The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-20
Mr.. EGNEW AND THE BUG.
An Entirely Natural Explanation of
the Organist's Unaccountable


the Organists Unaccountable
! Conduct.
! Before James w. Egnaw, chief clerk
of the Bureau of Statistics, came to
the city he lived in the modest town of
Lagro, in Wabash county On his ma
| tive heath Mr. Egnew cut considerable
ice. He had a nice horse and buggy,
| played the organ in the church. occa-
sicnally sang in the choir and had his
clothes made by Fort Wayne tailor
When Mr.. Egnew received his APP
pointment to the office he now holds
depot to see him off They gave him
the glad hand and many predicted that
sooner or later he would fall a victim
to the governors chair. Mr.. Egnew
bore his honors modestly and did not
blush as he bid farewell to a bevy of
Lagro's fairest. Six months passed be-
fore he returned to the scene of his
boyhood days. He beamed in on the
admiring populace one Saturday even
ing and until after midnight enter
tanned his neighbors with stories of his
life in Indianapolis.
The next evening services were held
in the church and when Mr.. Egnew en-
tered he was Immediately surrounded
by bunch of his friends, who pre-
vailed upon him to play the organ. He
tried to make an excuse, but there was
no escape. and like a lamb he was led
unwillingly to the slaughter. The, first
HYMN, Shall We Gather at the Riv-
err" is one of Mr.. Egnew's favorites
and he played the music In a way that
made the window rattle.
Hes in great form" said the brun-
nette soprano of the choir.
Indeed he is replied the blond
contralto.
Following the prayer the minister in
solemn tones announced the next
hymn. 1.-THE congregation" said he
will please unite in singing No. 1924
Go Seek and Ye Shall Find"
Mr.. Egnew played the prelude, and
the minister had given the signal for
the audience to rise, when something
cut Of the ordinary happened. The
music stopped for a moment and when
the people raised their heads to see
what the matter was they We're as
tonished at the wild, haggard look on
the face of the organist. With one
hand he was vainly endeavoring to fin
ger the keyes, while with the other he
clutched at his throat as though he
would choke. The lady members of the
choir looked at him in such a reproach-
full sort of way that he made a mighty
effort to continue playing.
Go seek and ye--" sang the congre-
gaticn.
With a yell Egnew removed his
hands from the keys and once more
made a grab at his shirt front. Great
beads of perspiration stood out on his
forehead and the wild look about his
eyes caused the dignified brunette to
move a few feet further away from
him
during his stay in the city," asked one
of the members of the church of an
other.
Il am sure 7 don't know" replied his
companion; his actions are certainly
peculiar"
Go seek and ye-" started the con-
gregation again.
Once more Egnew faced the instru-
ment, this time with a do-or-die look
on his face He soon took up his cue
and managed to play the first verse
through. Then as the minister read
the text Egnew without a word of eX-
PLANTATION. left his seat and ran behind
the organ, followed by several men,
bers of the choir