Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-31
Practical Joking.

The following amusing story is no
fiction. Its principal aetor is a we'll
known musical gentleman of Boston,
who tells the tale, though its point is
aimed at himself, with a hearty relish.
1t is a custom among musical students
at Leipsig'to play practical Jokes upon
each other, aimed more to make n
appear ridiculous than to do n harm.
Some years ago, when the aforesaid
gentleman, whom we will call Penac,
was studying IN that place. there came
TO the conservatory a young Southerner
to study the violin. Penac and several
of the students took him out to show
him the lions. AS they passed along
he said to several OF his companions:
Now, you do just as do. and we'll
have some fun with this new fellow:''
LAS they reached the square in which
the statue OF Bach is raised aloft, Penac
solemnlv turned about and reverently
dotted his cap, his companions following
suit.
The young southerner, with eyes
wide openedf for foreign observation"
gravely asked the meaning of the ma
neuver.
"Ah!" replied Penac, "you don't
know much OF German people and their
cusloms:?"
..No," said his companion.
"We'l,' said Penac, "Bach is very
much revered in Leipsig-so much so
that it is a custom for ali who pass his
statue to uncover. Beautiful custom,
isn't itp"
beautiful, indeed" replied the
newcomer.
cpl give you a few points. I'll tell
you another custom in musical circles;
that is the solemn admiration paid Bee
thoven. Why, whenever his name is
mentioned it is the habit to close ones
eyes and bend one head devoutly."
The Southerner was much impressed.
| He had imagined such mtsical enthusi-
asm but scarce hoped to find it, and was
delighted.
Penac forgot the matter entirely. un-
til, some time a.terward, he CHANGED to
be at an evening reception, where he
found himself near his Southern friend.
Before he had a chance to address him,
he was amusingly surprised to see him
bob up, close his eyes. and bow as if in
prayer. He had scarcely suppressed a
smile before a voice at his elbow ASKED
him if he knew the young man, remark
ing:
"He seems very sensible, yet I have
never met him but what he has gone
through that performance, sometimes
twice OF three times in an evening"
Penac afterward explained to the
newcomer, saying: 81 have had my
joke and don't want you to make toe
much of q fool Of Yourself" For a mo.
ment the victim would not believe it.
He had cherished the beautiful Gus
tom," and practiced it with assiduity,
and could hardly realize that he haC
been so idiotic.
Years passed, an one Sunday, a few
weeks since, a crowd of Boston musi
clans were at dinner at a French res
taurant not a hundred miles from Bowl
ston street, where outlandish dishe!
are served that favored of other chimes
and where, for the first time since thu
good old days at J. eipsic, Penac and thu
Southerner met and cordially shool
hands. The former had entil ely forgot
ten his practical joke, and from a fun
loving student had become q rattle
headstrong, eccentric musician. D lr
ing the repast his new-found companion
said:
.Oh, by the way. Penac, 1 have s
friend here whom [ am anxious YOU
should meet"
"By all means introduce me, them
"He is something of a genius, gener
GUS to a fault, but peculiar-eccentric.'
"lndeed, l have a peachaaU Tor cu7io
what is IFS direction2 ~
"Well, he plays beautifully, impro.
vises, but he has a fancy for not play
ing un ess he is paid, no matter if it is
thing"
"All right-that's all right;'' and the
introduction was effected. Said Penac
"Yo- L friend tells me that you are q
pianist, and | have a great desire to heal
you. hope" holding outh lii hand, "tha,
l shall have the pleasure Of hearing vol
this afternoon, drawing his hand away
and leaving a quarterin the gentleman:
palm.
{" do not know a note,' was the re
ply of the gentleman, staring at Tho
quarter, then looking into Pcnac's face
questioningly, then angrily.
That's all right said Penac, airily
that's all right. I-wanI--" getting
confused as the gentleman stared angri
ly in his lace and beg ming to bac4
away; Il h~ope--that- YOU will-favo.
us you know" and he got TO hi
Southern friend as soon as possible.
81 should think he was eccentric
thought he was going to knock MI
down; never saw such Il strange actin!
man; l gave him the quarter, too; neve
ielt SO cheap in my life
"No?" was the reioinder. tProbabl,
you felt about as l did in Leipsig tel
years ago"
Then enac remembered; but h,
laughed all the same ~ Y. HON
JOa171ul.
Compliments to American Organs.
DR.. John Stainer. Organist o. St
| , l (NNtl>-,l,1 a. III