The evening times., 1898-04-21
A Popular Musician.
tFrom Today.)

(From Today
Speakin generally. professors OF the
barrel organ are not overcommunicatVe
but my acquaintance Signor Nermiceil'
is an exception to the rule. His loquacity'
/ am bound TO say, is born OF cynlclsfl-
Verniceln's demeanor is eminently re-
spectful far more respectful, indeed
than his conversation may appear 10 lhul-
cate. When 1 communicated 10 nm the
fact that / was connected with the press
he bowed low, and assumed an air OF
the deepest humility.
.sTen me signor how do you like your
profession?"
Signor Vermicem shrugged his should
ers.
i ate it," he declared, with emphasis.
DO YOU tink, signor, any man become a
musician unless he obliged? No, no. oon |
tell me zat. Perhaps re man wiz ze deat
ears might" he added, thoughtfully, but
none ozzer-
The subject was evidently painful one,
SO An order to divert Signor Nermicelli :
thoughts into another channel l pointed
my forefinger at the hungry-looking sim
ian who sat shivering on the organ ana
remarked:
Il suppose monkeys vary very much in
disposition
'.Ze monks is like ze musicians-some
GOOD. some bad, but mostly bad, and the
signor shook his head and sighed at the
depravity Of created things in general
rs the monkey you have now a useful
companion
.'Oh. splendid musician. signor. He
never miss a penny once In his NE.
Throw ze monev-copper or silver" he
added. parenthetically, where You IKE,
zat monk find him." At the mention OF
the word money the simian woke W
from his reverie with a start and after
had acted on Signor Nermicellis some
what obtrusive hint the conversation was
resumed.
"Jacko has a soul FOR music, ] pre-
sume?" said /.
Not so. not SO. signor: Eat would never
make his fortune. If ze ice cream man
love ze ice cream where is his prohtE II
xe MUSICIAN love ze music how can ne
make money?
I could not help thinking that Signor
VermiceIlis antipathv to the musical art
had not exactly led him into the paths
of opulence. judging by appearances.
The professor at this point interrupted
my cogi ,ations by giving utterance to
deep groan and murmuring: "Ah, my
poor bruzzer'
lis he dead?" ] inquired sympathetical-
ly.
No not dead. hut ruined by ze monk
was the strang reply.
Ruined by a monkey 7 exclaimed in
Creduolusly. Explain yourself my
friend"
You ask me just now II my monk ave
Re soul for music Zat bring back to me
sorrow of my poor bruzzer. All, Gut
seppe. he was a clevare performer on ze
organ. He learn him in Milan
'At the Conservatoire, of course" ]
interrupted
Sig Nermicelli without needing my in
terruption. proceeded:
He come to England and buy little
sad-eyed monk for ze organ Giuseppe
can him. Pongo Pianissimo.' and dress
him up vera fine-verra fine.
When my bruzzer and Pongo give zere
first organ recital in London two signori
wiz long air stop and listen. Zen my
bruzzer notice POngo Pianissimo put ze
paw on ze heart and take off ze cap he
dgnori laugh and say: 'Ze monk have
great respect for bruzzer musicians
'Ah. Signor" continued the professor
1T was not Ee matter for re laugh. Al
ter zst Pongo neglec' ze business. and
instead Of keeping re eye on ze pennies.
spend him time i'm listening TO ze music
and pulling is air 20 make EN- grow
Giuseppe swear and shake s fist but
POngo 20 worse every day. and ze small
boys get ze pennies and run og. Zen
come ze end One morning Giuseppe and
ponFo hold zere recf-Rl in ze West End.
signor wiz yer long air pass by and
offer Pongo ALI a crown. Santissima
Maria! Zal -- monk shake is head and
give ze money back. Giuseppe get mad.
furious. enraged. and kick Pongo Plan
issimo Till he die.
And them
And zen ze long air ladrone kick my
poor bruzzer till he die-well almost. Gui-
seppe groan and grOna. and re long-'air
shout and kick more arder."
And where is your brother nowq''
Well signor" observed the professor
with a peculiar grin. ''Guiseppe ave leave
ze music trade and Join Ne ice cream pro-
tAN