Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-07-27
THE ORPHEUs
Its Utility as a Musical Instrument
for the Family-A Remarkable
Invention.

When a reporter for the LEDGE
called on J. @. Holt at Upham's musls
store this morning TO learn something
about the new musical instrument.
the orpheus-he was cordially re-
csived and entertained with the in.
formation desired.
81 am glad to learn the people arr
so much interested In the orpheus,'i
said Mr.. Holt, who continued: ave
think we have at last succeeded Ia
making an instrument that every
member Of the family can play
"What7 Do you mean to say thai
anyone can play the orphsus7n
"Oh, yes, indeed; and play the very
best music OF the masters, tool tt
illustrate, 1 might just mention thar ]
have here "a Georgia Camp Meeting,
BY Mills, and the Spinning Song
from The Flying Dutchman,' by Wag-
ner-arranged by Liszt-the former .
popular cake walk, the latter an ex-
tremely difficult classic for the plano,
Now, 1t may seem a bit surprising tc
you to know that you could sit down
to the orpheus and play either Of
these selections correctly without
making q single mistake and In the
tempo in which they were intended
to be played, too. A child 10 or Il
years old can do the same thing,
While the former is apparently q very
simple piece, it lie rarely ever played
correctly; for performers generally
'fake'in piano playing that IL, they miss
about one note in a phrase and some
do not do go we'll; some notes are cut
short and others are so distorted that
the composer would scarcely wish ia
recognize bis own composition. The
orpheus cannot make a mistake; each
note must be given its full value and
no more"
"Can one sing or play another
musical instrument with the o~rpheus?''
was asked.
81 am pleased TO have yon ask me
that question: was the reply. "We
have both secular and sacred songs
for the orpheus In abundance. Such
songs as Not Ashamed OF Christi by
banks, The Holy City, by Adams,
and church hymns, such as lead,
Kindly Light holy, Holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty etc. and all the
better cIass OF songs that our people
love. Accomplishments have been
arranged for all these, as well as for
selections with the violin and other
Instruments"
ait requires some practice q sing or
play with the orpheus," was sug-
gested.
Naturally. You see there are few
singers who sing In perfect time and
many who do not sing In tune. The
orpheus corrects both of these vital
points IN Singing 90 1t Is an educator.
rs well as q perfect musical instru-
ment. No one can sing with the
Orpheus who does not sing In tune
and too many liberties with time are
avertsd.
"But the most wonderful part Of
his remarkable invention lie that the
orpheus plays with feeling and ex-
preston, as though it had a soul in 1t.
There r none OF those dead, me-
shanical effects which one tires of In
music-box The resources of the
instrument are such as to allow the
1laver to make the music fast, SLOW,
Qua or soft; that cannot be done with
! musio-box or any other self-playing
instrument"
"Are you meeting with success with
he orpheus7" was enquired.
'In the East, among the best fami-
les, and in England we are selling
mem IN great quantities; but in the
Vest We are just beginning to exhibit
hem. We find they are best liked
y those most musical-colIege pro-
essors, teachers and critics; those
'ersons most cultured and refined;
hose who think, and whose opinions
re worth having.p
"Who are the makers OF the or
"Story & Clark, Of Chicago, one Of
be best known and most reliable
In the world.n
Mr.. Holt leaves for Colorado Springs
arly next week and will make an ex-
ibit there.
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