The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-11-18
Music as a PrOlsOter Of Courage.


TT is James Creclman. the war CORE
spondent, | believe. who always finds
himself humming tune when III the
thick of battle. lie says he went
through the San Juan fight with
"Rock of Ages" in his mind and half
the time on his lips and that during the
Gracco- Turkish war. several years ago.
in the height of a fierce conflict. made
the discovery that he was actually
shrieking aloud the "Mendelssohn
Spring Song" which had been domi-
nant in his brain from the first charge
This is nervousness. ! suppose. Peo-
PIE whose tastes are strongly musical
invariably have tune in their minds
when under strong excitement of any
kind
We we're talking on this subject not
long ago. and some one asked Mr.. Al
fred Robyn J.; he had ever experienced
anything SIMILAR to Creelman's hum
ming the Spring Song"
~ here is one occasion when did
and | shall never forget either the cir
cumsiance or the tune. Ii happened
IN my student days, when used To prac-
tce almost every evening on one of the
church organs of town. without any
pumping, you know just pedal work,
that made no noise. One night late in
the fan sat on the high organ bench
working away, with one gas jet fiaring
above my head and not another light
in the church which was old and
gloomy as could be.
This is a ghost story. by the way;
you ought % know that before / get
any farther-a ghost story that has a
true ending.
II had come in that evening by way
Of the Sundly school room. which was
just back OF the auditorium and sep
araicd from i by a large double door.
This door, or half of it. had left open,
as was my usual custom.
AS finished n set Of exercises nm
consciously turned around on my seat.
half making up my mind to shut the
organ and go home. as twas after nine
o'clock. CHANGING in the direction of
the double door. ! saw that il was
closed
his was a surprise. How came
that door shut? was the question that
flashed through my brain in an instant.
and then ! began casting about for
reasonable excuse.
The draft? No. there was none. MS
] had closed and 'ocked the outside
door when entering the church
defective hinge. that would swing
fo' Impossible: for well remembered
That this same door would never close
oi itself. having invariably to be opened
with much exertion. owing TO thick
ness of the carpet about the door. A
strong shove was always necessary In
order 70 get II open.
There was but one thing left within
the bounds of reason. leaving on, ~
course, supernatural means. which I
scofed at. The door had been closed
ny some person who was then in the |
sunday school room. and who was evil |
IDENTIFY there for no honest purpose.
Well. the only thing TO do was 70 |
Investigate; so. sliding of the bench. |
ieit The gas burning and started down |
the aisle toward the door.
immediately and unconsciouslv I |
began TO whistle. and what do Won sun |
pose The tune was? That old ballad. |
When You and Were Young. Maggie.
winch never had any fondncss for. and |
80 can't imagine how i'm the world IL |
game into my mind. But II certainly |
was there. and finished two or three |
u"rs N the liveliest manner before |
reaching the door
A.. hciore J tut my hand on the knoll
!, rNher orhccd myself. half expecting
'lat there might be opposition on the
u'her side, Int the door opened as cas-
nS as II ever did. and walked into ,ba
.uhday-school room, still whistlinr nv
vune' and peering about in the dim
ngnt- ] had no matches. so could no,
nght the gas jet
stood sor few seconds In the