The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-07
WEDNESDAY MORNING, APRIL z.

listener while the efforts Of the grocer's boy to
explain away the apparent discrepancy be-
tween the quantity of syrup and the size OF the
can, is beautifully and touchingly conveyed.
The bassoon is made of wood, and the COM
plete instrument is probably worth SIS a cord.
1t looks like pump log, and is played by
blowing into silver stem that winds into the
side of the tube. When the bassoon IS not IN
use in the orchestra, it can be utilized as a
clothes prop. 1t has two distinct qualities of
tone. In the upper and lower register it has a
voice like COW that has fallen into pit, and
in the middle register it sounds like man
with the Group shouting fire. from fourth
story window. 1t is much used by composers
for mournful, distracted effects, and in the
opera of ia Sonnambula" it is employed as
the interpreter of man calling. down dark
alley for his lost dog. When the average man
listens to the ravishing bassoon solo in
the slow movement in the concerto for piano
and orchestra. it insensibly makes him think
of tall woman with her head tied up in an
apron, and her mouth full of clothes pins, try
ing to hang up fourteen foot sheet in a gale
of wind.
The flute is too familiar for the readers of
the Hawkeye to require any detailed descrip-
tlon. In the hands of the young man living in
the next block, its expressive wailing notes are
vaguely suggestive of dog trying to crawl
through fence that is too close for him, as
sisted by another dog, Of greater weight and
more irritable temperament,
The double bass is the largest of the violin
tribe. 1t is also the worst. The man who
plays it is usually fat, and always bald
Gleanings from the Mails.
Pittsburg, Pa, is suffering from an epide-
mic of typhoid fever. Between 400 and $50
cases are reported, and the physicians are
nearly worn out by their labors. The death
rate has not been high, hut it is expected to
increase with mild weather.
In dredging out dock in East Boston, in
Vulnerable articles have been found. Among
them are scores of knives, spoons, dishes, etc.,
and especially more than four dozen pieces of
table ware.
1t is estimated that 10000 Canadian emf
grants will during the summer seek new
homes in the West and Northwest The Ca
madam railroads report the emigrant move
ment to Western points as already heavier
than at any time last year.
-Four or five enormous blocks have been re-
moved, by order of the Khedive, from the
great pyramid for the purpose of building
mosque. This mutilation has been severely
criticised by the Egyptians, whose faith, if
pinned to anything is pinned to the great
relics of the Pharaohs.
Bismarck's sixty-ffth birthday was cele-
brated on the first of April, and his palace
was flooded with birthday offerings from all
parts of Europe. The Emperor and many
other distinguished persons visited him.
The Empress of Russia, whose death is
daily expected, is 56 years old, and was mar
ried at the age Of seventeen. She is the
mother OF seven children six sons and one
daughter, the latter being the Duchess of
Edinburgh.
The following men are considered the
richest Congressman in Washington: New
berry of Michigan, Morton and Starin of New
York, Loring and Russell Of Massachusetts,
Singleton of Illinois, and the rich Senators are
Sharon and Jones of Nevada, Don Cameron,
Davis of West Virginia and Davis of Illinois,
Mcpherson of New Jersey aud Baldwin of
Michigan. They all commenced life in poor
and humble circumstances.
Father Giovanni, who died recently in
Rome, had one of the most splendid tenor
voices ever heard, either on or off the stage,
and was quite as famous as church singer as
ever were Rubin, Mario or Ginglini as opera
singers. Had he not been a friar, he would
have been one Of the greatest operatic stars
that this age has produced. As it was, he
was engaged to sing in all parts of Italy, and
wherever his name was announced not only
was the church crowded with people, but
every spot around it, in the hope of hearing
some of those notes which filled the church as
an ordinary voice fills moderate-sized con-
cert room. AT one time his fame was so great
that the Pope forbade him to sing anywhere
but at st. Peters. But when Father t7ioyan-
nj gave the intimation that he would throw
off his gown and go on the STAGE he was al
IN 90 40
and his stipend was increased He died of
tvphoid favar aft the aoa of 81