The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-31
A FLASH IN THE PAN.

III Is uOb ever DOug WIN hHONS "udb d
minor canon is, or what his duties are; SO,
for the sake of the uniformed, let me say
at once that his chief duty is to take his
turn in reading, that is. in monotoning
and singing the daily services in a cathe-
dral. Such IS my duty. l am a minor
canon of the cathedral church of March
bury. occupy house within the cathe-
dral close, and thus enjoy the privilege of
passing my days ''far from the madding
crowd" The life is uneventfuI enough.
Little happens from years end to years
end to vary the humdrum of existence In
fact nothing more exciting than garden
party at the bishops or a dinner at the
deanery or tea at the archdeacon's. Even
these superior functions" cause but
slight and transient ruffle upon the calm
flow of life's stream.
For many years, as a minor canon, have
breathed this serene and placid atmosphere
of the close. Often have l wondered if l
should live all my life thus; or whether,
some day or other, something would startle
me, like bolt from the blue, and | should
find myself plunged, on a sudden, into the
midst of the most exciting events For
many years, year after year and month
after month, | have regularly taken my
turn" in singing the services, and nothing
particularly remarkable has ever happened
to me-until yesterday; and yesterday
something did happen.
1t was Monday, and in the afternoon, as
was walking along the High street of
Marchbury, / was met by distinguished
looking person whom l had observed at
the services in the cathedral on the pre-
vious day. Now it CHANGED on that Sun
day that l was singing the service. Prop
erly speaking, it was not my turn, but as
my brother minor canOus were either away
from Marchbury or i'll in bed ! was the
only one left 10 perform the necessary
duty The distinguished looking person
was tall, big man, with a round, fat face
and small features. His eyes, his hair aud
mustache (his face was bare but for a
small muStache) were quite black, and he
had a very pleasant and genial expression.
He wore a tall hat, set rather jauntily on
his head, and he was dressed in black,
with a long frock coat buttoned across the
chest and fitting him close to the body
As he came, with half saunter, half
swagger, along the street l knew him
again at once by his appearance; and as he
came nearer l saw from his manner that
he was intending TO stop and speak to me;
for he slightly raised his hat, and in a soft,
melodious voice, with a colonial "twang,"
which was far from being disagreeable and
which indeed 10 my ear gave a certain adj
ditional interest to his remarks, he saluted
me with Good day, STRIP
Good day." / answered, with Just little
reserve in my tone.
'Ihope, sir" he began, You will excuse
my stopping you in the street, but wish
TO tell you how very much l enjoyed the
music at your cathedral yesterday. l am
an Australian, sir, and we have no such
music in my country"
81 suppose not" l said.
mo, SIR" he went on, nothing nearly
80 fine. / am very fond of music, and as
my business brought me in this direction
thought would stop at your city and
take the opportunity of paying visit to
your grand cathedral And am delighted
came; so pleased, indeed, that l should
like to leave some memorial of my visit
behind me. | should like, sir, 10 do some
thing for your choir"
II am sure iEis very kind of YOU" I re-
piled.
Yes, should certainly be glad If YOU
could suggest to me something | might do
in this way. As regards money. may say
that have plenty of it. / am the owner
of a most valuable property Ny business
relations extend throughout the world.
and if am as fortunate in the projects of
the future as l have been in the past l
shall probably one day achieve the proud
position of being the richest man in the
world"
did not like TO undertake myself the
responsibility Of advising or suggesting, so
] simply said;
- cannot venture TO say offhand what
would be the most acceptable way of show
Ing your great kindness and generosity;
but l should certainly recommend you 10
put yourself in communication with the
dean"
Thank you, sir" said my Australian
friend, Il Will do so. And now, sir" he
continued, "let me say how much I ad-
mire your voice. II is, without exception,
the very finest and cleareSt voice | have
ever heard"
Really" l answered, quite overcome
with such unqualified praise, 'reall it is
very good of you TO say so"
"Ahl but feel lit, my dear sir. | have
been round the world; from SYDNEY 10
Frisco, across the continent Of America rl,e
called il AmerrkeT) to New York city. then
on TO England, and tomorrow | shall leave
your city to continue my travels. But II
all my experience | have never heard 81
grand voice as voCr own This and q
great deal more ne said in the same strain
which modesty forbids me TO reproduce
here.
Now, am not without some knowledge