Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-07-28

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. 1t was some twenty years ago,
and the gfeat garrison was i'll the hands
of the Turks, commanded by worthy
old pasha, Ali Ria. This parsonage,
unfortunately, took fancy to the En-
glishnaf1, and after entertaining him at a
banquet, early next morning sent a 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
1.-THE first thought that flashed across
my bewildered brain, as l started up in
bed, was that 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 few hideous seconds, |
got upon my feet and staggered to the
window. There they We're, 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, why, deep
chested fellows, blowing, beating and
jingling at high pressure, and looking
as if they could go on doing all these
things for uncounted hours.
81 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 harmonizcd in such
sort that its accompaniment should CON
sist exclusively of discords.
presently the band-master, looking
upward i'll spasm of inspiration
brought on by more than usually
deadly dissonance-at that particular
moment the brasses were playing stimuli
taneously i'll at least six different keys
caught sight of my face at the window.
"Instantly u 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 THEN
previous achievement i'll that line had
borne the relation Of whisper to IN
eruption of Nesuvius."
The Englishman was at that moment
visited by his host. who explained t,
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 compli
ment should remain in sight during the
entire period, and that he should Offer
the band a sum of money equivalent tt
about twenty-five dollars rs bdhshish
The next day the martyr-guest was
compelled to visit the pasha to thanl
him for the music, "such," he emphat
ically and truthfully observed, "as h,
had never before heard nor dreamed o
in his life"
you cannot know how it reioiccs m,
that you should appreciate our stirring
melodies" said the old Turk, his co,u
tenance beaming with delight. "lol
shall hear one or two of them again now
and every morning they shall gree
your waking ears"
SO, to the visitors horror, the ban,
was again assembled, aud his prcviou
torture repeated. The latter part o
the Turk proposal, however, was no
carried out, for the EnSlishman LET
Belgrade the next morning, LITERAL,
| driven away,