The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-06
OPERA IN A BOILER.
A Musical Composition which Was
Born I'm n Strange Place.


From the New Orleans Times Democrat.
zone of the brightest literary geniuses
In this neck of the woods is incidentally
in the insurance business" remarked a
member of the local Bohemia, over a res
taurant table the other night, land 1 hear
that he met with very curious adVen-
ture recent while making business tour
through North Texas. 1t seems that he
has been at work for some time past on
a three-act operetta which he proposes to
call the Sword of the Sultan He wrote
the first act in one sustained burst of in
SEPARATION and then got half way through
the second, but at that point he suddenly
stalled, as writer's some times Will, and to
save his soul he couldn't bulge an inch.
At that Juncture he got orders to go on
his trip through Texas, and throwing
himself heart and soul into the work he
forgot all about the unfinished operetta
Among other specialties Of his company
IS the insuring of boilers and a prospec-
tive deal of that kind took him eventually
to a manufacturing establishment in n
small town on the line of the Texas Pa
cific The proprietor of the concern ad-
mitted that he would like to take out a
policy on their biggest boiler, but added
that he felt it his duty to state that the
interior was very scaled We'll. | am a
sort of diletante expert, said the insur-
ance man, and if you'll find me pair of
/
side and take a look at those scales. They
may be only superficial deposit The
manufacturer was only too glad to COM
ply and i'm a few moments the manhole on
top of the huge cylinder was opened and
the visitor cautiously let himself down.
When he struck the bottom he lit his
candle Don't bother about me for a
while he said. cheerfuly from the bow
els of the monster, and I'll investigate the
seat of the difficulty
Now, it is altogether likely" continued
the narrator, that while my friend i'm
agined he had dismissed his operetta from
his mind, his brain had been subcon-
sciously at work upon 1t right along. At
any rate he had no sooner seated himself
upon the bottom of the boiler than sud
denly the very idea he had been cropping
for burst forth full-fiedged. Like ell
men of genius, he thereupon became i'm
mediately oblivious to everything except
his inspiration, and propping his candle
against a convenient bolthead, he snatch
cd out his notebook and began to write
like mad
Meanwhile the manufacturer and his as
sistants were waiting anxiously for a re-
port An hour elapsed and the proprietor
ventured to tap gently on the outside.
How are y coming on he asked. Go
way! reared a hollow voice from the in
terror. The response was so abrupt and
furious that the Texans were startled
half out of their wits, and in their simple
minded way they concluded that the Visi
tor must have discovered frightful state
of affairs in the skin of the boiler-some-
thing that had exasperated him to the
last degree Wed better let him alone
whispered the foreman. II we make him
any madden than he is now, he's liable to
come out and have the whole plant con-
demned The others agreed that the sug-
gestion was good. While the colloquy was
in progress the gentleman in the boiler
was smiling serenely to himself and oc-
casionally jotting down a couplet in his
notebook. For him the sheet iron cylinder.
the anxious individuals outside, and the
entire state of Texas had ceased to exist
According 10 reliable reports IT was
about four hours later. and growing dark
when the Texans were again electrified
by the ferocous voice from the interior
Bring me food! IL roared mperiously
After hasty consultation the foreman
rushed over to an adjacent restaurant
and returned with a bountiful supper on
q tray. As he passed it cautiously through
the aperture he took a peep inside and
climbed down looking pale He's writin
somethiu' in a book, he said hoarsely
and / believe he's making out report to
he insurance commissioners This alarm
ing theory added greatly 10 the dispute
tude of the watchers, and again they
he'd a nervous consultation, but without
reaching any solution Of the difficulty.
"At II p m. as the story goes. they
heard a muffied voice singing a lively dit
ty Suffering bullfroRsr exclaimed the
foreman, he's gene crazy. sure as blazesl
The truth was that the dramatst had
Just com pleted his task and was jubiaut-
~ humming over the 10 of 'Haidee the
] earl OF the Harem.' Five minutes later
his head emerecd from the manhoe and
he drew himself out. smiling distractedly
into space. We'll whatA or I mean. how is
ito asked The proprietor with suppress
ed excitement. 'Splendiir replied the in
surance man, feam ng. 'ScaiesY said the
visitor. oh! ! don't compose the music.
" know-only the book Good night
want to run over this before it gets cold.
and he walked off leaving the Texans
paralyzed with amazement and firmly
onvinced Of the accuracy Of the insan-
! v theory.
That how The Sword of the Sultan
was finished and why a large boiler in
Middle Texas remains uninsured. | am
ounu,nt tnat each Of them viii bring
down the house In the course Of time"