The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-24

many people have been invited. 1t would
naturally follow that some of them at least
would understand classical music. say some
OF them. because the percentage is generally
very light. A musician takes his scat at the pi-
ano and plays something from Chopin, or Wag-
ner, or Beethoven, or Mascagni. What is the re-
suit, if he has made classical selections? Why,
the guests remain perfectly quiet, the old-timers
look bored, the walters stop distributing punch
and there is a sort of wet blanket thrown over
the scene. When the professor at the piano
| concludes somebody recognizes the tact that a
slice of classical music has been handed out
and q smalf-siZed round of applause sweeps up
and down the room. 1t is generally too faint
to justify a repetition, and it takes the guests
about half an hour to get back on their feet
again.
at is very often the case, however that some
young fellow who knows enough of the world
| to realize what is wanted, takes his seat at the
piano, and after brief introduction of
harmony and touch gets right into something
popular. He sways backward and forward
while the music takes possession of him, and
in about five minutes he has absolute control
of the listeners. He blends his harmony and
melody with some old refrain and weaves the
popular airs of the day into his playing. Every
body livens up, and the walters begin to move
around with the refreshments, and inside of
ten minutes there is general air of satisfaction
all over the room. The old timers come in
from the veranda, peek in the door, throw their
cigars away and get right into the thick of
society, perfectly content with the surround
ings and absolutely delighted with the music
When it concludes there is q burst of applause
that would make a debutante wild with joy,
and the player is simply forced back to his
position and has to play some more.
"Now do not know that the average society
man thinks of such lesson, but 1t is never
theless true that classical music is for piano
teachers and musicians not for the average
assemblage, unless the composition is played
by the man who wrote it,"
"San Francisco is under great disadvantage
as to its reputation a theatrical or newspaper
City in the East" said L. r. Stockwell at the
Baldwin Hotel yesterday. 'You see, when
Eastern people criticize this City as to its the
alters they compare it with New York, Boston
and Chicago, and not with cities of its own
size or even larger cities outside of those three
such as Philadelphia, st. Louis and Baltimore.
/ have no doubt that any theatrical man will tell
you that San Francisco is far better town than
either of the last three have named-aIl much
larger cities, too But as say, when this City
is to be criticized she has to show her PAGES
with New York, Chicago and Boston 1t may
not be quite fair, but then it is greatly to her
credit San Francisco is looked upon IS great
metropolis, and much is expected of her New
York or Chicago people don't compare San
Francisco newspapers with those of other cities
in her class as to population, but with their
own. 1t will do no harm in the end for San
Francisco to have so much expected of her."
Frank Adams, ex-County Clerk of Placer
County, was speaking the other day with some
Auburn people about the new courthouse
being built there. "The old building was not
a show place." he said, "but many great law
yers have made their reputation there. The
courtroom was about as dingy and
dilapidated as any in the State, but
no one noticed that when listening to old Gen
eral 10 Hamilton or E. L. Craig addressing a
jury. 1t was the custom for great many
years for the clerk to keep box of fine-cut
chewing tobacco in the courtroom, at the ex-
pense of the county, for the use of the Judge,
members of the jury and bar and other officers
Not much money was wasted on carpets in
those days. Manila mating was good
enough. The principal ornaments were Gus
pidOrs."