Huntsville gazette., 1888-04-14
CRUEL KINDNESS.
How nm English Gentleman Was Tortured
by q Turkish Band.

HOW nm E0gll8n Gentlclnau was AOrturcu
by Turkish Band.
The Servians are said to be the most
unmusical people in Europe. One
English traveller, at least, can give
emphatic testimony to that effect, from
an experience of his own while visiting
the British Diplomatic Agent at Bel
grade. 1t was some twenty years ago.
and the great garrison was in the
hands of the Turks. commanded by
worthy old Pasha, Ali Ria. This per-
sonage, unfortunately, took a fancy to
the Englishman, and, after entertain
ing him at the 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 Sultan Achmet"
burst upon his ears. He says:
1.-The first thought that flashed across
my bewildcred brain, as l started up
in bed, was that l had been shot out of
a 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, l
got upon my feet, and staggered to
the window. There they We're, form
ing hollow double circle, in the GEN.
ter 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
al these unnumbered things for un-
counted hours. l may say with truth
that l had never entirely realized
what cymbals were capable of in
the way of poisoning human happiness
until heard that band play; nor had
| been aware that any tune could be
harmonized in such sort that its accom-
paniment should consist exclusively OF
discords. Presently the band-master,
looking upward in a spasm of inspira-
ton brought on by more than usually
deadly disSonance-at that particular
moment the brasses were playing SIM
ultaneously in at least six different
keys-caught sight of my face at the
window. Instantly lurid smile illum-
ined his tawny countenance; he waved
his hand more franticaily than before,
and spoke some words of power TO his
bandsmen, 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 Vesuyius."
The Englishman was at that moment
visited by his host, who explained to
his, necessarily at the top of his voice,
that this fearful din would last for at
least an hour and half; that etiquette
demanded that the recipient of the
compliment should remain in sight
during the entire period, and that he
should offer the band sum of money
equivalent to about twenty-five dollars
as baksltish.
The next day the martyr-guest was
compelled to visit the Pasha, to thank
him Tor the music, 'Such, he en-
phatically and truthfully observed. "as
he had never before heard nor dreamed
of in his life.''
"You can not know how it rejoices
me that you should appreciate our
stirring melodies" said the old Turk.
his countenance beaming with delight.
You shall hear one or two of them
again now, and every morning they
shall greet your waking ears"
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
driven aWay.-YOuth'S C0mpaniOn.