Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-13
MANDOLIN PLAYERS.
A Romantic Instrument Becoming
Popular Among Washington Ladies'.
swEET-ToNED, GoURD-sHAPED MANDoLfNs
THREATENING TO DRIVE OUT THE RANJo-A
TALK WITH A MUSIC DEALER-How THE
INSTRUMENT Is PLAYED.

"They trim them with bright ribbons" said
a music dealer, as he took down little gourd-
shaped instrument and ran his fingers across
the strings. "They tie a difierentcolored rib
bon to each key and let them hang down about
a yard and a half They are very pretty. The
music is sweeter than that OF guitar"
"What is ito" asked the STAR reporter
"a mandolin. They are getting to be the rage
among young ladies in society here. I expect
they will drive the banjo out OF good society.
1t is a lighter and more delicate instrument,
and is, as you see. very pretty. Just the thing
for q lady. There are quite a number of young
ladies here who play on them beautifully. Then
They are not found except In the best society,
and young ladies take pride In playing them To
show that they have been abroad You see,
them, as there are no teachers here. II II
just the proper thing to know how to handle Q
never crossed the broad Atlantic, but who want
to keep up with the times, are almost frantic
to become masters of this instrument The
young lady who can sit with these many-colored
ribbons falling gracefully over her arm, while
she picks sweet music from this little
thing, is the envy OF al her female acquaint-
lovers. 1t is the instrument OF romance and
has something in its tones that enchants you
and carries you TO the howery banks OF Italy,
or tells you of some Spanish romance-sweet
songs, beautiful maidens jealous lovers and ell
that is sentimental and Spanish! Their native
1t is very old instrument, but has never been
used any by Americans until now. The pat
tern is one OF the Oldest there is and II belongs
strument. The Romans played upon them
The Spanish instrument is about the same,
In these countries they are the instruments
for moonlight serenades. In India there In
some such an instrument, and the Mexicans
and even Chinese have instru ments OF the
same class, though nothing liks musical.
They seem TO have been the musical instru-
ments of the primitive nations, md probably
had their origin from the same source-the
gourd. some OF the Mexican instruments are
made of pottery.
Of them all, and is much more musical and
more graceful in shape than either the banjo
or guitar. See how light and pretty IL Is. He
held 1t out admiringly and again ran his I'm
gers across the strings, then handed IL 70 the
scribe.
THE INSTRUMENT
is the same that Spanish serenaders are always
represented in pictures as playing on and those
used by the Spanish students. Its weight II
almost nothing. II is made entirely OF wood
like that used in violin. 1t has q small lat
body and q short slender neck, slightly curved.
II is like gourd, only the lines are more grace
full and is constructed on the principle OF .
guitar, differing in shape ana tone. IL has four
unisons or eight stfings pars o aiike; Two
long the sound, and being metallic have
a clear tone. They are not picked with the I'm
piece of tortoise shell, held between the thumb
"a good player" continued the music man,
would hold this shell thus and strike the
strings In q way to make them tremble, like
the voice in trlIing. II Is q simple instrument
and not hard to learn, hut there Is no one here
who teaches IT, and the young ladies are wild
about il. Those who have learned abroad have
a sort of monopoly. 1t Is 30 popular, however,
that presume it won't be long before q teacher
springs up. know Of young ladies who have
offered as high as five dollars lesson and could
get no one 10 teach them. There are several
fashionable ladies in Washington who play
beautifully, and when they have sweet voice
lady wants TO play, and expect IL win super.
sede the banjo altogether. The rage has just
started, but It has made good progress can't
one OF the finest know Of is owned by Mr..
H..llet kilbourn. She is q grand performer.
She plays exquisitelH The instrument she has
other fine instruments are I'm the city, and there
are a number OF good players among young 10
dies. Many who do not play hang them up On
the wall as ornaments.
OTHER PoPULAR INSTRUMENTS.
"what other instruments are popular among
Washington iadies7" asked the scribe.
THE banjo, You know, has been the rage tor
long time. IL Is still popular, but Will PROBABLY
wear out The guitar will always nave sale.
One OF the most remarkable things n the poPur
There are many very nne performen, and theirs
is q ladies' vioiinists club here. ladies' seldom
take 10 wind instruments, but tnee are a lew
none who play on the bass horn, but know
one who likes the big oass-vaoL
CAPruRxD IN SHARP FIGHT AvrxR Two
YEARs.-Henshaw, The So,or, sss wsis6x p.
at his home. q few miles east OF Eufaula, Indian
Territory. He was captured after severe nghS
IN which pc VS. ssoI hin ~ moe -. II