Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-03-18

don. Hero are to be seen types, facsimiles
End models Of every kind Of musical in.
etrumeut that the mind of man has ever
devised, invented or produced.
In one corner Is a duplicate Of what Is
believed to be the most costly presentation
Oornet ever produced. 1t was made to the
order of the late car OF Russia and Is Of
sterling silver, richly craven with various
devices, among which the arms of the i'm
perial house of Romanoff figure conspicu-
ously. The whole of the ornamentation
is of beaten gold flligree work, and the
"bell" of the instrument Is thickly in
crusted with rabies and emerGlds. Its net
value Is a trife over 1900 gUinoas.
A melancholy interest attaches to bat
tered and blood stained buglc which was
picked up on the field of Isandlwana. In
addition to the dark patches, which were
once splashes of wet blood, sundry frag-
ments of woolly hair were adhc-ing TO the
bell of the instrument when first found, o
pretty conclusive indication that the gal
liant owner had used it in a last desperate
effort to beat off his relentless foes. 1t
may be that some ebony skinned Zulu still
wanders about with an indentGtion in his
skull whom it would be difficult to con-
vince that Emusic hath charms"
Near to this interesting relic is fac
smile of a set of drums which wcro made
for the new Rhodesia horse. The peculiar
ity lies in the fact that the cases are of
aluminium, precaution rendered neccs-
sary by the number Of white ants that in
fest that country. The other instruments
are of brass, silver plated, and the whole
band cost some $3.50.
The above is, of course, a comparative
ly modest turnout. Fer real gorgeousness
in brass bands it is necessary to inspect
some Of the costly and magnificent sets of
instruments turned out for eastern poten-
tates. The bands of even tho smartest Of
our crack cavalry corps are absolutely not
in it, SO far as elegance of appearance is
concerned, with the private bands of some
of our Indian tributary princes, although
probably the latter would have to give the
former several points if it came to q music
al contest between them.
The private band of the roo of Clutch,
for instance, cost originally g900 and
most of the instruments are renewed every
four or five years. Tho tiger skin used by
the rao's big drummer, which was sent
over here to be prepared and mounted,
was taken from an animal killed by his
| highness and measured over feet in
length. 1t is lined throughout with heavy
corded crimson silk, and the brute's eyes
are simulated by pair of big yellow dia-
Inonds.
Another very fine band was made three
years ago to the order Of the late shah of
Persia. All of the Instruments were of pure
silver-'which, by the way, docs not give
forth SO good sound as brass, besides be-
| ing far heavier to handle-inlaid with
| gold. The total cost of this band de luxe
was a trifle under 5000 guincas. A very
different kind of band was that made last
year by the same firm for the Mimkish In
dians, tribe Of savages living near Alert
hay, in British Columbia. The band is
nearly all drum, and the mouthpieces OF
the few brass instruments are tipped will,
| indie rubber, to obyiate the Inconvenience
Of applying metal to the lips in tempera.
tUrc CT some 80 or 40 degrees below zero.
A curious order was received short
time ago from the emperor of Marocco.
! 1t was for 80 clarinets for one band AS
the instruments in question were all in
one key, it is probable that they were to be
played in unison. The effect upon an av.
erage man of so band clarinets blown
simultaneously would probably be to create
in him o wild desire to take to the woods
and become an aboriginc. Even to i'm
agino such en- ear piercing combination
sets ones tympanum quivering.-LondoI
Answers.