The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-17
Wonder of Music
James Allison Writes
OF the Concert al Lueerne.


James Allison. who is now At Paris as
one Of the United States commissioners
at the exposition, writes the following
letter 10 Mrs s S. Noble. describing q
concert Mr.. and Mrs. Allison heard al
Lucerne. Italy:
'Lucerne, May z. 1890,
Mrs, S. S Noble, Wichita, Kan:
MY Dear Fri ad-After a two weeks
tour through italy, we have stopped here
for a few days rest before returning 10
Paris, II IS a charming little city. sur
rounded by lakes and mountains. with
population Of 32,oe9 people. From the
time We crossed the mountains-the d.
vide between Italy and Switzerland the
eye rests upon one continuous picture OF
beauty-the snow-capped mountains. the
foothills. covered with blue grass and
fruit trees. now in full bloom. Then the
charming lakes. All these combine TO
make a most lovely picture. The, city IS
50 clean and orderly, the people so pleas
ant, the air so salubrious, the scenery
so charming and captivating that every
one finds it delightful place for rest
and recreation. Last evening we attend
ed an organ concert in the large cathe-
dral here. and Mrs. a. and myself much
wished you could have heard IT, The en-
closed program was rendered. requiring q
fun hour. The organ is very large and
said to be one of the finest in the world.
The organist is said to be one of the
NEST skilled in Europe. You may have
some conception of his popularity when
I tell you that he gives a concert every
evening Of the week-Sundays excepted
from May TO September. This is a great
city for tourists. and people who want
rest and recreation and on account of
these it IS possible to have an audience
every evening. Charge of admission, %
cents. This is made possible on account
of the superiority of the organ. The or
gan is so constructed that the organist
at will can make the strains Of music
appear far away, scarcely toned enough
10 be heard; then the sounds would come
closer and closer until natural, first in
loud. clear tones, filing the great cathe-
dral: then far Away. Then, in another
piece, after giving full tones of the organ.
the same notes would be repeated as
away in the distance. sounding like the
human voice. This was 70 US very Won
derful, but the marvellous impression
made was when No. was rendered. It
was to represent the storm. and oh, how
very real it seemed. First the thunder,
away in the distance: then it comes
nearer and nearer until you hear the rain
beating against the windows and then
the wind driving the rain harder and
harder against the house, and now that
the storm is fully on. peal after peal Of
thunder is heard, shaking even the great
cathedral. This is the most marvellous
rendering Of music 1 have ever heard. I
hope it may be your good fortune TO some
time hear 1t. This letter may be 4 sur
prise to you, but I could not wait until
get home to tell you about II. I have
not forgotten that you were one Of my
very first Wichita friends, and. as I re-
view my picture gallery of friends. I al
ways find you present-my tried and true
friend. Mrs. A. joins me in sending much
love to yourself and DR. Noble Would be
pleased to hear from you. Address me
care Hotel Regina. Paris, France Sin
Cerely your friend,
JAMES ALLISON"