The Monte Vista journal., 1898-04-30
A QUARTET.

that can not produce one or more ex-
cellent violin or zithcr players.
A young Pole Of noble family shipped
as n landsman on an American war
ship at Gibraltar few years ago, and
before he had been aboard twenty-four
hours he had all the officers aft Is well
as the men forward In trance over
his violin playing. He did not have
violin Of his own-it was In pawn
somewhere In Italy-but he played on
a violin belonging to "a Irish marine.
whose musical ability consisted only
in his rendition Of THE RaIes O. NAL
low and THE DEVILS Dream.' This
young Pole was simply master Of the
violin. When the ship on which he
served returned to the United States
he was permitted to leave the service.
and Low he is Trevinck. the we'll
known violin instructor OF Chicago
but he was not Trevinck In the navy.
The musicians do not ordinarily
bring out their instruments until after
supper. But by the time darkness falls
the forward portion OF any American
man-of-war In any port In the world
might be taken for floating conserva-
tory Of practicers. The clever players
upon whose ears dIscord falls like Wit
riol take to the qnicter portion Of the
ship below decks for their wooing OF
the harmon!cs, and they are generally
followed by cliques OF the non players
who yet understand and appreciate
good music. from home. Also, there
Is the usual number OF the vast mouth
organ brigade take their practicins sta
tions In close but oblivious jux,aposi-
tion TO each other on or under the
to'Gallant fo'c's'le. and play away, each
man mauiIng different tune. to their
hearts content. regarding not the Bah
yion OF unmelodlc musical emissions
all around them. which Is simply stun
ming until you get used to Il.
The instrumentalists do not furnish
all the music. There are always some
dne voices among n mnn-of.war ships
company. and some OF the nigh, sing
ing Of the numerous male quartets up
forward 10 very beautiful. II conducive
to homesickncss on the part Of tho
young fellows not long away from
home. Also. there In the usual num-
Der OF men In mn American man-of-war
ships compnny-just Ms . similar COIN
plement In always filled ashorc-who
imagine that they can sing. and there
fore inflict unaxsungeabls WOO upon
those who arc compelled to listen 70
them. The man who can't sing. but
who only fancics he can. 10 Invariably
suppressed In time. however. by his
shipmates-by impalcmsnt on the
sharp points Of their humor at his ex-
penss. The essentially American char
acteristic Of parodying all things
breaks out In the vocal music furnish.
ed by tho really good singers smonx
q man-of-war ships company. Just A.
Il docs ashore. There 10 nothing ir-
rsverent. caiious or disrsepectfui In tho
United States blucjackets' funny par.
aphrasing OF the sosgy home and moth
er sonss that occasionally become cpl
dernic ashors: rather. their American
sense Of humor incl,rs them to poke
parodytng run at the bssfy maudlin.
ness Of such songs
The bluejacket who II Q good liz or
buck or wing dancer In always q pop
uiar man on . ship Of war. bu, he IL
not given much rest BY the shipmates
when the smoking lamp 10 aiight. No
matter what he may bc doins-writinG
lsttsrs. sewing or patchias up bis
wearing scar. or ensagias in any other
occupation that he wants to get
through with--whsn oas Of the
mouth.orsan men an q the main
eaagway suddenly starts up . Ng. all
haads around him beGin tAs pattsr Of
hands and the yell psnstratss forward
for the dancer II he doseat respond
within Q reasonable time a lPssgulariy
ee6aaissd eoamittes q husAy blue
jaeksts b essAnissd 70 - 1pevard q.
tse hin. and they aiwAys fstsA hin.
TAsa ~ has 70 dases q Y ~ we're d.
lAg n toe VAGoo. bet oooo ~ Ooto tnto