The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-07-01

HE WAS SUCH A POOR OLD MAN.
arms of man l knew--a man who is
supposed to know everything. Most men
think they deserve this description, but
this particular man had somehow in
weighed his friends into agreeing with
him.
''Why, what a thoughtful face you
have this morning! What's the natter
he asked.
ooh, have been watching that poor
old man down the street there. and it
seems awfully sad to me!'' l answered
rather mistily.
1.-The music? 1t is beastIy Heavens,
just hear those notes! 1 don't wonder
you think such lack of ear terribly sad"
81 was referring to the musicians sad
condition" snapped.
''Why. you're not plying him.
Eyes. l am"
"Well, you needn't. He makes as
much money in day, considering the
few hours he works, rs skilled artisan
does who has to slave indoors after Lav-
ing spent years learning his trade. You
don't believe it? Well, come with me. ="
We entered house about half mile
away. 1t was dilapidated and dirty, as
are all the dwellings of the lower class
Italians in New York, but it was curl
ously interesting. All around the room
stood street organs of various kinds,
from the small, consumptive one-kept
80, as 1 learned, for artistic purposes,
and particularly suitable for the blind
man who sits on crowded corner in
the theater district-to the newest and
most blatant street pianos.
Then after good deal of subterfuge
and circumlocution these facts were as
certained from the earringed and oily
proprietor.
The pianos are hired at exorbitant
rates, but the itinerant musicians are
quite willing to pay the rates-they can
afford it. 1t is seldom that IL man is
more than year i'll the business without
being able to buy outright his own street
organ for from $50 to 800. After this
his profits are enormous-that is. COM
paratively so. Four or five hours street
playing brings in as many dollars, gath
cred almost mysteriously i'll pennies
along the route assigned to each.
"And, OH, make believe these grind
ers' are not wide awake to effects" s. d
the man who knew it all as we let.
"When one goes into the German dis
trict among the purlieus where the
'sauerkraut sign is displayed, he PLAYS
'The Watch on the Rhine for all he is
worth. When he trundles his organ
through the French quarter, many an
old man feels his blood shiver with a
fever he had fancied dead when through,
the sunny air the street musician sends
up the maddening inspiriting strains of
The Marseillaise He sees again scenes
that give his old limbs strength, and
what. does he do, or what does his little
daughter do, OF the good wife who is
ironing some other woman's petticoats
by the window? Why surely n few pen.
MES can be spared to the musician who
has colored their dull day! Besides, il
r he fares well i'll the neighborho.d, he'll
come again soon. And so it goes Where
s the Irish predominant you hear The
Wearing Of the Green or The Rocky
Road to Dublin and in neighborhoods
} not 30 clearly nationalized they give 6
. tuttl frutti of tunes from Bonnie Dun
dee to the Swedish Wedding March.
X Theirs Is lotus eating life. Let II mal
bury his pride and take to the street.
with an organ, and he'll make money
To the Italian tits heaven, for he breathe.
the free air, and he knows no master
n Now and then they have romances and
small legaces tft them"
"Nonsense."
Nonsense" echoed the all knowing
one. Listen: There was ono thing
that the little crippled daughter of |:
millionaire loved above all else. ant
that was the organ grinder who stopped
before her prison mansion every Satur
day afternoon She used to watch fol
him, and the song she loved best wa
Little Annie Rooney Well, one day
when the organ grinder stopped befor,
the house it was suffered, and whit,