The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-05-07
NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT,
Called the Mellow Chord and Was
Revealed by n Peripatetic Ghost.

Called the Mellow Chord and Was
Revealed by n Peripatetic Ghost.
In Rumford lives an old gentleman
who possesses the musical instinct to
a marked degree. In fact, it is heredi-
tary with him, for his father was a fid-
der and his father in turn before him,
so that it is not altogether strange that
he should be endowed with the same
temperament. So fine is his sense of
harmony and touch that he has to hear
an air whistled, sung or hummed only
once in order to correctly produce it ON
q stringed instrument. He plays purely
by ear, and, as he himself frankly coIs-
fesses, does not know the first rndi-
ment in music or one printed note from
another
born player, he was not satisfied
with the tunes of the violin, banjo or
mandolin, and set his wits at work to
make something that would suit him,
and he succeeded in IL production of his
own, which he very appropriately calls
the mellow chord" Built somewhat
on the lines of the banjo, yet with a flaw
Oring of the guitar, the musical result
Is wonderful. Strung with violin and
two wire guitar strings, the tones are as
mellow and rich as anything imaCin-
able. The inventor has entered on tie
eighth decade of his life, and when,
with his mellow chord on his knee, he
strikes into an old dance tune of the
'40s it is almost impossible for his hear
ers to retain their seats, for the way the
music wells forth is a matter to be
wondered at.
The mellow chord is just 2S inches
over all and - inches wide at the head.
When played the mellow chord is held
in an upright position on the left knee,
with the head pressed against the body.
AS on a banjo, the lingering is done with
the left hand, although there are no
frets, the inventor holding that frets,
breaking as they do the level eNpanse
of the string board, split the notes and
cause inharmonious sounds. The hole
is about three inches in diameter, with
an elongated side extending toward the
keyboard. Over this hole the bridge is
placed and the six strings passing over
it are attached to the tail piece. The
bridge is five and half inches long and
is made on the arch principle, although
the top line is perfectly straight. IL
must necessarily be long, so as to
bridge the hole, and underarched in the
middle to support the six strings in the
middle without swapping. Under each
end of the bridge are two small pieces
of wood glued to the main cross piece
to keep it from turning over. Under
these are two small pieces of silver,
which give an added ring to the instru,
ment. The string board is of rosewood
with an ebony nut. The neck is made
of sugar maple, the band is of maple,
the top of the head is made of pine and
the back is quartered red birch-in
fact, all of the stock used in the mellow
chord is quartered. The keys are
patent metal affairs. In the head of the
instrument are three supports or posts,
which help take the bridge ard string
strain. In playing the wrist never
leaves the pad support on the neck.
Musicians and others travel miles to
reach Rumford in order to hear the mel
low chord played, and all are unanimous
in the decision that the tones II Dro-
duces are far superior to those of the
banjo, guitar or mandolin. 1t has ~
soft tone, which readily blends with the
voice in manner that none of the other
stringed Instruments named seems to
do. Many who have beard the chord
have tried to buy it, but the owner re-
fuses to consider an offer.
The strings when played are struck in
pairs. sending forth a deep, rich tone
when picked between the bridge and
the end of the string board. The near
ar the hole the deeper are the tones.
The inventor is proud of his instru-
ment, and no matter what time of the
day or night people wait on him they
find the old gentleman always ready to
take his mellow chord out of the case
and play as long as his visitors wish.
The inventor is something of a spir,-
itualist, and he says that before he
made the instrument a shade appeared
unto him and held fac-simile of the
one he now has up in his hand before his
eyes. Of course the glance the mortal
was able 10 get of it must have been
very hasty one, but from it the mel
low chord became realitv.-Provi-
ience Or. t. Journal.
NJ