Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-10-19
BANJOs TO THE FRONT,
An Instrument Promoted from the
Minstrel Show to the Parlors.

An Instrument Promoted from the
Minstrel Show to the Parlors.
From the New York Times.
A pumpkin ''hath charms to soothe the
savage breast'-not in the shape of pie,
but, if music will accomplish that end,
by the strains that it will produce. The
negroes on the southern plantations used,
1t is related, to cut in twain pumpkin
and dry The parts until they were hard
and sonorous. Then they would affix
an arm to one hemisphere of the pump
kin, draw strings across it, tune them to
a proper key. and pick them to the
measures of their melodies. That was
long ago, but not so long that the tradi-
ton of the rude instru nent has been
lost. The banjo of to-day takes the part
of the pumpkin gourd in the negro de-
lineations, but the instrument itself is as
old well-nigh as the hills. In the i'm
perial tombs in the pyramids it was found
in its primitive form, which showed that
the ancient Egyptians drew from its
chords an accompaniment to their airs.
Since the time when "Joe" Sweeney
first twanged its strings to the Essence
of Ole Virginny" on the stage of the
Bowery theater, nearly 40 years ago
the banjo has been transformed into an
instrument that finds favorite place in
the drawIng-room and gives forth the
magic of its notes beneath fair hands.
No instrument of this day, it is fair to
say. has sprung into popular favor so
rapidly or attained as great perfection,
during the past few years as the banjo.
Bright in FURNISHED metal, and with
long band of ribbon from shell to KEYS
to hang upon the shoulder like the trou-
badour's guitar, the lady bends over it
as did the harpist in times of old over
the Tyre. One well-known teacher of
the banjo in this city counts among those
who have been his pupils Earl Dunraven
Lady Randolph Churchill, nee Miss Jer-
ONE; Miss nj. B. Patterson, the favorite
granddaughter of eX-president Johnson;
George Law, Jr. James Gordon Bennett,
Arthur Clafflin, Miss Carlton, daughter of
the publisher; Miss Kingsland. c. D.
Arthur, nephew of the president; Lieut..
III. J. Slocum, United States army; Char
aes Hartman, Pierre Noel, Miss Mat
thews, daughter of Edward Matthew's;
Frank Work, George Mallory, grand
son of president Tyler, and Ludlow
Patton. There are many other banjo
players, among them Miss
~. A. BlgeloW, TWO Misses May.
sisters of Frederick May; Nine Chris
tine Nilsson, and Clara Louise Kellogg.
A banjo can be bought as low as 81, but
Sis is little enough to pay, and some
have been made with solid silver heads,
rosewood necks. and raised ivory frets.
that cost as Sigh as $50. In ~ lessons a
person with an ordinary penchant can
learn to play very well. The banjo has
come to be looked upon as an American
Instrument. Manufacturers have not
reached perfection on the other side of
the water, and the instruments are sent
across the ocean in large numbers.
They sound very finely with piano or
guitar. Music is published in sheet and
book form Tor Them. and one who is
skilled can play any air on them. How
long the banjo will continue to be OPP
ular remains to be seen. Certain it is its
music is heard in more fashionable
parlors than one would suppose. The
tambourine, a kindred instrument, is
occasionally used to accompany piano
The greatest use to which it is put is as
an ornament Its head is decorated and
it is placed in the parlor. The cost is
from so cents to S..