The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-01
The Three students.

In 1871 on cold, toggY December night,
the oath of the month. A tall man leaning
on stick was making his way slowly and
painfully along Mazarine street; his cloth
ing, an insufficient protection against the
biting north wind which was bowling fu-
riously, consisted of pair OF thin summer
pantaloons, an old coat buttoned up to his
chin, and broad hat which was pulled
down over his face, so as to leave nothing
visible except long beard and thin white
locks of hair falling upon his STOPPING
shoulders. Under his arm he carried an
object, oblong in shape, wrapped up in a
checked handkerchief. He crossed the
bridge and the square of the Carrousel,
reached the Palais Royal, and walked
round the garden, stopping frequently;
then, as II the floods of light and the savory
odors which issued from the restaurants,
where many a merry feastlng was IN
progress, had the effect of giving him ver-
tigo, he hurried away with totterng steps
toward the Cour des Fontaines. Here he
| looked up at the lighted windows, and
then. stopping under a small she'd put his
stick against the wall, within reach of his
hand, uufastened the checked handkerchief
and displayed violin. With trembling
hands he tuned the instrument, and, folding
the handkerchief, placed it under his chin,
laid the violin tenderly upon it and began to
play. His strains, however, were SO melau-
choly aud so discordant that some street
| urchins, who had stationed themselves in
front of him, took to their heels, exclaim-
ing that such music was fit to raise
the devil; a dog near him began to howl
dismally and the passers qulckened their
pace.
At last the player in despair sat down on
a step, laid his violin across his knees and
| musnured sadly: 81 can play no more.
Oh, my God, my Godr' A deep sob escaped
him, and the next instant three young men
came tripping down the dark, narrow
street. They we're singing a merry song,
which was then popular among the con-
servatory students. and, not perceiving
the violinist, ran full against him. one of
them nearly knocking him over, another
kicking his hat along the sidewalk, while
the third stood still and looked on with
amazement. As the old man got up and
came out of the shadow, with an air of
mingled dignity and humility, the
newcomers exclaimed anxiously: Par
don us, sir Have we hurt your
No." replied the player, STOPPING pain
fully to pick up his hat, but one of the
young men sprang toward it and handed it
TO its owner, and another, seeing the violin,
asked: Are you a musicianW 81 once
was" replied the poor man, while tears
rose to his eyes and rolled slowly down the
deep wrinkles in his cheeks. ''What is the
mattera You are in trouble can we do any
thing to help your cried the three com
rades in a breath, and the musician looked
at them earnestly for minute, then held
his hat toward them as he answered:
give me aims l can no longer earn my
living by playing. for my fingers have
grown stiff. My daughter is dying Of con-
sumption and Of poverty"
There was an accent of deep distress in the
speakers words, and his hearers were
touched with pity; they hurriedly thrust
their hands into their pockets and brought
forth their whole contents Alas the first
man had but so confines, the second
| 80 and the third a piece of resin; total,
| 80 confines. 1t was very little for the
relief of so much misery They looked at
| each other sadly. "Friendsl" cried one
suddenly, something must be done
| this man is our colleague, a brother
musician. You, Adolphe. take the
| violin and accompany Gustave, while will
take charge of the funds" 1t was no sooner
said than done. The three men turned UP
their coat collars, drawing their hair across
their foreheads, asd pulling their caps down
over their eyes. 'Now, all togetherF'
cried the leader, sin honor of the Christ
child in his manger. Begin with your
prize piece Adolphe, 50 as to draw q
crowd" Beneath the practiced touch OF
the young virtuoso, the poor mans violir
resounded joyously, and the Carnival OF
l
fancy. Windows were thrown open, PEG
pie crowded round the player, applause
sounded on every side, and silver pieces
were dropped into the old mans hat, placed
conspicuously under the street lamp After
a minutes pause the violinist played pre-.
lude; Charles, the leader, whispered: at is
your turn now. Gustave," aud the young
tenor sang "Viens, gentille DAME" in q
strong, clear, melting voice.
| The af1dianca in an ecStoSv If daIiOht
cried Again! Againw the crowd kept
increasing every moment and the collection
with it. Charmed at the success of his plan,
| Charles said to his companions: 1--WE will
finish with the trio from William Tell.
Adolphe, old fellow, play the accompani-
ment, and at the same time practice your
bass notes, while will do my best with the
baritone. Now. Gustave. you have but to
open your mouth and a fortune will fall
from heaven The trio began. The old
musician, who had all this time stood
motionless, hardly believing his eyes or
ears, and dreading to wake up and find that
a dream had been knocking him, suddenly
drew himself up to his full hight, seized his
stick and began beating time with such
mastery precision that the young singers
gathered fresh inspiration and fairly cleo
trIfied their hearers. As the song ceased
the applause rang through the air, and
money dropped from the windows and from
every pocket, so that Charles was kept busy
picking up the coins. The concert over the
crowd dispersed slowly, and wondering re-
marks were heard on every side. "Those
are not street musicians" said the people,
''they would make one forget that NJ. Fris-
quet is dead. What a lot of money they
madel They can have a fine supper now
Aud the old fellow with blujgeon-whirl-
ing round like windmill. believe they
were artists who had laid wager. l have
been to the Grand Opera, tell you, and
they sang no better there. How he scraped
the old cracked fiddle-gave me a ticklir g
in my SPINE"
When the confusion had subsidized the
three young men approached the old mu-
stefan, and i'll a voice that trembled with
emotion, he exclaimed Tell me your
names, that my daughter may remember
you in her prayers" my name is Faith, .
said the first artist. "And mine is Hope,
said the second. Then l am Charity
added the third, bringing up the at which
was overlooking with money. "Ah, gen.
tlemen, gentlenenm cried the old man
''let me at least tell you who it is that you
have helped so generously. My name i.
Cnappner, and | am from Alsace. For ter
years | was leader of the orchestra in Stras
bourg, where william Tell'' was otter
given. Alas ever since l left my home
misfortune, sickness, and sorrow have beer
gathering to overwhelm me- You have
fsaved my life, young gentlemen. for vito
this money cal go back to Strasbourg