Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-09
BEAUTY AND THE BANJO.
Young Ladies who Pick the Banjo and
Manipulate the EOW-A Talk With n
Dealer in Musical Instruments-Th
Decline Of the Guitar-The OrSanette
and the kaZOO.


What is the price of this banjo?" The uues-
ton was asked by a fair haired girl, with bright
laughing blue eyes, and as she took the instru-
ment, supposed to be sacred to negro min.
strelsy, and swept her dainty fingers over the
strings, 1T was plain to that she was no
novice in "pickin' on de old banjo.' FIFTY
dollars was the reply OF the clerk, who was
waiting upon her, and after saying that she
would soon have to get q new one, as her old
banjo was getting the worse for wear the girl
tripped out of the store.
A STAR reporter, who had been watching the
proceedings, then turned to the clerk and asked
If there were many ladies who played the
banjo.
Yes" was the reply, "there is large num-
Der In this city, and some of them are decided
experts. You have heard Hall, Converse and
Dobsen play? well, that little girl who just
went out, can play the banjo straight as we'll as
either of them, and she can play many of the
fancy pieces that have gained for those dis
tlngu1shed Philippians SO much applause
When did this banjo craze commenceo"
ION. Ii has been running for five or six years.
ana some OF the tOnleSt girls in the very SWEETEST
of society have become infatuated with the
banjo, and have attained considerable pro-
hclency III its use: know young lady who,
with her mother, has spent the past two years
in Europe. and who was careful in carrying
her banjo with her as an old maid would be
with "A pet parrot
But how do they get their Instruction."
sometimes they go to New York and put
themselves under the instruction of retired
MINISTRIES, and then again there are ladies who
are not burdened with plethora of cash who
learn TO play on the banjo, and afterwards de-
[ 1a1,, a revenue by teaching. Now, that young
lady you saw in here a moment ago is one OF
the best teachers in this city, and she numbers
among her pupils ladies and gentlemen in al
most every grade in society. suppose the in
PRODUCTION OF the banjo upon the stage by Lolita,
Minnie Palmer and actresses of that school had
I. great deal to do with its becoming ponular
tan 70 ~
popularity exists, and the sale has been in
creasing year by year"
How do the prices range?"
"Oh.,you can got banjo from So up to almost
any price-S.5 500, but, of course those
made so on account of the neck being inlaid
with pearl and fancy woods
"HOw about the violin? Do ladies ever take
any stock in that instrument?'
Yes, and you will be surprised when tell
you that there several ladies in this city who
draw an exquisite bow and who are equal to
the task of playing DeBeriots sonatas with feel
ing and expression. 1t has only been within
the last two or three years that ladies have
taken to playing the violin, but 1t Is notable
fact that those who have undertaken this most
difficult instrument have been indefa tiyaDle in
their practice and have reached degree of per-
lection which makes 1T pleasant to listen to
them. think the passion for the violin Is in
c e'i for those VINO teach it tell me that
and that they look forward to even q more sue,
ce>siul season this year.
Dow about the GUITAR" queried the re-
which ladies would affect
Yes one would naturally thing so, but such
Is not the fact; guitar is an incomplete in
struiheht; ana unless you get one costing a
great deal of money the tune is twangy and
without any body. While years ago ladies
used the guitar to accompany themselves
when singing, there has been a decided dimi-
mutton in the sale OF that instrument of late.
lhe guitar can be played with effect and power,
ana you probably remember Hernandez
Inere are, however, two cOlored BARRIERS in this
city who can play the guitar equally as well as
qnisite DUETS together, bringing forth a volume
oftone. and an expression rarely heard from that
me of incident that occurred in n Rnston
barber shop many years ago when that musical
genius was creating such a turore as a guitarist.
Among those in the shop was Bishop, the com.
poser, who didn't join in the general laudation
of hernandez, but taking down a guitar which
Home, Sweet Home AS he struck the f fir:yt
chord, of course he attracted the attention OF
every one in he room. BARRIERS stopped shaw
ing, those in he chairs assumed an erect nosi.
ton, and there was a stiffness and ouiet that
wa almost painful, broken only by the wonder
i i tones produced by the performer. He drew
ness OF tone, and II yearning expression that
ma We never heard equalled, and when he had
fnished-without any variation upon the beau
tiiul theme but using simply the matchless
tone chords-many were in tears. Bishop threw
down the guitar and left the shop saving as he
did so, Talk about Hernandez; damn Inn ~ can an
tha he could not"
How are the sales of other musical instr,,.
nients?" asked the reporter.
Wen, OF course there a few who play on
the flute, the viola and the cello, and then there
is the regular trade in brass Instruments whici,
Is confined 10 members of the various banCsv
nese new Instruments the organette, tourn-
aphone ana Things OF that kind, where Won reel
on music by the yard, is there much sale for
these:" '"Ae Aoi
YES. indeed. Why for both the orpanette
ana tournaphone the music of the most popu.
'ar operas Is arranged, and they are very me-
quehtiy employed for dance music. rOOd
many are sold to people living in the country
VINO nave no musical ability themselves. nor
ment, but they can get one Of these and then