Smyrna times., 1886-04-07
The Mandolin Mania,
A CRAZE THAT SEEMS TO BE sPREDINC
AMONG THE MUSICAL MAIDENs.
"The mandolin Il is sucb . 1o,,o

/
"The mandolin ! 1t is such a lovely
name and such a sweet instrument
that no wonder it has taken the place
OF the guitar and banjo" said an en-
tnuslastic young lady the other day.
L have given up my banjo. In fact I
cannot bear the sound of its twang
now that | have become familiar with
the clear tones of the mandolin. and
all the girls in our set are lust wild
over learning to play it,"
The banjo that instrument of melody
which for the last few years has been
the treasured companion of almost ev-
cry fashionable Buffalo girl. has
been relegated to some dark corner of
the music room. Its broken strings are
mute, 1t thrums no longer in fantastic
melody under the spells of fair fingers.
and its long silken ribbon lies faded
and forgotten. 1t weeps for departed
glory like Taro's harp.
The mandolin, that dainty little in
strument, the very name of which
calls up to memory beautiful maidens
OF Andaiusia with beaming, tender.
dark eyes and music in every motion
as they strum its strings, has become
the fashion of the hour.
The little egg-shaped mandolin.
decked in gay ribbon, lies conspicuously
on the piano or a special stand and is
handled with most loving care by its
fair owner.
Inc introduction of the mandolin to
fashionable favor may he traced to Mrs.
William Waldorf AstOr, who learned
how to play while in Italy when her
husband was minister at the Italian
Court, and she is now perfect mistress
OF the instrument. Her proficiency
created furor of excitement on her
return to this country, and the passion
rapidly spread in the fashionable circles
of the metropolis.
The mandolin is par excellence a
Spanish instrument, and is of verv an
clent origin. 1t was formerly made
OF all sizes and had from six to twelve
strings, and was played like both gui-
tar and Lutte. Nowadays it is made
about the size of a violin, the bowl be-
ing of oak, in the form of a half egg
shell, the smaller part nearest the neck
which is arranged similar to a guitar.
-Four groups of two strings each run
from the edge over bridge of ebony
to the keys, and tiny oval of tortoise
shell or horn is used for playing.
The beauty of the mandolin lies in
its beIl-like Tone" said a teacher of the
instrument. "The strings are all of
clear wire, and when touched with the
| shell give forth a volume of tinkling
sounds. Only the treble is plaved
similar to the violin, and the. lingering
is much the same"
The IOudest sounds come when the
pick" touches the string just below
the sounding circle.
The instrument is not suitable for
accompanying the voice." said a pro-
fessor of mucic, "but it soundslweli'on
the water, and is not at all difficult to
learn"
The prices of these dainty Spanish
lutes vary from SIS to 5000, and al
though they originated in Spain, the
best ones are made in Venice, where
the tinkle of the mandolin may be con-
stantly heard, for every one in Venice
plays it.
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbuilt has a
mundOlin inlaid with pearl, the bowl
of beautiful wood, and it was pur-
chased of an old Venetian for $500.
"A Delaware avenue belle, when asked
about the mandolin, exclaimed: "Oh,
it's such an aesthetic little thing You
put your left foot on a stool, take your
mandolin in your arms, fix the ribbon
to rest artistically on your shoulder,
and then you begin. am being pho
tographed in mandolin position, and
the picture is just charming, l assure
you. ."-BUfdlO Nelcs..