The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-11-15
THE BANJO IN THE BOUDOR.
Us Transformation from a Log Cabin to
the Homes of Princes.

can wellimagine the feelings of the
New Orleans darky, as he existed be-
fore the war, if he could only visit q
London drawing-roOm in full season
and hear the young scions of the aris-
tOcracy twanging the once-derided
plantation" instrument in the ears of
lie damsels of high estate, says Henry
i.abouchere in the London Truth The
aged tenant of an Ohio cabin holding
Wouid probably be equally astonished
could ne but see the most exalted male
n this realm throwing aside those
troubles which the inhabitants of the
greater republic are pleased to con-
slider the affairs Of state, and giving a
b0udoir 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 Gar 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. 1t is not alto
gether surprising that the banjo is once
more becoming popular here. 1t is es-
sentlaily 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 a solace and JOY. 1t
is even more to the humble darky
than the pipe is to the British working
Ey.,. IL.
company when he is alone. but it is
the national instrument of mirth and
festivity. The banjo is heard as the
cotton boat floats down the river. The
Venetian gondoliers, the rowers on the
Aeya, 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-work ers
are able to indulge. Moreover, it has
had the incidental effect of reyiving a
taste for the guitar and the mandolin,
which, though akin to it, both differ
from the good old banjo of the London
drawing-room. Indeed, the mandolin,
which is played with plectrum, is but
a tinkling-bel 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 it may not possess the mascu-
liue majesty of the banjo, it has
around it the inetfable halo of romance
Moreover, it well becomes u man, al
ways supposng that he be not of cor
pulent habit; and as he attitudinizes,
among 4 circle of admir;ng ladies, the
blue ribbon hung lightly over one
shoulder and under one arm, he may,
II he but possess a figure ut all, easily
ina CINE himself a tirst-clasS .'masher."
The guitar has, too, the advantage of
possessing fairly coed repertory of
music written especially for it, thanks
10 ih6 labors of Guillania, Legnani,
Ereutzer, Regondi, and Leonard
Schultz. The banjo, however, does
hot deserve the unworthy wit leveled
ut il by those who have only heard it
as performed by the peripatetic mu-
sician at the head of Margaret Jatty,
or by the musical partner of the
Bones of negro mnstrelsy. The in
strument-which an Ulster immigrant
once described as drumhead with the
bottom knocked out-can discourse
sweet music if played by an expert.