, 1885-01-17
Il ORCHESTRA.
A PEEPAT THE LITTLE ROOM UNDER
THE STAGE.
Arrival of the M-nsIcians-The Drummer
and His nfany-sided caIiing-Ths
T~rombons's Closet skeiston-At
Last the Leader.


~-o@N -
of the center, is q small room, to which en-
trance Il eff rted by a wooden door. The
furniture Of the room consists OF a wooden
bench running along three sides, a rough
wooden table In the confer, and a few wooden
chairs. A piece of cracked looking glass
hangs on the all close to a Pickering gas
| light, encased in n wire netting, which does
not aid It's briliancy. The side Of the room
which Is not trimmed by the bench is pro-
vided with a large wooden closet whose
shelves are loaded with sheets Of music and
music-boolu. The air has an odor of ancient
beer and stale tobacco. There Is no ventfla-
ton ave what comes through tho door when
it is open. Presently a footstep Is heard
n a mani enters hastily. He throws off
his overcast, hangs up his hat, and mumbles
something like an oath in very wry-necked
German. He Is n short, thick-set man, with
q aagacious countenance and a broad fore
head that would do credit to a statesman
He unlocks the closet and begins to take
down some of the music-books. This, then,
is the gentleman whose life is spent in an
earnest endeavor to knock the immortal soul
out Of the bass drum. He hkewise plays the
tympani, or kettle drums, the snare drum,
the triangle, tho bell harmonica, the child's
rattle, the baby squeak, the champagne
pepper, the railroad locomotive imitator,
the telegraph ticker, and the clog dance
blocks; and he can. whom souls are 10 be tor
tured, extract misery from the xyiophone.
He Is the arsis Of music-the acute accent Of
melody. He Is likewise the librarian OF the
band.
He takes down the parts Of the opera which
Is TO DO performed and also tho score. Phing
them up IN his arms BIO ascends a short flight
Of wooden steps and crnwls out Of a little door
which lookB like the entrance TO the ouddy Of
q small yacht He places each part upon its
proper stand, though he occasionally plays
havoc with the hrst few bars Of the
overture by putting tho first oboo's
part on the first comets desk), and
then deposits the score upon the lead
ers desk with n loud thump and a grunt
Of relief. Then no goes over to his own
corner-the end OF the orchestra on the right
Of tho nudience-and examines his various
Instruments Of torture. Tho snare drum Is
prncod up and tho bass drum Is
placed in readiness for action. The
wooden covers are removed from
the tympani and laid away where they will
not Interfere with his exertions In tho course
OF the evening Then he dives down into
the band room once more, and brings up his
other Instruments This being a genuine
comic opera, no burlcsque noises are nd
mittcd, 30 he brings up only the Triangle and
the bell hnrmonica- There Is q sunset scene
IN tho opcrn, and tho composer has, Of
course, introduced the distant, rhythmic
beat Of the village chimes The drummer,
having placed those things in their proper
places. disappears onco more into a room.
II Is not a band room.
Presently another man enter tho little room
under the stage. He Carries II fat, black case
under his arm He deposits the case on the
table, and slowly unwfnds a red worsted
scarf from around his neck. Having un-
rolled some hAlf-dozen yards. he foldsi 1t caro-
fully, and inserts It in tho inside breast
pocket Of his overcoat. Then he takes of
his hat and hangs it on a hook In n corner.
Next he slowly, and with many q grunt,
divosts himself Of his ovorcoat which he
spreads upon the table, and carefully folds
up, afterward laying IL tendorly away ON the
top shelf Of tho closet Then he produces
from an inner pocket q pipe and a bag OF
tobacco. He flls the pipe, lights II, and sits
down for a comfortable smoke. He Is a thin,
weak-looiing man. Something appears to
have been wasting his physical forces. His
face IL pinchod and his mock Is a mass Of
swollen veins and enlarged cords Who is hel
What is hoi Presently he draws a piece Of
channels skin from his pocket, and then opens
the black case and brings forth his instru-
mont The secrct is outl He plays the bass
n-~-
Ioor lenoNi isAe''y ga1os az 'ne
usHu"N M nsaVS usep ~. 40 y
spiNns, no uouos, oi wa"e nnsu' naVe oeen-
ne Is sunerlns rom .no nen'ai agony o,
MN "no rea ~ 'oo y no mas CHOSEN tne
mIons pa'n N = n' a oniy mao some
hlnu lileno 70 nuvtse nim ~ M youen, some
ono 70 MAIL nm u INC pun. .m neo wnlcn no
w. ~Axins, some one 70 Sn MIN 70 cnoose
eng nu,noio pus oneeriui pIoVince on second
hnte pseyel, WIN ms picooio oy ms sioe and
y irsquons n'e r = oi somiplovo resuS'
Due aione ~ = VIII, ~ en' ninu en'nu-
nasm Oh you'n, ne oroso tno .as. trombone
ano mas ever sinSe oeen slowly oue surely
p"ans ~ ou' "uS anu Soui
NV essrnisy.
nn,' I'm 9aH" snn1o.n paayo,s, al'sn, CON.
n-s ieno~s, WV ptAy uimcuie
mserunnon', Aes.ylns one roI haVo
10y no' ~" uuPeaHs oeeu'y ana
sausrAas y. iaio sVosne 'nemi
- Aaees 1ey y = uevp MUS
.ae'.on " plaJnne q may Nex'
comes sne oDoe ne u anoener saa-eyed,
meAneno,y wight Anu Nenine may De an
IN nc nns pu'uns a NESTING
-puie m" Sou~ s"ny nas ne
sa'en = nna Z soui 81 ms mIuument,
ous ~ n1s wouia 20 Saesne1 II no
sne~ snas In o'o ""o.no '0u'' pu' aias' no
"er neaiu nns
eolnsss soon eIop IN resumpeuous
--u . Ivy nov 'nae eney can
uIown GUY ~ Ioss ~ inc orenesua, having
ansStc,ohn~ tn a. ~ "no oMn
ohnoouonuAN nv AZ soSono donDonedf
quiet and ~unobrusive men; tho second
NlOiinH. sad and disappointed with lfos tho