The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1893-11-01
THE HUSICIau'S STORY.

Yes, don't know but what the col.
onel is right; we see some very curious
things in this profession of ours. lam
often tempted to think that it would
make very interesting story il rep orter
would some time simply write out an ac-
o 'uut OF single days experiences and
tell all he sees without adding even a
tin2e of romance. Fist of all the very
variety of the life has a certain charm
Tor the uninltiated, who have an idea
that it must be delightful to be behind
the scenes In everything, as they like to
put it. AS though it was always pleas.
ant to see things stripped of all romance.
Now. it is right there that 1 take issue
With what the colonel has Just said. 1t
is not we'll to have everything laid bare,
l would rather have some of the gilt left
on my gingerbread. I want a little ro
nance in mine. Iwould like to 90 all
through life and have somo of the illu.
sions Of youth left when I get through
and hero | nm not yet thirty, not by
several years, aud the few ideals that I
managed to bring with me through col
lege have been escaping ever since so
fast that | have hardly been able to sec
them go. That's why am tempt-d TO
quit journalism thanks, I mean the
newspaper business, OF course. Now |
have story to tell that illustrates the
point / am making. Talking Is not much
In my line, however, and I have often
thought ought to write what I have to
say. Still, if somebody will stand mug
OF ale, I'll tell it anyway. Thanks,
judge, here's to you, and here goes.
Well, to begin with. / suppose YOU
boys all remember that fellow Harrington
who died couple Of weeks ago aud had
such a big funeral. The papers gave
q good deal of space to il at the time.
Tor his family amount to a good deal,
even II he didn't, peace to his ashes. lie
was pretty lively youth. and thoy do
lay that the way he made the patcrnsl
ducats fly was caution to fathers. and
I've no doubt he has furnished the text
ior many sermon to wayward youth
since he left US. lie set fast pace and
every one knew he couldn't keep il up
long. but he had good time while Il
lasted. The way came TO get onto his
story was very natural one.
The day after he died our editor called
me into his room and told me he
wanted me to do the funeral and TO give
1t good write up, you know.
he never did anything particular"
remarked the man Of tho shears and paste
pot, 'but his father was q friend OF the
governors so guess we can stand about
haif column il you can get IL in carly
enough. The ceremony is at 9 o'clock
You can write your stuff up IN the organ
lott, and il you have one of the bows
come up there after your COPY you
ought to be able to get go,d story
down In time for the second edition.
iheres nothing on the book for YOU
this evening, so you needn't come back
to the office"
IL was a great show, aud | natter
myself that wo had fairly good account
OF IL that afternoon. Pretty much all Of
the West End was there, and could
have filled half column with the names
OF prom nent people in the congregation
If ! had wanted to.
i was through my work and had nv
work ON It's way to the office long before
the ceremony was over. but stayed on
because waited TO see Just how far the
minister would go in his remarks about
the departed brother. DE mortuis and
the rect OF IL is all well enough, but
think they carry IL too far sometimes.
hen, you know, up at that church they
have an organist who can fairly make
that big organ OF his talk, and cry. too.
when he feels that way and I like moth.
ing better than TO sit up there In the
ioit when he is playing away so that he
fairly forgc,s that there is anyope else in
the church. After the congregation is
all gone hc sits there 10y the hour and
pays 10 himself as though IL was his
only pleasure and solsce In life.
He's queer old chap. don't sun. !
pose nc ever he'd much fun out OF life,
but somehow Ike him. and every time
! s'.S;fSSnt up there 10 report the Bishops
sermons, , make it point to stay awhile
aiterward with my old friend. I could
stay there for hours and hear him talk
to me with his music. There Is hardly
ever anything lively or hopeful about
IL, but II touches me in some sensitive
place, aud makes me feel sure that there
Is some story in his life. IL only one
could get mt it. IL would mako a good
special, know, and ! am going to try
to get 10, sometime. lie has no family.
of that L am certain. but somehow he
seems to take the greatest interest in
young people, and I've noticed that he
always played his best at weddings. He
does not often talk much, but that day.
after every one had gone got him start.
Ell by aking him il lie had known any.
thing about the young man who was
dead. a. first he did not sccm inclined
TO talk, but, finally, after he had been
over the keys for some time.
making music that was indefinitcly sad,
as II IL wero full OF tender memories. be
turned part way about on bis stool and
told me story that shall never forget.
do not know whether IL was true. but
at any rat- II was worth the denrinp for
It taught me lesson that was worth the
learning. IL showed me that there arc
two ways at leHst of looking at the same
thing; and who can say which Ia .he
better wavy