New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-04
MUSIC THAT CHARMED A FROG.
IT MADE HIM DANCE AND HE SANG IN DEEP
BASS VOICE.

TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: read with interest the article in your issue
Of October 10. taken from "The London spectator,
and headed "Orpheus at the Zoo.' 1t recalled to my
mind tho following facts Of which was witness. and
which consider worthy Of note. ms an example OF the
effect Of music upon beasts. Several years ago
stayed for few weeks at little farmhouse among
the w-Hampshire hills. With Others bad for a
fellow-boar a queer musician, whose odd habits
were a source OF great amusement to all OF us. HIS
name was Adams He was very careless about MS
dress and his hair and beard were always in delight
ful state Of musco artistic disorder. 1t was his Gus
tom TO carry his violin at all times and into all places
Weird wild strains would sometimes issue from the
deepest darkest OF the loft sometimes from
the garrett and again they would to us blended
with the signing of the great pine tees on tho hii
where he would perhaps be perchcd upon some con-
venient limb. Even in the dead hours OF the night
he would awaken In the throes OF INSPIRATION ana
squeak few dismal notes to the moon. In fact, i
think that the only place in which he never tuned MS
Tyre" the retreat Of a certain "late amented, at
the bottom OF the WELL and believe that the KnowF
edge Of that shortcoming annoyed him.
In secluded spot not far from the house was
spring, we'll followed out in which 1t was Adams's
morning custom to battle, and after the abltlon 10
play few JOYOUS notes to the sum- or the birds, or
what not One morning he returned laborlDg under
great excitement, and informed me that ne hao
charmed a fr0S. expressed hmdlemeH'' ohoieu a
silent prayer for the frog and asked Adams for de-
tails. He told me That while he had been playing
frog OF huge dimensions had appeared upon the edge
Of the spring. and that said frog had eyed him mar
rowly for brief space, had then swelled and puhcd
himself all ont Of shape and had finally opened wide
his mouth and emitted strange sounds. all Of which
Adams attributed to the charm Of his music.
suggested that perhaps the frog was In pain, that
he had partaken OF something indgestble for break
fast, or troubled with violent stomach disorder.
Adams rejected the allegations hotly swore that he
could do II again. and insisted that should be wit
ness on the following morning, to which finally con-
scnted
At the appointed time we took our places. My at
tenton was directed to deep spot in the pool be
meath an overbanglng rock and then Adams begnn to
play wildly, even 6ercely, air Of his own compos
ing. The suspense awful, companion felt that
his reputation was ct stake and knew IT, Presently
tiny ripple broke from the dark spot by the rock and
very slowly appeared the dstended mouth and bullying
eyes Of his fIosship Adamss face now wore look
OF triumph he played, and the fog swan In
cisurely way to our side of the pool and crawed out
upon the pebbles
Then began one Of the funniest sights ! have ever
witnessed. The music was now SOFT now slrill, and
the part Of the frog Ills sdcs would slowly. swell
nS oe sen Se lis would
sPasmodc twtcning, and finally, as IL the climax OF ms
Joy had been reached he opened MS mouth 70 lts
even, lonc-continued sound much different from the
sonorous bass utterances of this species Of frog When
the music ceased so did he, but he eyed Adams with
"do-tagoin" expression that was pathetic, ana II
was not until finally SHE'D pebble Mt him that he
consented to leave the enchanted spot and returned to
his hole.
messed by Others. l..
Brooklyn, Oct. 20, 1891