The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-10-16
Marvellous Piano Playing.

"Jud, they say you have heard Rubin-
stein play when you were in New York 2
II did, in the COOL
"Well tell us all about it.
sWhat! me? 1 might as well tell you
about the creation of the world.
"Come, now; no mock modesty. Go
ahead"
"Well, sir, he had the biggest, catycorn-
erdest pianner you ever laid your eyes on;
somethin' like distracted billiard table on
three legs. The lid was hoisted, and mighty
well it was. If it hadn't he'd tore the
intire sides clean out, and scattered them
to the four winds of heaven"
"Played well, did he p
"You bet he did; but don't interrupt
me. When he first sat down he 'peared to
keer mighty little bout playin' and wish't
he hadn't come. He tweedle-eed on the
treble little, and twoodle-oodled some on
the bass-just foolin and boxin' the things
jaws for being in his way: And ! says to
the man settin' next to me. says |, what
sort of fool playin' is that? And he says
sHushr But presently his hands began
chasin' one mother up and down the keys,
like parcel of rats scamperin' through
garret very swift. Parts of it was sweet,
though, and reminded me of sugar squir-
rel turning the wheel of candy cage.
"'Now,' l says to my neighbor, hes a
showing off. He thinks he's doin' of it,
but he amt got no idee, no plan of nothin':
If he'd play a tune Of some kind or other,
sBut my neighbor says 'Heigh,' very
inpatient.
II was just about to get up and go home,
being tired of that foolishness, when |
heard little bird waking away off in the
woods, and calling sleepy like to his mate,
and I looked up, and | see that Rubin was
beginning to take some interest in his
business, and l set down again. 1t was
the peep of day. The light came faint
| from the east, the breeze blowed gentle and
fresh, some birds walked up in the orchard,
then some more in the trees near the house,
and all began singing together. People
began to stir and the gal opened the shut
ters Just then the first beam of the sun
fell upon the blossoms leetle more, and 1t
thing it was broad day; the sun fairly
blazed, the birds sang like they'd split their
throats; all the leaves were movin and
fashin' diamonds of dew, and the whole
wide world was bright and happy as king.
Seemed 10 me like there was good break
fast in every house in the land, and not
sick child or woman anywhere, 1t was a
fine morning.
"And 1 says to my neighbor, That's
music, that is.
"But he glanced at me like he'd cut my
throat.
Presently the wind turned; it began
to thicken up and kind of thick gray
mist came over things; got low spirited
directly. Then silver rain began to fall.
could see the drops touch the ground,
some flashed up like long pearl earrings,
and the rest rolled away like ruhies. 1t
was pretty, but melancholy. Then the
pearls gathered themselves together into
long strands and necklaces. and then they
melted into thin silver streams running
between golden gravels, and then the streams
Joined each other at the bottom of the hill,
and made a brookthat flowed silent, except
that you could kinder see music, especially
when the business on the bank moved as
the music went along down the valley.
II could smell the flowers in the meadow.
But the sun didn't shine nor the birds
sing; it was a foggy day, but not cold.
The most curious thing was the little white
angel boy, like you see in pictures. that
run ahead of the music brook, and led it
on and on, away out of the world, where
no man ever was-I never was, certain. /
could see the boy as plain as l see you.
Then the moonlight came without any
sunset, and shone on the graveyards, over
the wall and between the black and sharp
top trees splendid marble houses rose up,
with fine ladies in the lift up windows, and
men that loved 'em, but never got nigh
'em, and played on guitars under the trees,
and made me that miserable could a-cried,