Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-06-07
A Story Of the Maestro Julien.

| IT was the middle of July. 1913. when
| all London was stirred by the grand ova-
/ ton which had Just come off in honor of
/ the - ion Concert t,iVcr,' that Il tail .
raw-boncd man might have been seen
walking down one Of the narrow streets
of that foggy metropolis. alternately hum
ming to himself little SGatchcS of melody,
and stopping Ia rae AT the signs over the
doors. Pretty soon he came 10 the music
/ store of Crancr. Bcale ~ Chapple. and
strobe heavily in. the large nails in the
bottom of his shoes making music "in
thai part Of the town"
Halo. mon" said he. in the broad
Yorkshire dialect. 10 a tradcsmau behind
| the counter. who was intcntlv examining
Il new and beautiful engraving that was
designed aS Il lrontispicrc to .Iuli"n'S la>t
polka. Tan yOu tell me il Mca>thcr .Iul-
lens in -
NO. he i not. sir. lc left about hall AN
hour since" said Mr.. Chapple tor he was
the one adlrcS>cd) and ~ he replied, lie
raised his eyes from the design AMI
scanned the rougii-loOking person who
stood before him. He WAS coar>cly clad.
Il man of brawny limb, with complexion
of that peculiar ashy colon slightly be-
grimed with coal. which indicated that
he had toiled for years beyond the light
ana warmth OF the sun.
"Wull'ec be in again to-day 2" inquired
the \ ork shircman.
mo. he will nOt-nOt before to-mor-
row. Did you wish to see him -
"Wull. yeas. aw wood like to-" said
he, hesitatingly. They talk summat
about ees goOin' TO America" he contin-
uel.
" Yes. he sails next week; but how
does that interest yOu:" said Mr.. Chap
pie, who began 10 be curious about the
motive that could prompt such a rough
looking customer 10 see the man of I'M
maculate kids and irreproachable vest.
I'D like to ga over wi 'um,' was the
reply.
Like to 90 over to America with him?
Pray what good could you do him 2" said
Mr.. Chapple, with an expression as near
contempt as was consistent with good
breeding.
"Wull, aw think aw Good do 'um good
deal o. good said he with Il KNOWN"
twinkle of the eye.
4" How? You certainly DO not look
like musician
"Wull, as to looks, thot's nOwther here
nor there, but aw blow't Ophicl-idc sum
they say whoam-Eetter thon Ony man
in t'coOnty."
"Ah. indeed What's your business ="
law wOr Ks in the cOOal mOinc."
"les; well, how much do you earn in
week."
about saxteen shillin'. And then, too,
aw belong to brass bond, and we make
summat by gfen van or two concerts Il
week"
Il think. sir, that Mr.. Julien has en-
gag all the help he wants. and will not
require your services" and the music
publisher, having satisfied his curiosity.
turned away TO his business, as il he
had already spent too much time To little
purpose.
The YOrkshireman very awkwardly
scratched his head, and stood for IA mo
mcnt, as if undecided what to do. but
at length took a few steps toward the end
of the counter. and, pecpng over pile ot
music. behind which Mr.. Chapplc had
taken refuge. said To him:
''Perhaps ye moight jus loikc To hear
me play a bit. Gin ye'll gi' me on
instrument, anvil show We what aw con
do"
The request was so good-naturedly
made that Mr.. Chapplc could hardly re-
fuse. so he led him up stairs, and gave him
an old Ophicleide, which, attera moments
inspection, he threw down, jocosely re.
marking:
Gang AVA wi yer ovid brass. Coon,
mon, gle us a good 'un."
Chapple Obligingly complied. The
YOrkshireman took the piece of shining
metal i'm his huge hands, that were hard
ened, cracked, and blackencd with toll,
and raised it to his lips. played legatO
air with such purity of tone and beauty
of expression that it was hard to tell
which sentiment was strongest in the
mind of the listener-Surprisc or de-
light. "But all this NAV be by rOte,'
thought MIR. Chapple. Here let me hear
you play that" said he, as he placed be-
fore him new and very difficult solo for
the Ophiceide.
The YOrkshircman glanced it once
through, and astOnishcd his listener by
executing it with marvellous accuracy,
Gaping the climax by imprOvising florid
and appropriate cadenZa.
''ZOunds." said Chapple. "Monsieur
Julien must hear you. Call Tomorrow
noon, and he'll be here"
"lla. We thought aw didn't play ony,
eh!' said the performer, as ne strobe out
of the room, and he gave vent to Il broad
guffaw as he tramped downstairs.
The next day, at the appointed hour.
Julien, with his publisher and the York
shire OphicleidiSt, were in the same upper
room. Julien. after hearing him play
was i'm ecstacics, which he cndeavOred To
express in half dozen languages.
"BravO.' he shouted, rubbing his
hands. "Capital. Mon Dieu, c'est err
traordmaire : Mr.. Chapple. engage him,
and give him five pounds IA week."
"Five pounds week {" exclaimed Mr..
Chapple; "why, he'll be glad to go for
One-auarter of the money"
"Never mind that" said Julien "never
mind that-hire him, and give him five
pounds (S25) week. He's worth it.''
The same raw-bOned YOrkshiremau is
better clad now; his cOuntenance wears
healthier hue, and our word for it, YOU
will hear no provincial brogue in the
tones of his Ophicleidc.