The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-28
PAQANINI oUrDoNE.
[Exchance,)

! reAcheo the Ctty or (otoXn0 (WTltGS the Rev. Edward Abbott) by steam er down the Rhine at six in the afternoon, This gave me an hour before dark in which to visit the great cathedral, whose lofty spires had been before me since twenty ra;les away. Then had an hour for dinner, which ate with great rest ., the hotel du Dom, nearly opposite the cathedral. Two hours and haif were then left before vas to take the night express for Brussels. What should do in that two hours and halfl The bor~ fisr to whom ] addressed this question said had better go around ts the cafe Chantant for an hour. So told him to lead the way. The cafe Chantapt found to be large room or small hall, which, ever one might please to call 1t. At one end was simple stage. like concert platform. The floor was filled with small square tables, with two or three chairs at each table. The chairs were nearly all filled with people, men and women, of a very respectable aspect. The scene was strange, but orderly and proper and the concert, which l stayed an hour to enjoy, was of a high musical order.
 The piece on the programme which entertained me the most was perform. ance on the violin. lt had just begun as l entered the room. The performer was handsome young fellow, dressed in a grotesque suit of maAy colors, and he was talking away to the audience as came in in a very animated manner. It seemed, as nearly as could understand him, that he had lost his violin bow, and un. less he could find some substitute for 1t he could not do his part in the concert Did any sf his audience happen to have violin bow with them2 No! Well. that was too badi What should he do 7 Would anything else answer instead of a bowl Couldn't somebody lend him something ? etc. Of course all this was made up. The object of the volinis, was to get hold Of some nondescYipt ob- jects with which he could play on his violin instead of a bow, and so show his skill; and all his talk was simply to en- tertain his audience SO much the more Presently somebody handed him up A visiting card-a common, plain visiting card. The violinist took it, looked at 1t a moment inquir ngly, tried its edge with his finger, ana then applied the edge to huV tbRS VI Iuphungut. " swered the purpose very well, and ne played quite nice tune. At the end there was burst Of applause. Then he called for something else. to see, he said, if he could not do little better.
 An officer Of the army, who was sitting near the stage, passed up his sword, and with the tword for a bow the clever young violinist, after a moment or two's expert menting, played another nice tune, over which there was more applause. louder than before. Then he handed the sword back to the officer, and asked for some thing else. A lady handed up an um- brella. An umbrella How could any one play on the violin with an umbrella But this man did. lie opened the uT.- brella, and, finding smooth place few inches in length op the handle, went to work with it with ease, and succeeded surprisingly well. The applause when he had finished was heariieT than ever, and what had been before scene of mere amusement on the part of the audience seemed to rise into something like ad miration. And now the vioiisist good naturedly efsred to try once more. And wha. do you think was handed up to him this timer 4 shoe an old shoe Surely he would have to give up now. For a moment he looked as if he would. After examining the shoe with care for mo- ment, the violinist found place on the inner side, between the heel and the toe, where the projecting sole furnished a shor, sharp edge. When he had found that, and felt 1t with his finger, he looked up with pleased expression, as if to say, 1 guess that will do. And do it did for with the shoe for a violin bow he vent ou and played tripping tune that set everybody's feet agoing, and when he had finished filled the room with deaf ening ,ound of applause. With low bow and pleasant smile, in moment he was gone.