The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-05-11
Pbiladelphla's Maids and Music.


formers.
The trouble came about in this wise +: |
Miss Anna Nj. Warne, an eccentric
spinster, lives alone, except for the
companionship of blink eyed tabby
cat, at III Buttonwood street. She is
wealthy and charitably inclined, and
when, about four months ago, she
read in the newspapers that the poor
were in great distress, she determined
TO assist IN her own way.
The people that she determined to
favor were street musicians in general,
and hand organ players in particular
Accordingly, the efforts of the first
one Of the latter class that put in an
appearance she rewarded with a quar-
Ter OF a dollar. This unexpected mu-
nihcence so tickled the musician that
he played ten minutes longer, and de
parted to tell his friends of the new
aangcl." That afternoon five men put
in an appearance, and were likewise
generously rewarded.
The next day more came, until
finally within a week it seemed to the
other residents thereabout that for no
FIVE minutes during the day was the
tired atmosphere relieved Of its burden
of melody, and music began to be
decidedly cloying.
Finally came day when patience
ceased to be virtue. The organ
grinders began to gather early, and at
S o'clock sharp poor little back num-
bered "Annie Rooney" was turned
loose with multiplicity of variations.
The serenader was rewarded with fifty
cents, and played until he had gone
over his ertire repertoire three times.
No sooner did he stop than there was
arace between squads of rival players
stationed at the corners, as to which
should receive the coveted place
That day twenty-five harbingers of
spring turned their respective cranks
TO the tune Of fifty cents each.
COULDN'T DRIVE THEM AWAY.
The next morning William B. Ray
bold, who lives at 724 Buttonwood
street, called ON the musically inclined
lady, and explaining to her in all
seriousness that he had wife almost
atdeaths door, and requested that she
discontinue her unheard of bench.
cenCe.
Miss Warne declined to stop her
charitable work. Then Mr.. Raybold
determined on making a personal
appeal to the musicians, all of whose
faces were by that time familiar to
him, SO he stayed home and accosted
them with plea to move on after
playing two or three tunes. When the
sixteenth Informed him in broken
English that he was in duty bound to
give the lady her moneys worth Ray
bold fled in despair.
The next one that came Miss Harris,
who lives in Mr.. Raybold's house and
is very little woman, rushed at with
such look OF determination in her eyes
that he fed ingloriously. She dispersed
the succeeding four in the same
manner, but the one after that played
on unconcernedly and Miss Harris re-
hred
The following day Miss Warne,
thinking the interference unwarranted,
increased her donations to 81. The
other residents of the neighborhood,
conscious of an unusual stir, made
inquiries, and, finding the state OF af-
fairs, divided into factions, "organites"
and "anti organizes" Then the
trouble began to brew. Miss Warne
enlarged her liberality, SO that the
record for continuous playing by a
one man power organ was broken
several times in quick succession.
HIS PRISONERS RESCUED.
NJ. Roberts, who boards with Mrs
klecknar at 1872 Buttonwood street,
in desperation one day, rushed out,
and grabbing two of the offending
orga' lists, sent for policeman. There
was a hurried rally on the part of the
:" "organites," and amid much hooting
and cheering the mob rescued the
prisoners.
Then again, more recently, when
wandering minstrel came along with
a big drum on his back, harmonica
In his mouth, an accordion in his
bands and various other instruments
strung around his person, and as he
made noise two women, somewhat
mebrlated, got in the centre Of the
crowd and danced can can.
The next morning Mr.. Roberts got
me "antis TO sign petition to the
police asking for protection against
100 much street melody. The ply
slelan OF Miss Klecknar, daughter of
mrs Roberts landlady, certified that
ner health was endangered by TIE
mcessant noise, and Mrs. Raybold's
doctor said that her recovery was
seriously retarded through the same