The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-11-20
A grand old man,
Rubenstein's Piano Playing.

Jud Browns Description Thereof
"Jud, they say you heard Rubcnstei1
play when you were in New York
Well, tell as about it." IL"
"What, me? I Knights we'll tell you
about the creation of the world"
"Come, now; no mock modesty. G.
ahead" :. d..
'Well, sir, he had the blandest, biggest
cattycarneredst pianner you ever laiG
eyes on. Somethin' like distracted
billiard table on three legs. The lid was
h'isted, and mighty we'll it was. If il
hadn't been, he'd atom the insldes clean
out, and scattered 'em to the four winds
of heaven"
"Played we'll, did he's"
"You bet he did; but don't Interrupt
me. When he first set down he 'peared
to keer mighty little about play, and
whist he hadn't come. He tweedleleed-
led a little on the treble, and awoodle-
oodle le-oodle'd some on the bass; just
foolin' and boxin' the things jaws fol
bein' in his way. And I'says to man sit.
tin next to me, s. I, what sort of foo
playin' is that2 And he says ;Hee'sh !!
But presently his hand commenced chas-
in one mother up and down the keys,
like passed. of rats scamperin' through a
garnet very swift. Parts Of it was sweet,
though, and reminded one of sugar
squirrel;turnin' the wheel Of a candy cage
"Now,' says to my neighbor, 'he's
shown off. He thinks he's doin' of It,
but he he amt got no idee, no plan o.
nothin'. If he'd play me up tune O
some kind or other, I'd
"But my neighbor says 'Hee'sh! very
impertinent.'
Il was just about to git up and go
ONE, bein' tired of that foolisbness, when
lheard little bird waking up away off
IN the woods, and calling sleepy like to
his mate, and I looked up and I see
Rueben was beginin' to take some inter-
est in the business, and I set down again.
It was the peep O. day. The light came
faint from the east. The breeze bowed
gentle and fresh; some more birds walked
up in the orchard, then some more in the
trees near the house, and all begun
singin' together. People begun to stir,
and the gal opened the shutters. Just
then the first beam of the sun fell upon
the blossoms, little more and 1t techt
the roses on the bushes, and the next thing
it was broad day; the sun fairly blazed,
the birds sang like they'd split their lit
tie thrOats; all the leaves were movin' and
flashin' diamonds of dew, and the whole
wide world was bright and happy as a
king. Seemed to melike there was break
fast in every house in the land, and not a
sick child or woman anywhere. It was
a fine mornin'. And says to my neigh
Dor, that's music, that is
"But he glar'd at me like he'd like
to cut my throat. ..
"Presently the wind turned; it began
to thicken up, and a kind of gray mist
come over things; I got w-spirited
directly. Then silver rain began to fall.
could see the crops touch the ground
some flashed up like long pearl earrings,
and the rest rolled away like round ru-
bles. It was pretty, but melancholy
Then the pearls gathered themselves into
long strands and necklaces, and then thew
melted into thin silver streams running
between golden gravels, and then the
streams Joined each other at the bottom,
and made brook that flowed silent ex-
cept that you could kinder see the music,
specially when the music went along
down the valley. could smell the flowers
in the meadow. But the sun DIDN'T shine
nor the birds sing; it was foggy day
but not cold. The most curious thing
was the little white angel boy, like YOU
see in pictures, that ran ahead of the
music brook, and lead it on, away Out
of the world, where no man ever was
never was, certain; I could see that Just az
plain as I see you. Then the moonlight
came. without any sunset, and shone or
the graye-yards where some few ghosts
lifted their hands and went over the wall
and between the black sharp-top tree,
splendid marble houses rose up, witt
fine ladies in the lit up windows, ano
men that loved 'em, bu. could never ge
a-nigh 'em, and played on guitars under
the trees, apd made me that miserable
could a-cried, because wanted to Low,
somebody, I don't know who, better thar