, 1891-07-02
yns % T-g HasT pLANos n Dc.
Interesting History of an Old Musical In
strument That Has Travelled.

Interesting History of an Old Musical In
strunent That Has Travelled.
In q music store on Third street, be
tween Marion and Columbia, there is an
old piano which attracts much attention.
The old musical instrument is of the
upright style and is in a fair state Of
preservation, though 1t is nearly one hun
dred years old 1t has a keyboard with
white keys for the regular notes, n
black keys for the sharps and fats, inst
ike the pianos of today These, when
deity touched, cause the ancient iustru-
meut 10 discourse most elOquently.
No one ocald tell its great age by hear
ing it played on. Its tones are still har-
oui0u and t~uneful, though, Of course.
1t cannot be compared with the best
pianos Of today. when volume or mOdula-
ton Of tone Is considered. Its front Is
Oruameuted with wooden sCrUllwOrk,
behind which Is a crimson cloth Of fine
texture. The frame on which the strings
are stretched is Of wood. while the frame
of the modern piano Is Of iron. The
double row of keys is followed to this
day. and the interior construction is
much the same as in vogue at present.
The fact that the ancient instrument
IL IN such a good state Of preservation is
a high tribute 10 the old time piano
makers They built their 10
last This is said not to be the case with
many Of the present piano manufacturers
The su~pprauuuatel instrument has an
interesting history. The Nineteenth
Century had counted of but three wears
when 1t was bought by an English gen
tlcmau for his family of the makers. j.
Il TT.-.ErTH.- - Rag.rH 4F-..f ,Ft
don. Il was made IN the year 1902 and
sold In 1903 1t passed rs an heirloom
from one member OF the family to an
other until it am into the possession Of
a branch that left London for America
in the year 1861 The voyage was made
In the celebrated ship Robert Lowe.
During the voyage a heavy gale was EN-
countcred, and the piano was washed
overheard with other things, but was
finally tshed ont Of tine briny ocean
The family that brought the iustru
ment 10 America settled at Victoria, b
C., and they passed away one by one
until only two sisters were left. Finally
one Of these died and the other became
insane with grief. Then il became nee
essary 10 administer On the estate Of the
sisters, and the piano was sold by order
OF the probate court The instrument
then fell into the hands of a gentleman
named johnson. who resided in Veto
rn
Ia 1869 Mr.. Johnson sDld the iu-tru
mout 10 "a gentleman who had IL iu hls
possession for the past twenty-five years
During that period it has been nj Port
Ludlow, Olympia, WILDLY Island and
Seattle. Once IL was in "a fire, IN which
5000 damage WIS done. and IL was
saved II was moved from Seattle to
Victoria twice Finally the last owner
traded IL of for I'm instrument Of mod
srn make, giving good boot-Scattlc
Telegraph
Latest Fashion In CIothr. and children.
The small woman who r~ervcutly
prayed that there might be no best
clothes IN heaven certainly ought not
to be unhappy now, for even the best
clothes are simple, and ara made so that
she can move and be happy in them
Silks, %snttus, laccs aud hummery on chill
drcu arc only evidences Of the folly Of
their mothers, for the wiscst and
weHlthiest women dress their children
ia the simplest and plainest manner
You see. babies who quote Shakespeare
at five, OF who are looking for microbes
at seven. are counted bad form, while
those who dig in the sands for precious
stones, or build houses that are washed
away by the incoming waves. are the
ones who are going to be healthy and
wise.-New York sun