, beneath
the rustling trees, improvise new airs,
and vary old ones, TO my hearts content
So greatly did my father delight in dis-
playing the talents Of his children, that
he organized every Thursday afternoon an
amateur concert, at which at least ii
quarter of the town assisted-to listen to,
admire, or criticIse, about as much music
as could possibly be crowded into three
hours performance, divided INTO two equal
parts, by "A tray of light refreshments
handed reund by Karl and myself.
One fine Thursday afterneen in Au-
tumn, just as The first of our pieces was
concluded, very singular locking indi
yidual entered the concert room, He
was Os thin and pale as an unearthIy ap-
partition, and entirely dressed in shabby
garments of light blue colored corduroy
| His wcll-wcrn knee breeches were blue,
! his jacket was blue, his vest was blue,
| and the huge cravat that fastened his
! gHeat Tapping shirt-colar was also blue
| His face was the most melancholy in ex~
preston that it is possible to imagine
/ lie had a big, hooked nose, thin lantern
| jaws, and the only redeeming feature
! which he possessed, his dark and intelli>
! gent eyes, were hidden by pair of gog-
/ gle spectacles. His hair was bright red
/ and uncnt, and his beard, verify believe,
! had never bsen trimmed since it first be-
: gan to grow.
He did not attempt to apologize for his
/ intrusion into our company, but without
/ looking to the right er to the left made
straight for vacant seat, and taking IL
| prepared to listen to the music with mark
| ed attention. 1t was nay turn TO play,
but | was so confused, so utterly dumb
founded by the appearance of this strange
parsonage, that when | struck my violin
with the bow my hand tremblsd so mech
bot / I
again and again, and was about 10 give 1t
up in despair when the Man in Blue rose
from his seat and came directly to me-
''1 oung man. said he, ''you have =
more difficult instrument there than you
think for; hand 1t TO me, / will Olay in
your stead" L mechanically gave him
''FOrtunste." - Presently he commenced.
Never IN all my life had | ever heard
such playing. The instrument seemed to
have within its wooden frame a divine
soul, capable of expressing every possible
em0tlon-Joy, grief, passionate agony, ,and
triumphant jubilee. We were I'll amazed
and delighted, and at The termination OF
t, e 'concertU" such a burst Of en- husiastiC
applause greeted The singular perfurmer
that he seemed quite overcome and con
luSeu he, h"~e> er, bowed his acknowl>
edgments in The NEST grotesque fashion.
must here mention that we were or
the eve of a grand annual musical festi-
val, at which some of the greatest musi.
clans of Germany had declared their in
tention of being present. My father
naturally concluding that our strange
guest was some celebrated maestro, who
had arrived incognito, FASTENED 10 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
hesltaed, and finally accepted my father
pressing invitation.
Fer one week we surrounded him with
every attention, and he, by his gentle
manners and genius, soon won our atfec
tlon and respect. But all our attempts 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
him the question point blank He SET
himself to work to teach me great many
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, Glove music ;
music is the food of the soul-the only
possession we have on earth which we
shall retain in heaven"
If a stranger happened to pay US a visit,
our new friend would Immediately take
refuge in the garden. He liked to be
alone with Karl, myself, and his violin
! One day merchant named Krebbs ar
rived on business which he had to trans
act with my father, and as he entered he
stumbled against the Man in Blue, who
was making good his escape. The poor
Siolinist, on pereeIying merchant Krebbs,
became as pale as death, and tottered to
a seat in the garden, covered with confu-
sion. and hid his face in his hands.