Milford chronicle., 1885-02-13
The Man in Blue
BY R. DAvEY.

1 am a professor of music, and was
porn so long ago as the last century, at
Salsberg, IN Germany. My father was
merchant OF that city. Knowing that
each OF his children would inherit a fair
fortune, he permitted us to somewhat
neglect our other studies. so that we
might dedicate more time to his beloved
science. My two sisters played remark
ably well on the spinet, and sang finely.
Karl, my only brother, was the Aautist
OF the family, and devoted myself To
! the violin. at sixteen years of aoe 7
believed myself an adept on this diff.
cult instrument. My violin was nv con-
slant companion. Nothing gave me
| more pleasure than to take nv dear
fortunate" for so called it, into the
woods, and there, by the murmuring
brook, beneath the rustling trees. i'm.
provlse new airs and vary old ones. to |
my hearts content.
So greatly did my father DELIGHT in
displaying the talents of his children (
that he organized every Thursday after.
noon an amateur concert. at which at
least quarter of the town assisted-to
listen to, admire, or criticise. about as
much music as could possibly be crowd
ed INTO a three hours performance
One fine Thursday afternoon in autumn.
Just as the first Of our pieces was con-
cIuded, very singular looking indiyid.
ual entered the concert room. He was
as thin and pale as an unearthly appari-
ton, and entirely dressed in shabby gar
ments OF light blue corduroy. His we'll
worn knee-breeches were blue. his Jacket
was blue, his vest was blue, and the hinge ,
cravat that fastened his great flaming
shlrt-collar was also blue. His face was
The most melancholy in expression it is
possible to imagine. He had a bio
hooked nose, thin lantern laws and t6e I
)nly redeeming feature which he nos
'essed, his dark and intelligent ewes
we're hidden by pair Of google epecta. :
les. His hair was bright red and nncnf v
nd his beard seemed as if it had never q q
row. n
He did not attempt to apologize for II n
us intrusion into our company, but a
ilthout looking to the right or to the ~
ait made straight for a vacant seat. and ~
1klng 1t, prepared to listen to the music Ss
nth marked attention. 1t was my turn u Vi
play, but was so confused, so utterly M ~
umtounded by the appearance of this lI'
range personage, that when struck pc
y violin with the bow my hand trem. cll
led so much that could not produce UT
sound. tried again and again. and
as about to give it up in despair when pl'
ie Man III Blue rose from his seat and Is
me directly to me. "Young man" th'
Id he, you have a more difficult in pr
there than you think; hand it
me, will play in your stead" I Ion
echanlcally gave him Fortunate" sea
'esently he began. Never in all nv pla
9 had 1 before heard such PLAYING, his
ie instrument seemed to have within enc
wooden frame divine soul, capable del
expressing every possible emotion 9th
?, grief, passionate agony, and tri. ser
lphant jubilee We were all amazed L III
d delighted, and at the termination of ent
concerto such burst of enthusiastic ask
plause greeted the singular performer was
It he seemed quite overcome and con- not
ed. However, he bowed his ac- sell
though in the most Blu
'tesque fashion.
t happened that we were on the eve uPo s,
a grand annual musical festival AT We
lch some of the greatest musicians of ~
fmany had declared their intention ,o
'elng present My father, naturally A.
ending that our guest was some siitsD IN
'0rated maestro, who had arrived AN ~
1gnito, hastened to thank him for ne
favor he had conferred upon us and ii
to offer him the hospitality of his ~ ,
Sc during his stay in our town. The ~" nos
IN Blue at first refused. then besi- 9"y &c
d. and finally accepted my fathers alwa-
sing invitation al"a
or one week we surrounded him NJ
/, every attention, and he, by his 1nn5 ,n,rl5
lie manners and genius. soon won 49, 49,
affection and respect. But all our 'iiaE an
npts to find ont who he was and -
nee he came proved vain: he took no
20 OF our discreet hints, and not one -, Solio io
8 dared to ask the question point ia,.o ~ ~ ;
k. He set himself to work to teach laeo
great many things about the violin POoI
Vhlcn 1 was previously ignorant. CT
10 this curious man I owe many Of l-l oului
greatest triumphs. 'sATy son. I be any Q Q
d say, Glove music; music Is the Gan Sa ~ u
OF the soul-the only possession we ine, ,
on earth which we shall retain in W.,
en-" Wi
a stranger happened to pay rs everv
our new friend would Immediately ~
refuge in the garden. TIe liked to aven;r
one with Karl, myself, and his vio. ,,.,s =
one DAY merchant named Krebbs Man +
d on business which he had to Of tbs
act with my father, and as he entered music