The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1891-10-22

travelled all the time with him."
Was it any great geographical or
social upheavaI that suggested such a
desperate remedy as the cornet"
II will thank you not to laugh at my
pet art. Mr.. Tramp No, it was not any
upheaval OF any sort that drove, as |
suppose YOU would say, me to cornet
playing. Ny father was an organ builder,
and he had all his children taught some
instrument. | commenced with the violin,
and was an infant prodigy: at seven
years old played IA solo at aGott4chalk
concert, and the master was so pleased
that he presented me with double eagle,
one Of our gold ciOns, with transcription
on it. At fourteen years old, however, |
deserted the violin and took to the cornet,
and learned from Arbuckle among other
masters
"Did any more OF your family follow
your example and become professional
musicians
"All OF them, and as the Berger Family
we have given cOncers all over America.
| continued with the company until
married"
"What work have you done by your
self in America?
81 have been soloist with Theodore
Thomas, Patrick 5. Gilmore, and one
Bull, and the Cincinnati Orchestra, one
of the most rigorous in the world, ana
entirely German in its work. In addition
to that | am member Of the Handel
HAYDEN Society of Baltimore, and am
honorary conductor OF an orchestra III
the Vest
amy more cornct honors, Madame
Bergcr?'
"Lots. The professional musicians OF
New York subscribed and bought me a
gold cornet, that is, OF course, heavily
gilt plated, by Besson whose medal, by
the-by, have also gained; then | have
won prizes in cOrnet contests. Indeed,
| could not begin to tell you the many
kind recognitions | have had all over
America
Whose instrument do you play now:
q Nv own. OF course; but it was built
| by COurtois, who is undoubtedly ahead
OF all Makers
GLOW came you to play here?'
"All through my friend, Madame Belle
| Cole; she made Mr.. Freeman Thomas
| life a burhcn to him until he had given
me a public trial at COyent Garden he
was so pleased that he asked me invite
another verdict from the public. | did
so. and Immediately | had finished he
offered me a five weeks engagement, which
| accepted At the end OF that period he
came up to me after the last performance,
and pinned asplendid and valuable medal
| on to my dress, and continued the engage
ment at the Promenade Concerts for the
remainder of the season.
"Have you played out of London?
"Oh, yes at Manchester, for example,
with De longs Concert Company
ode .Jong?" | queried. ''Why, Patti
has been singing with him.
"And pray, Mr.. Tramp, why should
| not appear at a Patti concert? AS a
matter OF fact, did so at Manchester;
and Mr.. De Jong, as aproOf ofmy success.
re-cngaged me for three other concerts"
with my usual grace, had not merely
put my foot into it, but my whole body.
1t began to dawn upon me that | had
better cease regarding the concert as q
Joke and accept it seriOusly-De Jong,
Patti concert!
at once assured the lady that | loved
the cOrnct passiOnately and devOt"dly,
and much preferred it to q StelnWay
grand, that my first thoughts, after pro-
viding for the absolute necessities OF life,
were always of how | could hear the
cOrnct swOre that | scOur the country
in search of cOrnet solos, and generally
speaking, | crawled, and, to some extent,
got back to my former position.
Have you done any thing else here
Yes, | have played at st. James Hall,
the Peoples Palace, and in some private
drawing-rOOms, where lady cOrnetlst
is looked upon as IL novelty.
"llaye you aEy speciality III your play
ing?'
"No, beyond what is technically known
as triple tOnguing.
''Any particular repcrtOre?'
Il played thirty-one different solos in
the five weeks at Covent Garden. By
the-by, want to tell you what happened
to me at the Egyptian Hall. | went
there to see the entertainment, and very
wonderful it is. In connection with Mr..
Maskelyne's electric organ, Mr.. Mellon,
the musical director hands round to the
audience the cOrnct to show that it is
genuine. When it came to me | soon
proved it to be so by blowing a regular
blast on it, much to the surprise of the
audience, who Immediately gave me Il
round of applause. What audiences you
English people make. | always feel as
ii We're playing to Il house composed
entirely of critics.
Does that mean that YOU regard our
audiences in friendly light?'
"lndeed, | do | mean TO stop in
England. | foresee that can do excellent
business in II way that makes life very
pleasant | have made so many friends.
You know how kind Madame Belle Cole
has been to me? And the magnificent
Madame Antoinettc Sterling. What an
artist! She has been more than amiable;
indeed, she tried to arrange for me to
have an engagement in her concert tour,
but arrangements already made pre-
vented my doing so
In private life Madame Berger is Mrs.
Leigh Lynch. IL well-knOwn theatrical
manager, who was pilot of the old Union
Square Theatre in its palmy days. In
appearance she is of medium height, Il
delicate figure, and has decidedly classical
features, with Il we!!-po!sed head running
over with short, curly hair. She has
Il peculiarly graceful method of holding
her cOrnet, and confines herself to rich
but sober style of costume on the plat
form. She is great favorite socially,
aud makes friends very quickly, for she
has the good fortune to be possessed
OF an unusually amiable disposition
which wildly reflects itself in her big
brown ewes
Ihefe was nothing more L be SAID.
Madame Belle Cole returned to the room,
and, with many apologies, commenced
a vigorous search for nothing. Mr.. Leigh
Lynch, who hitherto had been peacefully
sleeping in a comfortablc-looking arm
chair, pulled out his watch. and made
the startling announcement that he had
no idea it was SO late, and general i'm
preston seemed to come over everyone
that change is good for all people For
my part, | had talked the lady to death,
but had collected enough information
for my allotted space in the great public
educator. Topical Times, and SO | deferred
my request for a-cornet solo. and passed
away into the crowd.
Happy HoOsiers.
VIM. Timmcns, postmaster at Idaville,
lnd. writes: Electric BitterS has done
{,,r Il.