The record-union., 1896-05-17

J is really the unconscious butt, who tur-
! nishes them with a mine of sport. For
example, a certain person q should
| never dare to give his name, but you
, know him well, for his never ending
humor and good nature have made him
very populaD one evening invited the
rest of 1.-The boys" to his house, among
/ them their spiritually gifted friend, for
an evening of pleasure and enlighten-
ment, just among themselves. The
young host, who is possessed of more
than his share of what is politely term
ed the 'Old Harry had his programme
prearranged, so when the spiritualistic
guest was called upon to test his pow
ers he offered himself as subject. The
usual manipulations were gone through
and the willy subject" was soon deep
in mesmeric sleep. The fun then began.
Everything he was ordered to do he
obeyed with punctilious attention to
detail and with suspicious celerity.
When, however, the medium began to
feel the strain upon his nervous sys-
tenn and was perspiring in every pore
with excitement he tried to arouse his
subject, but his efforts were unavailing.
After repeated trials, with as many
failures, in dire distress of mind he sent
that they might try their united efforts
to break the trance. 81 must get him
out of this" he exclaimed in anguish of
spirit, Il don't see how it is that I can
not arouse him BY this time his friend
had arrived, and the subject" tired of
the farce, permitted himself to be
aroused, and recalled to earth once
more. This was only one of their even
ings with the supernatural On another
occasion a small boy, brother to one of
the conspirators, being coached before
hand was brought before the medium,
and being thrown into the trance con-
Gition by certain passes of the hands
before his eyes, was ordered 10 shoot
He Immediately dashed wildly about the
apartment hunting apparently for his
gun, and pretending to find it, fmmedi-
ately began to show alarming symp
toms. Soon he grew uncomfortable. Il
must get him out Of this" exclaimed
the enthusiast, who was getting more
than he bargained for, ''he will be tack
ling one Of us next; he is in dangerous
condition" The boys could scarcely re-
strain their laughter, but the uncon-
scious dupe would not have been at all
enlightened If they had given way to
their merriment, SO secure is ne in his
belief in his mediumistic powers. A
young lady friend, hearing of one of
their jokes and a discussion as to the
probability of his soundness of mind,
endeavored to tell him that he was al
Lowing himself to be made the butt Of
good-natured fun on the part of his
cronies, and to this intent wrote him the
kindest of epistles, thereby exciting his
wrath to such an extent toward her un-
offending self, that now they never
speak as they pass by
Edgar Coffman has returned from his
brief visit to the bay. where I hear he
won fresh laurels on account of his
voice, which has already earned much
| deserved praise from Sacramentans.
The Rivarde concert last week was,
in the phraseology of the day, a de-
cided fake" if one is to define that
| term as something which pretends to
/ be that which it is not. 1t was al all
events a disappointment to the handful
| of really appreciative people who at
1 tended, with expectations wrought UP
/ to the highest pitch, only to have them
/ dropped ike the traditional rocket. In
| the first place Donald Graham was adj
vertised as one of the attractions, but
/ for some reason or other failed to put
/ in an appearance. This could be for
given in view .of what was still left to
US, but what followed was simply un-
1 pardonable. The first three numbers on
/ the programme were legitimate and a
revelation of beauty on the part of the
/ yiolinist Rivarde, whose impassioned
playing won all hearts at once. The
piano solo following, number three on
/ the programme, First Ballade," by
/ Chopin was we'll executed by La
chaume, the pianist, but here, unfortu-
nately, occurred an incident that ruined
the whole evenings entertainment, for
/ that portion of the audience at least
who We're made to suffer for the blum
/ ders OF a few.
1t happened this way: Four men be-
/ longing to the Republican Convention
at least so their badges proclaimed
| during the performance of the afore-
mentioned ''ballade" became uneasy
upon making the tardy discovery that
they were listening to a sort of enter
tainment they could in no wise appre-
clate, and two of their number rashly
| decided to beat retreat before the
number was finished, which decision
| they proceeded Immediately 10 put into
! operation, rising with a banging OF
seats and squeaking of boots distressing
to hear, and noisily pursuing their way
to the outside world, where, doubtless,
they found something more in harmony
4 with their understanding than Chopin.
! To the credit of the other two, be ii said,
they remained in their seats until the
number was finished before leaving the
! theater to rejoin thier companions.
| While the aforementioned politicians
were creaking their way out one of
them climbing over seat after seat in
! his anxiety to reach the aisle, NJ. La
| chaume abruptly ceased playing and
| waited, with his eyes coldly fixed upon
| the retreating figures, until the squeaky
boots echoed outside in the corridor.
Then he returned to his task and grace
| fully finished, making his bow to we'll
/ earned and merited applause. From
this on the programme proved itself at
| best but skim milk. These gifted people
| concluded that their sweetness was
being wasted upon desert air" other
wise their classics upon a non -apprecf-
ative audience, evidently taking those
unfortunate politicians as a sample of
what they had to please. and g Spanish