The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-14
SONGS FIFTY YEARS OLD.
KALAKAUA AND HIS FRIEND IN.
SPECTING A MUSIC STORE.
The Boys and Girls of Half a Century
Ago-Their Music and Playthings
as Compared with Those of Nova
Days.

An evening or two since | was making
call on a lady lriend-one of the women Of
the olden times-whose gray hair was but
an ornament added to her beauty. Time
had with dainty fingers unfolded the ring
lets of her hair and plated them with sil.
yer cords, but the check was as firm and
unwrinklcd, the eye as bright and clear,
the laugh as CHEEKY and cnticinC, the
voice us sweet and lew and the lip us
tempting as when, in the days before tho
war, she was that iairest of all fair women,
the well preserved, happy wife and mother
old times, TO the joys and sorrows, the
pleasures and pains Of a hall century ago.
She talked OF the old songs She sang in
her sweet pure voice, "lhc Mistletoo
Bough," al See Them on Their Winding
Way" cold Dan Tucker "lhc Old
Oakcn Buckct;" the old JAG obite songs,
"Wha'll BE King But Chuuuy!' "O'cr the
Water to Charlie" closing with that best
OF all, "Bonny Dundee"
We sat awhile in the cleaning
there were two gloamings, one Tor
each OF u.s., thinking OF the
faces and scenes We could see in the CRATE,
when she arose and said "kal, my dear
friend, We are getting too sentimental
| Let's 90 over 10 Main street and see IT
Geo. W. Smith has any OF the old-timc mu-
sic IN his store. lie has very full assert,
ment OF all thing, pertaining To music and
musical Instruments, aud perhaps hc is
old-iashloncd enough or with good taste
enough to have some ui our kind OF mu-
sic" The old lady cnvelopcd her proud
head in some kind OF iloccy hcad-gcar, and
We went over 10 226 Main stree, 20 see ii
Smith was the dealer We hoped hc was.
! We found abundance of music, all kinds
aud sorts for modern use solos, duets,
songs, instrumental, operate, etc, etc,
I all the present generation wanted, but
none for ~ oi years gone by. The world
OF music had gone ON and passed as 10y,
! stranded, rs well as the world in other
ways There were LETT, though, 10 rs, the
grand old oralorios and the sacred music
that will last till time shall he no
more, and the ears Of humanity,
/ attuncd To higher notes, will be open
| b. the music OF the spheres, and the chorus
| OF angel voices that echoes through the
g,oycs on the other side Of the river,
Whose grim lcrryman brings no returning
! Passengers. We have no wish 10 di.CrCdit
the music OF nova. DAYS. but it ducs not
thrill the brain or iill the heart OF three
score ~ did the songs we used To sing.
We examined the choice collection OF
pianos and organs.
Then We amused ourselves With looking
at the TOYS and playthings that 50 lavishIy
filled the ample shelves. Here the youth
Of now Is far ahead ol those who were boys
and girls in the days away back yondcr.
There was full assortment of all kinds.
qualities aud prices, concerning even the
use Of many OF which We were obliged to
plead ignorance. But with all this abund-
ancc oi improved plnything7, mechanical
toys and expensive gifts, there Is not hall
the solid enjoyment there was In the can
non east from tea chest lead the pumpkin
Jack o lantern, the hand made dolls, ant
the playthings that bore the touch Of low
ing hands We went away from SMITH
feeling that with all his largo and bcauti
iul collection for these times We still wer,
glad We were boys and girls fifty years ago
kNLAKAUA.