Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-12-02

For many years past the regular
theatre-goers of this city have noticed
in the orchestra an old man, with
white hair and whiskers, who plays
the violin. He has been connected
with every theatre in the city, and his
face is u familiar object to those who
study the musicians as well as the
music during the often tedious waits
between the acts. The small gold ear
rings he wears have often been re-
marked, and the manner in which he
handles his instrument shows that it is
an old friend. For some time he has
been member Of the Chestnut Street
Theatre Orchestra, under the direction
of Simon Hassler, where he has made
many friends, who have been astonish-
ed to hear from the quiet little old
man occasional "reminiscences of an
unusually adventurous life. Yet some
of his most intimate friends, who have
only heard him conversng on the
great musicians and singers he has
heard and known, do not know that
the humble musician is a veteran of
the army of the great Napoleon and
participated in the battles under his
command when this century was
young. The old gentleman is not
given to boasting and speaks modest
ly of his experiences, but there are
occasions when, surrounded by his
family or little circle of chosen
friends, he fights the battles of the
grand army" over again and tells of
deeds he has witnessed that are now
matters of history. One of these rare
occasions was on Friday last, when
Pierre Solidore Molin, Chevaier of the
Legion of Honor, the veteran soldier
and musician, celebrated his ninety
third birthday at his humble resi-
dence, on Julianna street, below Cal
lowhill
AN OLD SOLDIERS BIRTHDAY.
The day was spent in visiting and
receiving the congratulations of his
many relatives and friends, and in the
afternoon, while seated around the
cheerful fireside, he was prevailed upon
to give some "reminiscences of such n
career as few living men have expe.
rienced. The room was characteristic
of the man. On the walls hung pic
lures of Napoleon and Washington
and a portrait of Cherubini, the COM
poser. On the little old fashioned
piano rested huge pile of music and
Il picture of veteran of Napoleon's
Guards, whose motto was: The Old
Guard Dies, But Never Surrenders."
Everything was scrupulousl y neat and
clean and showed the care and atten-
tion Of a tidy housewife. The old
gentleman, who scarcely appeared to
be more than sixty-fve years old in
stead of being within n few years of
his centenary, was bright and cheerful
and evidently in n good humOr for
talking, so that when visitor sug-
gested that brief sketch of his life
would be interesting he signifed his
assent. Although a resident Of this
country for siXty-two years, he still
retains his native Piedmontese accent
in a marked degree, and the fact that
he has lost all his teeth rendered it
difficult at times to catch his meaning.
lie is in full possession of all his fac
ulties and in perfect physical health,
while his mind is remarkable for its
keenness and accuracy. 1t scarcely
required moment for him to remem.
ber an occurrence of seventy or eighty
years, and in every case when refer
ence was made to some particular date
he was invariably correct.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE LAST CEN
TURY.
was bOrn," said he, in answer to
n question, con this day ninety-three
years ago; that is, on November 10,
1887. Ny birthplace was Nice, which
now belongs to France, although when
first saw the light it was in Italy
They used to say, Nice is the garden
of Italy and Italy is the garden of
Europe My father was a DOCTOR
who attended the Marquis of Rocham-
beau and accompanied him to America
during the Revolutionary War. My
grandfather was chamberlain to the
Duke of Savoy. ] was educated in
Naples first and then in Paris, and
was living in the former place when
the eruption of Mount Vesuvius took
place in 1886"
DO you remember anything about
the eruption?" was asked.
The old gentleman laughed heartily
and shrugged his shoulders expressive.
ly as he said: why, | was only nine
years old at the time, and it has been
so long ago. But remember that it
looked like n big fire and everybody
thought that they were going to be
burned up. ISalso recolcct that
few days afterwards | went with my
parents TO visit Iorre del Greco n town