The Osceola times., 1880-02-21
The Piano at Home.

~ L AAllte
The drum is the most barhsric the
horn in all its varieties the most pierc-
ing, the accordeon and ITS congeners the
most abominable, the violin the most
soulful, the pipe-organ the most domes-
tic and social, of all in trument Of music.
The statistics OF the latter's production
are surprising. The l35 makers in the
tour largest cities Of this country produce
10000 pianos year for which the pub
lie pay some Sl0,o00,000. Every steam
ship must have one; every hotel or public
hall requires one or more: the boarding
school has from one TO thirty. and the
parlor which lacks one is thought to be
incomule:ely furnished. This j. within
the borders of modern civilization. be
yond them, however, stray piano drifts
now and then, sometimes a. strange al
most in Its surroundings as were the
piano-stools which were swept into Mack.
ervillc by The foul human torrent that
roared through New York streets in the
draft riot Of 1858. The piano has no
GIFT OF perpetual youth. Its Uelodious
life i, perhaps, five TO twenty years; il
surrounding lie may be twice IS long;
but what becomes Of the old pianos.
Fire carries of some; during the war
the few which were involved went =
variety OF ways, sometimes being used
- operating tables by the surgeons; but
nobody sees pianos 20 for kind!ingN cod.
If they 90 to the domestic exile IN gar
rets, the Earrcts must be iUll Of them.
they canno; drop into cracks S. pins do,
and whether they disintegraie slowly
blow ont through tie kev-holec on Christ.
mas i've. or are borne away by rae carts.
i yet a mystery.
Their place IN society while iu the
flesh may be counted another. II can
no; be called part OF the present craze
for art, for il began a quarter Of cen
tury aco-this dic,um that gIrls must
have an accomplishment. Anna shall
take music lessons, Mary shall draw
and daub. Jennie shall do impossibilities
in w0rsieds on canvas, Cecilia shall
scream up and down the ladder OF vocal
gymnastics, and Cinderella-wh ho j last
and Of no account a. all for princes
shall help mother IN the kitchen. II
the girls lack capacity, they must have
one, fol father L able 70 pay. Accom-
plshmenis are allotted around the circle.
= though no slr! moi remarkable in any
thing in particular had no prospects IN
a., matrimonial market, and when her
market Is once made, filia's easel Is
put away and her piano gets a rest The
patient thing has usually vel earned i,
for although tie decorative outbreak
NAV possibly cause some diversion u
latcr, the piano is peculiarly the victim
OF feminine an oiiion. is il because the
piano i the nucleus Of parlor furniture,
and the parlor j. for her daughter and
her company. ~ because the white
handed bt-rinsod duly. and a. yet inno-
cent OF work J. though; 10 be most cap
;lyaiins when threading the mazes Of
the keyboard. that s row OF steel wlre>,
. once stretched ~ q box, can eet 80 little
. yeace' II the once be!licerent J. u,
escaping from prCspecilve unT'le2--
I antnes, hal eusrapped about his herolc
limbs the piano cover instead q hls
wiie's criu0line, be would have shown
I more appropriaicness IN appropriation,
I for all the piano wants j. TO be let alone
on the simple condition that ii J. not to
. t,e stirred up. it is the most harmless o.
I domestic animals.
Z j. shorkirely out Of practice; !: can not
I possibly plav without It's notes; II has q
had cold and j. very ho&rse. But affer
irritating IS gently with excuses II
/ dances Up and down It's many octave oi
L complaint, il infinite variations 81 the
T desperate inquiry, why eza''i-yoa-le,
me-al0ne-lovcf Ihe ACCORDION ana the
organ drag music out through a hOie.
- vheu" isee Nercil) a cats tSll. I'M
T deiAtchcd from tie owner, \ drawn
I through a kno. hoie i I box; VI:
. the piano has more vciccs than an army
7 of hack yard fences. Yet 1t plays many
paris and serves many purposes. II
d tl4s gaps IN oozVersa,ion, because IN 80
. cie;y il is often impossible 10 star con-
I versailon until the piano opens Its jaws;
then begins the rivalry between clatter
. and tatt4e-the piano really must he 81
lenccd. II serves a useful end by CON-
poliae +us two" to sit closer, tina, We
make ourselves heard. II Is especially
serviccahle ss q next door implement