Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-07-07
Cruel Kindness.

The Seryians nre said to be the most
unmnsical people in Europe. One En-
Saish traveller, at least, can give EN-
phatio testimony to that effect, from IN
experience OF lis own while visiting
Enc British diplomatic agent ut Bel
grade. 1t was some twenty years ago,
and the great garrison was i'll the hands
Of tho Turks, commanded by u worthy
old pasta, Ali Ria. This parsonage,
unfortunately, took fancy to tho En-
glishman, and after entertaining him ut Il
banquet, early next morning sent band,
composed of ut least forty musicians, to
delight his ears with some of tho
national airs Of Turkey. The English
Effendi WINS sleeping peacefully when
the hideous din of the "ATarch of Sui
tan Achmet" burst upon his ears. He
says:
1.-THE first thought that flashed across
my bewildercd brain, as1 started mp in
bed, WINS that J. hud been shot out of
gun OF large cnlibcr; tho next, that the
end of all things was Mt hand.
Collecting my scattered wits, at the
expiration of few hidcous seconds, /
got upon my feet and staggered to the
window. Tlt,re they were, forming n
hollow double circle, in the center of
Which stood tho gorgeous band-master,
leading-with his hand in lien of baton
two score of swartlly, wiry, deep
chested fellows, blowing, beating and
jingling at high pressure, and looking
MS If they could 60 on doing all these
things for uncounted hours.
II may say with trlththat | had never
entirely realized whit cymbals were
capable of in the way of poisoning
human happiness until I heard that
band play; nor had I been aware that
any tune could be hnrmonized in such
sort that It's accompaniment should con-
sist exclusively of discorls.
Presently the band-master, looking
upward in spasm of inspiration
brought on by more than usually
deadly dissonance-at that particular
moment the brasses were playing stimuli
tnneously in Mt least six different keys
caught sight of my face at the window.
Christianity ii lurid smile illuminated
his tawny countenance; no waved bis
hand moro frantically than before, and
spoke some words of power to his bands
men, the immediate result Of which wsss
III explosion of noise to which their
previous achievement in that line had
borue the relation of Il whisper to an
eruption of yesuvius.
The Englishman was ut that moment
visited by hia host, who explained to
him, necessarily at the topiof lisvoice,
that this fearful din would last ut; least
IN hour and half; that etiquette, de-
mandcd TINT Che recipient Of the cnmpli-
ment should remain i'll sight duriiag the
entire period, and that he should offer
;hc bnnd sum Of money equivalent to
tbout twenty-five dollars as bdtshiSh.
The next day the mtrtyr-glnst was
compelled to visit the pasha, to thank
him for the music, "such," he emplfat-
ically and truthfully observed, "as he
'lld never before heard nor dreamed OF
ii his life. )"
"You cannot know how itrejoices me
hat You should appreciate our stirring
melodies, f" said the old Turk, his coun-
tcnance benming with delight. You
shull hear one or two of thennag:in now,
and every morning they shall greet
your waking ears.
SO, to the visitors horror, the band
was agnin assembled, and his previous
torture repeated. The latter part of
the Turks proposal, however, WINS not
carried out, for the Englislsman left
Belgrade the next morning, literally
lriven away.