Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-09-12
THE FLEETING SHOW.
Some of Its Facts and Fancies.

Some of Its Facts and Fancies.
Written for the JOURNAL AND CouRIER.l
MOMENT MUSICALE.
The power of music as a source of pleas
ure, as soothing the suffering, as sustain
ing the energy of the soldier on the long
march, as exciting cheerfulness, recollec-
ton, activity, and many varying emotions,
is well understood, but its capacity, it
seems, is not limited to these uses We
now learn of its ability to promote friend
liness between strangers of different ma
tionalities; to serve as a medium of COM
munication with those who are not con-
versant with our language; of it's use as a
powerful tranquilizing influence upon rest
less cattle, and as measure of time for
performing culinary operations.
A musical chef in Berlin is said to have
published a composition entitled "Boiled
Egg Polka" which has this direction upon
the title page: "To boil the eggs place
them in-boiling water and play the polka
in Allegro Moderate time, taking them out
at the last bar" Eggs cooked to such an
accompaniment of cheerful sounds would
doubtless harmonic well with the digestive
organs OF musical eaters.
R. s. Carton of New Mexico tell US that
when herd of cattle are excited and there
is danger of a stampede, nothing soothes
the restless creatures like the sound of the
human voice in song. A stampede is q
very serious matter, since many of the
herd are scattered, many are trampled up
on and others continue running until they
fall dead. When the signs of an approach
ing stampede, the restless movements and
ominous lowing are observed, every one
on the night watch begins to sing. The
nervous animals gradually become quiet
and lying down are soon at rest, fairly
sung to sleep. ga peculiar feature of the
singing" says-Mr. Carton, sis that every
cowboy, no matter how rough and lawless,
knows variety of hymns, and it is with
church music that the stampede is pre-
vented"
Mrs. Richie, Thackeray's daughter, in
her pleasantly-told "reminiscences, says
| that her father dearly loved and under
stood music, knowing many opera tunes
by heart. Landing at Malta on his way
to the East with q, company of friends,
| no one of whom happened to speak
italian, his knowledge of italian operas
did them good service, as he ingeniously
others by singing familiar snatches of oper-
alto melodies.
A correspondent of the New York
Tribune when journeying to Cologne was
locked in railway compartment with q
good-looking, friendly, young Russian,
who seemed desirous of entering
into conversation with him. The two men
| unsuccessfully tried German, French, Rus
sian, Dutch, English and two or three
other languages and at last reluctantly
| gave mp all attempts to come to an under.
standing. They resigned themselves to
silence and after an hour or two the Rus
sian began absent-mindedly to whistle
The tune seemed familiar and the Ameri
can mechanically joined in. Realizing that
they had at last found one thing in com
mon they burst out laughing and shool
hands. It may not be necessary, but fol
the sake of its suggestiyeness let the fact
be recorded, that "the song that reached
the heart" was ssLittle' Annie Rooney"
Another incident which has no connec
ton with the above hints as to musica
utility, yet as being authentic and neve,
before made public, may be permitted te
follow them and close the list, is that of {
wedding where, as at thousands of Other
weddings, the bridal procession passed t.
the enchanting strains of the 'tBrantlied'
from Lohengrin. It was home wedding
and the march and music had been care