The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-01-25
YOUNG BLAINE FEES THEM.
1t is Because His Dying Father Likes
the Street Musicians.
Nom The Ne,0 YORK Recorder.

HIOHt tue NHtO ORR hScOTQeF.
WASHINGTON, Jen. 21.-A man was
standing just across the street from the
Blaine mansion with a look Of indignation
on his face. He was a tall and stalwart
person, and he was evidently new to the
town. He was greatly disturbed by some-
thing that was going on in front OF the
house, and he had Just made motion as
II to stride across the street, when another
man came along. 1t seemed to occur to him
that he might have been too hasty Ia his
conclusions, for he paused aud, turning TO
the other man, asked earnestly: sis that
the house where Mr. Blaine lies dyingg" sit
Is, replied the other. "Then why, in
heavens name.n exclaimed the man,
doesn't somebody have sense enough to
drive away those scoundrels who are grind
ing out that Internal music underneath his
windowsp And, carrying out his original
impulse, he struck angrily across to the
opposite sidewalk, muttering as he went:
" It's an outrage, a burning outraged Why,
back in my country they'd string the vaga-
bonds up TO a tree in FIVE minutesl"
The object of the mans wrath was a
street piano of the latest make, the handle
of which. was being diligently turned by q
dirty but fantastic itinerant Italian. The
Italians feminine companion was lettering
near, apparently Indifferent to contribu-
blOuS, Willis buS lN6tJ 5UFhlDh OF Inc man
Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo I" "My
Sweetheart's the Man In the Noon" and
''Ta-ra-ra Boom-de-ay" fell gayly on the
crisp morning air. AS the man rushed i'm
petuously upon them the musicians stolidly
stood their ground and received his impre-
cations with an Indifferent shrug. The man
was about to resort to violent measures
when, TO his sstonishment, the door of the
Blaine mansion was thrown open, and young
~ I.4y
broad stone step, with his head covered by
a huge scarf, beckoned one of the Italians
to him with friendly gesture. The man
caught glimpse Of an object passing from
young Blaines aristocratic fingers to the
greasy palm of the musician, and he saw
enough Of it TO know that it was not a sill
yer coin, but something wrapped daintily
in bit OF white paper and light enough TO
be banknote. The mans anger died down,
and there was mystihed expression on bis
face as he walked away.
The explanation of the peculiar trans
action was simple and pashetic. Ever
since Mr.. Blaine has occupied the old
Seward mansion, it has been favorite re-
sort for all the itinerant musicians of the
town, for he thoroughly enjoyed the light
popular airs turned out on the street pianos,
and used to say, jokingly that he could get
as much pleasure out OF them as he could
out of the performances of his son-in-
laws orchestra. When the Italian troubles
were on there was one native of the sunny
peninsula whose picturesque appearance
particularly attracted the seoretary's eve.
and it appealed to his sense of the incon-
gruous to have this fellow for daily WIS.,
itor while he was inditing in his library
the diplomatic notes to Rudini. The fad
grew to be so much habit with the secre-
tary, he experienced a sense of disappoint-
ment when the Italian failed to appear, and
ne noticed the fellows absence as he would
have noticed the absence of his breakfast.
It has been one of the peculiarities of Mr.
Blaine's mental condition that a, trivial
thing like this seems to have made a per-
manent impression upon his sensitive me-
ture, and after he began to grow weaker
and took 10 his bed, the family were as
tonIshed to discover how much pleasure the
daily coming of the piano, with its assort-
ment of lively tunes, seemed to give him.
Then came the days when he lost con-
seriousness, and lay for hours without mo-
ton and without recognizing anybody near
him, and it was found that nothing seemed
to stir the feeble spark of intelligence until
the musical Italians made their morning
visit. Then the face would light UP and
occasionally there were other indications of
returning consciousness. The family ar
ranged with the musicians TO continue their
visits, and in order to insure their prompt
arrival every day asubstential fee Is always
ready for them. So they come every morn
ing, even during the bitter cold, and on
many days they supply the only pleasure
that the sick man is capable Of experiencing.
To the passersby who are not In the secret
the performance seems a piece Of hearsless
indifference to the feelings Of the grief
stricken family. But the incongruous airs
form the ingredients Of the most beneficial
medicine that can be administered to the
dying man.