The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-03-18
CouIdn,t Hear the Pin Drop.


The Tabernacle is one of Salt Lakes
famed institutions, says the Chicago Rec
ord. You have doubtless heard aof some
of its cheapest and poorest qualities-its
egs-shape, its big organ, it's arches and so
on-but very likely you are not informed
on Him.
He-and even the most sacrilegious
must mention Him with capital letter.
is an elderly little old man with the glad,
jovial presence of a well-salted mackerel,
whose errand in life is to drop a pin on
the railing in the western end of the
tabernacle and ask you if you, far away
to eastward in the balcony, heard it. The
old man and his pin are almost much
a part of Salt Lakes great natural and
physical resources as is the angel Moroni,
fashioned in gold and placed at the apex
of the highest spire of the temple. In the
old days We used to wonder what foolish
ness was back of the smile. You could
hear pin drop" for, according to all OBJ
servation, before coming to Salt Lake the
fashion of going about the world listening
for pins to drop was one most scantily
practised, and even then confined to
persons alternating in such places of
withdrawal as Dunning. However, for
great many years-indeed, from the day
of the first visit to Sale Lake-the reason
for the smile has been plain. 1t was in
stltuted in sort of fore-running way so
as to be ready ait hand for this old man.
The only time when the ancient dropper
of the pin ever failed in his pretty little
impressive spectacle and acoustic exhibit
ton was once when Prof. Gillespie of
the Nebraska asylum for deaf mutes took
his school on a summer trip to the noun
tain country The whole lot of them
marched down upon the Tabernacle, and
the old man fairly beamed with delight
al the prospect of astounding so many
nice looking young tourists with his little
game of pin pool The professor took the
children up to the balcony and then he
returned and went inside the big organ
to view its construction. The only person
aside from mutes who remained in the
loft was Jackson irredeemable and viii
famous, who having been an Omaha
friend of the professor. had volunteered
gladly to act as guide through Salt Lake,
whether he had removed himself. Jack
son. as a matter of fact is believed to
have sent the professor down to the or
gan.
The pin was dropped. "Can you all hear
it?' the old man asked, in a low but PEN
etrating voice. Nobody spoke.
Don't be afraid" said the dropper, re-
assuringly. This is a place of worship,
but there are no services now. You,
MAN," pointing out one of the elder pu-
pills, 'can you hear it?" He dropped the
pin again.
There was not the slightest response,
but the pupils looked inquiringly at one
another.
Then He dropped the pin further and
spoke louder, but to no avail. 1t was, of
course, impossible that so many gentle
menly and lady-like persons were joking
with Him, so He realized that something
was wrong. Perhaps-oh, horror-the
the great acoustics had gone lame. He
picked up a hymn book and dropped that,
and fairly shouted an agonized query at
the silent visitors, but 1t was evident not
one heard. Then in distress He stamped
His feet, but the noise was not noticed
He called frantically, but the people only
looked at one another.
At this point the professor came out of
the organ, for he thought murder was be-
ing committed. He took in the situation,
and explained the case to the old man.
The revulsion of feeling was so great
and the noisemaker was so glad to know
that acoustics was all right that he ut
tered no word of complaint and even
forgot to offer souvenir books for sale as
the crowd marched solemnly out.