Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1888-07-06
Cru 1 Kindness.

The Servians are said TO be the most|
unmusical people in Europe. One En-
glish traveller, at least, can give en-
phatic testimony to that effect, from an
experience Of his own while visiting
the British diplomatic agent at Bel,
grade. It was some twenty years ago,
and the great garrison was in the hands
of the Turks, commanded by worthy
old pasha, Ali Ria. This parsonage,
unfortunately, took fancy to the En-
glishman, and after entertaining him at
banquet, early next morning sent band,
composed of at least forty musicians, to
delight his ears with some OF the
national airs of Turkey. The English
Effendi was sleeping peacefully when
the hideous din of the March Of Sui
tan Achmet" burst upon his ears. He
says:
"The first thought that flashed across
my bewildered brain, rs ] started up In
bed, was that / had been shot out OF
gun Of large caliber; the next, that the
end of all things was at hand.
Collecting my scattered wits, at the
expiration of a few hideous seconds, i
got upon my feet and staggered to the
window. Tlarre they were, forming a
hollow double circle, in the center OF
which stood the gorgeous band-master,
leading-with his hand in lieu of baton
two score of swarthy, wiry, deep
chested fellows, blowing, beating and
jingling at high pressure, and looking
as if they could 60 on doing all these
things for uncounted hours.
Il may say with truth that had never
entirely realized what cymbals were
capable of in the way of poisoning
human happiness until l heard that
band play; nor had / been aware that
any tune could be harmonized in such
sort that its accompaniment should con-
sist exclusively of discords.
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
taneously in at least six different keys
caught sight of my face at the window.
Instantly lurid smile Illuminated
his tawny countenance; he waved his
hand more frantically than before, and
spoke some words of power to his bands
men, the immediate result of which was
an explosion of noise to which their
previous achievement in that line had
borne the relation of whisper to an
Eruption of Vesuvius.
The Englishman was at that moment
visited by his host, who explained to
him, necessarily at the top of his voice,
that this fearful din would last at least
an hour and half; that etiquette de-
manded that the recipient of the comph-
ment should remain in sight during the
entire period, and that he should offer
the band a sum of money equivalent to
about twenty-five dollars as bdkShtsh.
The next day the martyr-guest was
compelled to visit the pasha, to thank
him for the music, "such, he emphat-
ically and truthfully observed, "as he
had never before heard nor dreamed OF
in his life"
"You cannot know how it rejoices me
chat you should appreciate our stirring
melodies. " said the old Turk, his coun-
tenance beaming with delight. "You
shall hear one or two of.them again now,
and every morning they shall greet
your waking A5rs. "
So, to the visitors horror, the band
was again assembled, and his previous
torture repeated The latter part OF
the Turks proposal, however, was not
carried out, for the Englishman left
Belgrade the next morning, literally
lriven away.