Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-11-06

Music as a Promoter Of Courage.


/ spondent, | believe, who always finds
himself humming tune when in the
thick of battle. He says he went
through the San Juan fight with
Rock Of Ages in his mind und half
the time on his lips, and that during he
Gracco-TurNish war, several years ago,
In the height of II fierce conflict, made
the discovery that he was actually
shrieking aloud the "Mcndclssohn
Spring Song" which had been domi-
nant in his brain from the first charge.
This is nervousness, l suppose. Peo-
pie whose tastes are strongly musical
invariably have tune in their minds
when under strong excitement of any
kind
We were talking on this subject not
long ngo, ana some one asked Mr.. AL
fred Robyn l., he had ever experienced
anything similar to Crcelmnn's hum
ming the Spring Song"
There is one occasion when l did,
and l shall never forget either the cir
cLmstance or the tune. 1t happened
in my student days. when used to prnc-
ticc almost every evening on one Of tho
church organs of town, without any
pumping, you know-just pedal work,
that made no noise One night late in
the fall ! sat on the high organ bench
working away, with one gas jet naring
above my head and not another light
in the church, which was old and
gloomy as could be.
This is ghost story, by the way;
you ought 20 know that before l get
any fnrthcr-a ghost story that has
true ending.
.! had come in that evening by way
of the Sunday school room, which was
just back of the auditorium and sep
aratcd from il by u large double door.
This door, or half of it, I had left open,
us was my usual custom. 0@
''As flushed set of exercises un-
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, 1 saw that it was
closed.
This was surprise. How came
that door shut? was the question that
flashed through my brain in IN instant.
and then ] began casting about for
reasonable excuse.
THE draft? No, there was none, rs
I had closed and 'ooked the outside
door when entering the church.
"a defective hinge, that would swing
to? Impossible; for we'll remembered
that this same door would never close
OF itself. having lnvarin bly, to be opened
with much cxertion, owing to thick
ness Of the carpet about the door A
strong shove was always necessary in
order to get it open.
There was but one thing left within
the bounds of reason, leaving out. Of
course, supernatural means. which
scotfed at. The door had been closed
(; by some person who was then in the
/ Sunday school room, and who was evil
IDENTIFY there for no honest purpose.
| We'll. the only thing to do was to
Investigates; SO, sliding OFF the bench. I
left the gas burning and started down
the aisle toward the door
Immediately and unconsciouslv l
began to whistle, and what do YOU sup
pose the tune was? That old ballad,
When You and Were Young. Maggie
which never had any fondness for. and
SO cant imagine how in the world it
came INTO my mind. But it certainly
was there, and finished two or three
bars in the livclicst manner before
reaching the door,
Before put my hand on the knob
I rather brAced myself, half expecting
that there might be opposition on the
other side. Lut the door opened as cas-
lily ms 1t ever did. and walked into the
Sunday-school room, still whist!ing my
! tune. and peering about in the dim
light. had no matches. SO could not
light the gas Jet.
II stood for few seconds in the
middle OF the room. trying to make out
objects. OF Inst what sort was not
quite certain, but firmly convinced that
there was some person in the room be-
aide myself. could not see them or
him, could hear no one breathe; 7
, juat felt that there was anothe: living