The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1891-12-09
THE UNMUSICAL PIANO.
And How It Was That It Ceased
to Annoy.
Why A7sthetic Mr.. Jimpson No Longer
Objects tie His Lonely, Sad Neigh
bo.'s Musical EEorts-In
Pathetic Key.

"IIad Il queer experience the other
day." said Jimpson at the club, slipping
his coffee. The after-dinner conversa-
ton had driftcd into discussion as to
whether the piano was q curse or a
blessing to modern life. The opinions
seemed to be about evenly divided.
Certainly it cannot be said of the
piano, as of other instruments, that it's
'"Music arose with its voluptuous swell.
Soft eyes looked love to eyes which spal.e
again +.
For Byron wrote that at a time when
the piano was as yet practically I'M
known. Nor did Wordsworth have ref.
crence to the piano when he Remarked:
'"Wherc music dwells, - 90
Lingering, and wandering on as loath to die,
Like thoughts, whose very sweetness yielded
proof
That they were born for Immortality
No no; it has been amply stated
that music hath charms to soothe the
savage breast but not piano music
That line was penned at much earlier
period,
'"When Music, heavenly maid was young,
While yet in early Greece she suns,
And, therefore, We brethren of the
quill, have to cast my vote against
the further continuance of this instru-
ment of torture auricular and mental
the piano"
This harangue had been delivered by
Simpson, the recognized authority on
the poets, a man who was ALWAYS
faacster in modo, fortiter in re and whose
voice, therefore, was rather potent. It
was in reply to him that Jimpson had
said:
Had a queer experience the other
day."
And to this a chorus had responded
with: "Theu by all means let us have
itm
WELL" said Jimpson, "you know
have lived in fiat since last May. It's
cozy, containing every kind of improve
ment that heart can wish, and for
about month felt real comfortable
In it. But one evening, just about
dusk, as was lolling in my easy chair,
heard music overhead in the upper
nat 1t was piano music That in
itself was nothing to get angry about,
but the kind of music it was Played
BY somebody who has never been
properly taught, who hacks away and
makes each note shrek and howl, VINO
mas no conception of harmony, meas
ure and time, the haclsneyed pieces
winch filtered down to me Trough the
ceiling in unesthetic chunks by no
means promoted my post-prandial di-
eestion' Next morning | inquired as
10 the identity of this modern Torque-
mada' l was told by the janitor it was
young widower, who had lost his
wiie but recently, a quiet, unobtrusive,
otherwise well-behaved man. Next
evening, as I sat at my desk, painfully
seeking for proper denouement in
'he plot OF my new NOVELETTE, hero
having gotten himself into an awful
hole, from which it was very hard to
ex'rIcate him-the music overhead be-
gan again. The same music, same
pieces And it was played as exas-
peta'insiy as ever, by clumsy fingers
ana with touch that w ould have done
aonor to a wood-chopper. l felt sick
~ ~ fleart, In spite of all my efforts to
Haore this tantalizing music, could
not Every bar hit my sensitive ear
1'ae trip-hammer. was unable to
',n'inue work. And that night in my
aeep heard rs an endless refrain the
WINS and frills OF 10 Anderson. NV
:" eomln Thro' the Rye Annie
1''urie and Nancy Lee 1t was
y, nightmare. Walking and
s.seping' those over-ripe tunes followed
Nv aoout-ate with me, drank with
ne' slept with me and prevented me
ao,n Work Thus a fortnight passed,
l4a was just about on the brink of
tunacy. -
Last Wednesday evening, as the
p,aao TEND above was again racking
~ NY soul and body, became desperate.
~ course, | knew had no legal right
interfere, nor to tell him to stop his
A.: playing, But an Unsuitable
s sts'fe to see what this fend in human
hape looked like, and whether, per-
,a aps' BY bulldozing or by skillful fiat
M might prevail upon him to let up
~ - ne, had taken possession of me.
,h au wasted away to a shadow during
,a as fortnight, and thought he might
Asst ssioiy take pity on me if threats OF
az, should not prevail. So /
,aa, up that flight of stairs and
~ Iucaee the electric button. Instantly
NC Playing ceased. Slow, heavy steps,
! ot one tired out, came. and the door
vas opened I was invited in
When had sat down in his dining
y, hurriedly took an inventory.
s sasfe was but the lighted piano lamp,
-. mat shed a rather dim and uncer.
p a light over the rest of the room.
as Noticed all sorts OF "reminiscences