The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1899-06-14
WANT,E;,D.m--,. :, :, ,z,o,
AN EXPLANATION.
By c. Harry Clandy.
How nm lmpecunious Bohe-
milan Won the Mu-
steal Prize.
By C. Harry Clandy.

< steal Prize. <
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The talk had turned on the supernat-
ural, and nearly every one of our CO.
terle In the bohemian club, in whose
rooms we were had related some per-
sonal ghostly experience or had drawn
on memory for tales of spirits In other
lands. When Jenkins turned to me
With II request that | add my mite To
the evenings entertainment, protest
ed that | thought ! should be let off
that | had done my share in playing
the piano for them all evening
they would not have II so. I'VE have
seen the artist all evening" said Jen,
"let us have n look at the Van we used
to know still begged to be excused.
but the crowd, Il merry one Mt best,
would not have 1t SO. "The story or no
more ehampagner' We'll, gentlemen"
| said, Il do not know of anything
ghostly and cannot tell story with
elanklns Chains and gliding shrouds.
but If You Insist upon being amused |
will tell you of the only queer thing
that ever happened to me. ! viii offer
you no explanation. | do not profess
10 understand ii. can only tell you
Just what happened and let you Judge
for yourselves"
81 was studying hard" continued,
lin the winter of 1877, hoping 10 pro.
gress far enough before June in my mu-
steal studies to he able to take few
pupils In the summer, In order To earn
enough to continue ut the conservatory
In the fall. WAS Il poor man then.
Five cents then often meant dinner
for me. A dollar was untold wealth.
| walked often three and four miles To
save ear fare, and hive known what
II means to 20 sneaklng up 81 side
street in order not to meet friend
lest he hurt my pride by asking me
let him be my banker. | have gone
ragged and hungry. have been cold and
without shoes, TINT | might pay the
rent of the piano | loved and In some
way struggle on toward my goal, that
Of n musician who should win not only
money, but fame Rather large am
bition for II poor man of II, with no
prospects but work and debts, no hope
for anything but In the distant future,
and nothing to warrant that but an
Unborn conviction that there was music
in him and the kindness of some of his
teachers My parents, most OF my
friends. all told me repeatedly ! was II
fool. had had good chances TO go
Into business could have been II young
man Of some social prominence and
have had all the luxurios that | lack-
ed Mt that time, but | preferred music
and starvation. | tell you all this that
you may realize what 1t meant to me
when Mr.. Elliott offered prize of
$1,000 to the pupil OF the b con
servatory who should In three months
time compose and play the most meri-
torious composition. ! thought that If
| could win that prize my troubles
would be over indeed. There was
enough TO keep me two years ut least
from want and pay for my musical
course into the bargain.
az soon saw the list of entries for the
competition, and. while finding many
names that | had not expected to con
tend with, / was not utterly disheart-
cned until / saw the names Of two of
the most promising of the senior class
1t had never occurred to me that l
should have to compete with scholars
out OF my own class. | was disguised,
and had 1t not been for the comfort OF
one friend, the only friend who was
never too tired to give me word or
encouragement, the little girl whom
knew believed In me-had 1t not been
for her | must necessarily have be-
come SO discouraged as to give 1t all up
and go into business after all.
II had three months to work In, three
months to compose. learn and play a
composition which should be judged
the best out OF 40 entries. quite a'task
at the least. | went to work, but
whether 1t was owing to the hunger
that often kept me lying sleepless In
my bed | do not know, but all my eff
forts appeared to be tame poor, what
we call colorless.
ut was at this time, when ! used my
last shred Of patience, that Elsa, my
little friend. was killed-killed by the
drunkenness OF switchman, murder
ed by the carelessness OF railroad
company who will employ such man.
Yes, just n common railroad accident,
but 1t killed Elsa, and any hope / had
q 10 ~,
had no room IN my heart for any
thing but grief.
Il had not withdrawn my entry for
the competition had simply intended
rot to appear. In the light OF future
events, It was n fortunate thing that
did not; perhaps 1t was all a part Of
the strange experience that | am about
to tell you.
ut was a cold March night, had been
out to see my friend Jim (here old Jim
nodded his head and gulped down
glass of champange). and he had been
trying to cheer me up, but with Ill sue
cess. l had reached nay home about
half past IL. and gone up to my room
and dropped YEARLY Into chair, with
out even troubling TO light the lamp.
But | was restless. and soon rose and
went to the window, throwing 1t wide
open. 1t Xas clear, the moon was near
ly full and almost directly overhead.
Az | gazed out into the cold, clear air.
heard clock strike II, and then an
other clock farther down town struck,
and then clock In the houseit seem
ed as If all creation was made Of
clocks. all striking Y. | turned. In.