Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-06-15

The talk had turned on the Supernat-
ural, and nearly every one of our CO.
telie 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 a request that add my mite to
the evenings entertainment, protest
ed that thought | should be let Off
that I had done my share In playing
the piano for them all eyening-but
they would not have it so. 1--WE have
seen the artist all evening" said Jen;
.'let us have a look at the Van we used
to know" / still begged to be excused,
but the crowd, merry one at best,
would not have it so. 'eThe story or no
more champagner' "Well, gentlemen"
/ said, Il do not know of anything
ghostly and cannot tell a story with
clanking chains and gliding shrouds.
but if you insist upon being amused l
will tell you Of the only queer thing
you no explanation. do not profess
to understand it. l can only tell you
just what happened and let you judge
for yourselves"
81 was studying hard" continued,
''in the winter of 1877, hoping to pro
gress far enough before June in my mu-
sical studies to be able to take a few
pupils in the summer, in order to earn
enough to continue at the conservatory
In the fall | was a poor man then.
Five cents then often meant a dinner
for me- a dollar was untold wealth.
l walked often three and four miles to
save car fare, and have known what
it means to go sneaking up a 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, that / might pay the
rent of the piano loved and in some
way struggle ON toward my goal, that
of a musician who should win not only
money, but fame. Rather a large am
bition for a poor man of "a, 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 a
fool l had had good chances to go
into business, could have been a young
man of some social prominence and
have had all the luxurles that l lack
ed at that time, but l preferred music
and starvation. | tell you all this that
you may realize what it meant to me
when a Mr.. Elliott offered prize of
50 900 to the pupil of the B con-
seryatory who should in three months
time compose and play the most meri-
torious composition l thought that If
| could win that prize my troubles
would be over indeed. There was
enough to keep me two years at least
from want and pay for my musical
course into the bargain.
II 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-
ened until saw the names Of two OF
the most promising of the senior class.
1t had never occurred to me that
should have to compete with scholars
out of nay own class. l was disgusted,
and had it not been for the comfort of
one friend. the only friend who was
70 rr{xr a nf
encouragement, the little girl whom !
knew believed ia me-had it not been
for her must necessarily have be-
come so discouraged as to give 1t all up
and go into business after all.
81 had three months to work in, three
months to compose, learn and play a
composition which should he 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.
cit was at this time. when l used my
last shred of patience, that Elsa. my
little friend. was kflled-killed by the
drunkenness of a switchman, murder
ed by the carelessness of railroad
company who will employ such man.
Yes, just common railroad accident,
but IT killed Elsa. and any hope had
of winning that prize went like a fash.
had no room in my heart for any
thing but grl.f.
II had not withdrawn my entry for
the competition; bad simply intended
rot to appear. In the light of future
events. it waSa fortunate thing that
did not; PERHAPS il was all part of
the strange experience that ! am about
to tell you
at was cold March night. hal been
out TO see my friend Jim there old Jim
nodded his head and guiped down a