The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1888-11-10

can we'll Imagine the feelings OF the
New Orleans darby. rs he existed be-
fore the war. IL he could only visit
London drawing-room in full season
aud hear the young scions of the aris-
tocracy twanging the once-derided
plantation" instrument In the ears OF
the damsels of high estate. says Henry
Labouchere Ia the London Truth. The
aged tenant of an Ohio cabin holding
would probably be equally astonished
could he but see the most exalted male
in this realm throwing aside those
troubles which the Inhabitants of the
greater republic are pleased 10 con-
slider the affairs of state. and giving a
boudoir performance on the banjo be-
fore the princess and their daughters.
! am Informed by those who ought. To
know that the Prince Of Wales, like
his relative the Car of Russia, Is no
mean performer on the banjo, and as
he has an excellent musical memory.
without pretending TO too much tech
nical knowledge. he can, after return
ing from the opera or opera bouffe.
pick out the tunes on the banjo with
astonishing facility. IL Is not alto
gether surprising that the banjo Is once
more becoming popular here. II ises
sentially "A home instrument. and
among the negroes In the south" of
the United States--that is TO say.
among probably the most domesticity-
loving community In the world-the
banjo is at once solace and JOY. IL
Is even more to. the humble darby
than the pipe is 10 the British working
man; for not only will il keep him
company when he Is alone. but 1t is
the national instrument of mirth and
festivity. The banjo is heard ms tho
cotton boat floats down the river. The
Venetian gondoliers. the rowers on the
Neva. and the American niggers all
enjoy boating melodies while at their
work. The Thames bargee alone pre-
fers the sound OF his own peculiar
vocabulary. But the revival Of banjo
playing In London Is not confined TO
the royal family. Mr.. Gladstone HIM
self is said TO favor the instrument.
which also solaces the few intervals of
leisure in which other brain-workcrs
are able TO indulge. Moreover, 10 has
had the incidental effect of reviving n
taste for the guitar and the mandolin.
which. though akin To il, both differ
from the good old banjo of the London
drawing-room. Indeed, the mandolin,
which is played with a plectrum. Is but
n tinkling-bell compared with the ban
10 or guitar. OF the three am. how
ever, inclined TO think that the guitar
has the most promising future. AL
though 1t may not possess the mascu-
line majesty OF the banjo, it has
around il the ineffablc halo of romance.
Moreover. ii we'll becomes man, al
ways supposing that he be not OF cor
pulent habit; and "A he attitudinizes,
among circle of admiring ladies. the
blue ribbon hung lightly over one
shoulder and under one arm. he may,
IL he but possess figure At all, easily
imagine himself first-class ''masher.r
The guitar has. too. the advantage Of
possessing fairly good repcrtory Of
music written especially for Ii, thanks
to the labors OF Guillania, Lcgnani.
Kreutzer, Regondi, and Leonard
Schultz. The banjo. however. does
not deserve the unworthy wit leyeled
Mt it by those who have only heard IL
as performed by the peripatetic mu-
stefan at the head of Margaret Jatty.
or by the musical partner of the
Bones" Of negro minstrclsy. The in
strument-which an Ulster immigrant
once described as drumhead with the
bottom knocked out--can discourse
sweet music IL played by an expert.