The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-03-26
Penae Remembered,

| 1t is q custom among musical students
| at Leipsic to play practical jokes upon
each other, aimed more to make one
| appear ridiculous than to do one harm.
Some years ago, when a gentleman,
whom we will call Penac, was studying
in that place, there came to the con-
servatory 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 l do, and We'll have some fun
with this new fellow"
As they reached the square in which
the statue of Bach is raised aloft, Penac
solemnly turned about and reyerently
dotted his cap, his companions following
suit.
The young Southerner, with eyes wide
opened for ''foreign observations, =
gravely asked the meaning of this
maneuver.
s'Ah," replied Penac, 'syou don't
know much of German people and their
customs?"
NO said his companion.
ssWen," said Penac, Bach is very
much revered in Leipsic, so much so
that it is custom for all who pass his
statue to uncover. Beautiful custom,
isn't it?''
Beautiful, indeed replied the new
conner.
Penac afterwards explained to the
newcomer, saving: 81 have had my
joke and don't want you to make too
much of fool of yourself. For mo-
ment the victim would not believe it.
He had cherished the beautiful Gus
tOm," and practiced it with assiduity,
aa.,lA ha,11xr hot hn hoH
been so idiOtic.
Years passed, and one Sunday, n few
weeks since, a crowd of Boston mu-
sicians were at dinner at a French res
taurant not hundred miles from Royl-
ston street, where outlandish dishes are
served that flavor of other climes, and
where, for the first time since the good
old days at Leipsic, Penac and the
Southerner met and cordially shook
hands The former had entirely forgot
ton his practical joke, and from fun
loving student had become a rather
headstrong, eccentric musician. Dur
ing the repast his new-found companion
said:
"Oh, by the way, Penac, / have a
friend here whom | am anxious that
you should meet
'.By all means introduce me, then
s'He is something of a genius, gener-
Gus to fault, but peculiar :"
Indeed, have a penchant for curio;
what is its direction?'
''Well, he plays beautifully, impro-
vises, but he has fancy for not playing
unless he is paid, no matter if it is only
quarter, SO long as it is something"
"All right-that's all right" and the
Introduction was effected. Said Penac:
"Your friend tells me that you are
pianist and l have a great desire to hear
you. hope" holding out his hand,
that shall have the pleasure of hear
ing you this afternoon, drawing his
hand away and leaving quarter in the
gentleman's palm.
Il do not know note, )" was the re-
ply of the gentleman, staring at the
quarter, then looking into Penac's face,
questioningly, then angrily.
s'that's all right. want :" getting
confused as the gentleman stared angri-
ly in his face and beginning to back
away; II e-that-you will-favor
us-you know and he got to his
Southern friend us soon as possible.
81 should think he was eccentric;
thought he was going to knock me
down; never saw such a strange acting
man; gave him the quarter, too; never
felt SO cheap in my life. =
Mop was the rejoinder. Probably
you felt about as | did at Leipsic ten
years ago.
Then Penac remembered; but he
laughed all the same.-Boston Home
Journal.