Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-06-17
A ROYAL SYMPHONY.

agreed That it was entirely his w fault
that be had not achieved a distinguished
position in the musical world. Ills mtsi-
calgifts were beyond question. lie was q
peTlect master of several instruments, had
alprofound knowledge of the theoretical
Dranch of his art, and was in addition to
this q man of wide reading and some liter
airy power. But at the age of so, he was
engaged in a desperate struggle for exist
ence, The reason was not difficult to dis
cover. Mr. DoublebasS had sundry views
about the nature of art n the duties OF
an artist, which, however sublime in
themselves, are conducive neither to per-
sonal popularity nor pecuniary profit. He
had a constitutional horror of humbug in
every shape, and IN unfortunate facility
in hurting out his opinions in defiance of
conyentionality and prejudice. By these
means he had ruined n after another of
tile chances life had brought him. He
had failed as a professor at a we'll
known musical institution by a remorse-
less severity with which he kept his pu-
pills at the groundwork of their
studies before allowing them to pro-
coed to higher things. He had made
himself impossible rs q conductor by
his resolute refusal to have anything to do
with works which did not satisfy his high
standard of artist excellence. He had lost
his post as musical critic on one of the
London dailies by his ferocious onslaught
upon one or two distinguished amateurs.
In the natural course of things, therefore,
Mr.. Doublebass sank lower and lower in
the world until, meeting with bad health
ia addition to his other reverses, he was
at last compelled to take a second fiddle
in q well-known London orchestra, while
his; daughter Maggie-for by this time
MI. Doublebass wa q widower-extracted
what addition could be made to their
scanty means out OF a maiden lady ledger.
One wet December evening the little
gentleman came home rather later than
usual to his modest mansion in the neigh
borhood of Park street, Camden Town.
Maggie was, as usual, waiting up for him,
and took from him his hddlc-case md
dripping overcoat-owing to circum-
stances beyond his control, Mr.. Double
bass had been out without an umbrella.
The old man turned into the little front
parlor, ard, without many remarks, fell
to work upon the fragment Of Dutch
cheese, the household 1oafand the half
pint of beer spread out for his refresh
merit.
sAny news. Maggiesp3 he inquired pres
emily.
eyes. great-news, father, . said the girl,
looking up from her work; II have had a
visitor
Friendly or hostile n asked Mr.. Double
bass, who had n vivid recollection that the
ewater-ratesn had called a few days pre-
yiously, ard promised % repetition OF his
visit shortly.
"a friend,n in gay tone. Gle said he.
had good news for ven, and left this note,
with the message that you must be at
home tomorrow without fail.n Nj.
Doublebass opened the note which his
daughter handed to him, and read as fol-
lows,
aDEAR D.--Have You still got the SYM
phony by you. about which you spoke to
me some weeks ago? III you have, i think
can find an opening for it, provided you
will be satisfied with q 10-pound note. But
/ must see you ahont it ct once. VIII call
Mt 10 a. m, tomorrow. Yours,
aS0APLEY SMART.n
sBless the man. what does he scent him
self like that fors Why, the very paper he
touches smells like q barber's.shop. Give
me the tobacco, Mag cried the old man,
tossing the note from him with a sniff,
Hadn't better get the symphony, toe,
father" asked Maggie.
ABahi what does he know about Tho
synapheny2 It's not the sort OF stuff he
wants. said Mr.. Doublebass, y contemptu-
ouslg 1Howeyer, / suppose he must see
1t. Just get it down, Maggie, and I'll see
that it Is all in order before / go to bed. .
Maggie had no difficulty in laying her
hands upon the precious MS. in question,
which had been the companion of their
troubles Tor many years, n Mr.. Double
bass solace under many trials. The girl
was, indeed, scarcely less interested in the
symphony than the old man himself, and
knew enough. of her IaIner TO guess that,
hi spite Of his p%etulant tone, the prospect
Of his work being giyente the world at
last elated him not a little.
Punctually alto O'clock the next morn
ing Mr.. Soapley Smart drove sap to the
door. He was by no means d gentleman
Of that type with which es1inence In the
musical profession is commonly assoc
ciated. His clothes were of a highly fash
ionable cut and material; he had an eye
glass ilisolie eye his hair, which was yell
low and scailty, was. cut short md parted
III the middle, and he wore q heavy mus
tacne and two little tufts of whisKer. At
ain early age of his musicaI career he had
achieved fame by the publication OF a Sc
ductive waltz of a simple character, called
sEcoutez-moi, 2 and two or three intensely
pathetic ballads, the best known of which
is "The Angel and the Kiss Having en-
extensive connection in fashionable cir
Giles, he hssi rapidly advanced into the
higher walks of art. He was the Aabitual
associate of aristocratic amateurs. per-
formed at smoking concerts, where even
royalty smoked cigars and PLAYED the
yiolinrconsacted an orchestral society for
membership OF which a title was the one
indispensable qualification. During the
last twelve months this talented gentle
man had on more than one occasion
shown q freddy interest in Mr.. Double
bass, and it was to him that the elder mu-
s~iciarlDwed his seat in the orchestra
where he now played. Mr.. Doublebass,
who, to tell the truth, entertained a pro-
found contempt for Soapley Smart and all
his works, was quito at a loss to account
for acts OF friendship, though possi-
bly, If Miss Doublebass had chosen She
might have enlightened her father on that
point.
! haven't many minutes to spare said
Mr.. Smart in his airy manner as he took
q seat. aDoI't run away, Miss Double
bass. I may nave to talk secrets. but
nothing, / am sure, but what T may trust
you with. Now, then, where is the mag
mum opus?n
Mr.. Doublebass handed the Ms. to his
visitor.
Rather bulky, isn't itfn observed Mr..
Smart, posing the work in his hands. II
hope it isn't too long, though thatis a
defect soon remedied. What's thisfn 1.-THE
critic had rapidly turned over a page or
two. ALLEGRO tAndante con mote
"a - nv - - -