The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1897-01-28

Accordingly . stout porter ente1oCs
bearing q good-si1ed wooden box. on
which, besides the address. we.< the
words. Fragile. with care" Pagani
examined 1t with some curiosity. and.
having paid the messenger. proceeded
to open the lid. His long, thin. but ex-
uemely muscular fingers, accomplished
the task without difficulty and the
company, whose curiosity caused them
somewhat to transgress the bounds OF
good manners. crowded around In
order to see the contents OF the Dox.
The musician drew out a large packet
secured with several seals. Having
opened this, second. and then a third
wrapping appeared. and at length the
curious eyes Of twenty persons were
RECALLED with a gigantic wooden shoe.
almost large enough to serve Tor a
cradle. Peals of laughter hailed this
| discovery.
"Ahw said Pagani, ga wooden shoe.
can guess who sent 1t. Some of these
| excellent ladies wish to compare me to
| a child who :lways expects presents
and never gives any. Well, be it so.
| We will see If we cannot find some
method of making this shoe worth its
weight in gold"
l. So saying, and scarcely saluting the
company. Pagani withdrew to his own
apartment, carrying with him the case
and its contents.
During three days he did not appear
in the drawing-room. Vicette informed
the company that he worked from
morning till night with the tools OF the
carpenter. In fact, the musician.
whose hands were wondrously flexible
and dextrous in other things besides
violin playing. had fashioned per-
feet and sonorous instrument out OF the
clumsy wooden shoe Having enriched
it with one silver string. his work was
complete Next day public notice ap-
peared that on New Years eve Pagan
, would give a concert in the large nall
of the Villa Lutetanea. The great mas
ter announced that he would play ten
pieces, five on violin and five on a
wooden SHOE The price of the tickets
was placed at twenty francs each. VI
these only 100 were issued and they
were Immediately purchased.
The evening arrived and Pagani ap'
peared, smiling. with every appearance
, of renewed health, and on his favoritt
violin played some OF those marvelou!
strains which never failed to transpor
: MS auditors to the seventh heaven O
delight. Then he seized the shoe
+ which in its new guise of violin still
. preserved somewhat Of its pristine
form, and his whole being lighted VI
| with enthusiasm, he began wondrou
improvisation which captivated tn
, souls of his hearers. 1t represented
: first the departure of conscrlpt, tn
tears, the wailing of his betrothed
then his stormy life in the camp an
on the field of battle, and finally nj
O. return. accompanied by triumph an
- rejoicing. A merry peal OF weddln
bells completed the musical drama.
:, Long and loud were the thunders
applause: even the old ladies who dis
n liked Pagani could not refrain fror
clapping their palms, and bouquet
. thrown by fair and jeweled hands fe
\ at the feet of the musician. In col
!, ner of the hall next the door. Vlcett
was weeping bitterly. The sympathy
4 the conscript had gone straight to he
{" heart.
At the conclusion of the concert tn
~ receipts were counted and the
II amounted to two thousand francs.
~ Here. Vicette," said Pagani. "Yo
;" have five hundred francs over the SUI
r. required to purchase substitute. The
will pay your bridegrcom's traveliu
Sc expenses"
Then after a pause he continues
n But you will want something wher
with to begin housekeeping. Take tn
4 shoe violin, and sell it for your dowry
>, Vicette recei Jed from rich amate'
T. six THOUSAND francs for Pagani
at | wooden shoe.
This violin is to-day in the posse
sion of the Marquis Of Du1erin al
IVY = NJ CV ENgENyC