The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-06
A MUSIC CENTRE.
WHAT a QUEER OLD MIN HEdRD
IN THE BUTLER EXCH1NGE.
He Thought One or Two OF the Music
Makers Might BE All Right, But
Didn't Enjoy All.

In the Butler Exchange there are
great many teachers of music, both vocal
ana instrumental. On one of the floors
the teachers are gathered into a colony
and number Of the rooms are occupied
by several teachers who have the use of
one on different days.
genial old man went into an Office on
that noor the other day aud not finding
the person he sought for turned 20 leave.
just then he heard grief-stricken voice
sing.
There's lone green valley on the old Kentucky
Asltting and q singing by The iiitte cabin door.
Where once lived my darling Nellie Gray.
The old man had just got TO the door,
put he turned back and said TO the office
boy, VINO was reading Captain Kidd"
That's good old song. They used TO
sing IL when was young man. But
VINO IS numbering it ?"
hat, that W returned the office-boy,
putting the book aside aud jerking a
dirty thumb over his shoulder towards
the place from which the sounds came.
lhats someone taking a music lesson"
a plaEo IN a room at the end OF the
nan rounded forth one of Paderewski's
latest compositions; violin squeaked
out doieful air; with soprano voice
someone sang difficult selection. What
III 'lody there Was became part of
medley. Ihe notes of the piano and vio-
non ana the words of the soprano singer
were drowned when from the sidewalk
below there came the aria, a young girl
belhg the soils, and an Italian with "A
hand-organ the accompanist:
My sweetheart's the man I'm the moon,
I'm going 70 marry him soon.
INould All Ii.e with bliss lust 10 give him one Kiss
Bnl know that dozen never Would mss;
II go W I'm IA great big balloon
Ana see my sweetheart la the mOon
You see, sir" said the Office boy with
broad grin on his dir y face, I'VE have
considerable music around here"
Inc ola man had been standing some
what dazed while he listened to the dis
cordant sounds. He sat down ard played
with the char n on his watch chain in an
absent-mlnded manner. BY and by he
awoke from his reverie and said, Il want
to tell you n story about Apollo.n
Apollo" said the boy, was he any
relation TO ApollO-naris ?' and he grinnea
Boy. don't joke" the old man solemn
ly commanded. Then he told his story.
saying; Apollo was the God of music.
lhe cock. grasshopper, hawk, raven,
crow, swan aud wolf are consecrated to
him. 1t seems to me that pve heard
crows and caws and chirps aud hawk ks |
since I've been in this office I've heard |
all the noises that these animals make |
except the swan aud that doa't make any
noise uatii III dies Then IL Is said 10 slug |
1t seems TO me sacrilil- |
lous To consecrate menagerle TO the God |
# music"
While telling his story the old man got |
war ned up aud at the end spoke yehe- |
nentiy. lie pulled out his pocket hand |
serchief and wiped tue sweat from his
forehead.
We don't have no menagarie here.n
lie once BOY said, sulkily. we have
yooI music"
Music !" exclaimed the old man. mt
llng the handkerchief back IN his pocket.
!, you don't know what mu ,ic Is. But
hen, music hath charms To 500 h the
savage breast, ahd II you enjoy such
sounds as we have just heard | suppose
t was music TO you If not TO mr."
The office boy did not appear to have
heard what the OLD man salu for his
mind reverted, aud he asked, :" DO YOU
'elieve swans sing when they ule?"
Just as the question was asked pass.
NJ gust of wind blew osen IN. door
cross tue hallway, aud the old man and
illce boy SAW, maiden lady, who wore
ana other garments in vogue
urlng the ar, sitting at piano, and
S she iatt.ei over the keys, singing:
,,Tls the last rose OF summer.
Leil Dlotmlng alone.
After completing the verse someone
hut the door. but the moucuful singing
outinued.
Nv ell )" said the old man in answer 70
he boz s question. That woman strikes
le as being dying swan. hut she
oesnt sing melodlously. Pm sure |
ont knoA what TO say"
Another burst from the piano, a couple
I vlollns, cornet and several voices
lied the air VIII dlscorus 70 hear any
ne OF the would-De musicians might he
ice, he old man tLougut, bu. there was
o strength III such union of different
lrs.
See here" he said to the Office boy, as
Q arose from his chair, "the man thai
ath not music in himself, nor is moved
lth concord or sweet sounds, is fit
'r treasons. strataSens and spoils:
le motious of his spirit are as dull as
ght, and his affections as dnrK as
rebus. Let no such man be trusted.
ouldn'G let Que OF these music .eachers
ave 50 for five minutes. Let no such
an be trusted. Pm going TO get ont.
ood dav," and the old man disappeared
Queer jay" commented the Office how
he settied down IN the caair the old
an had just left, and buried his atten.