The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-24
RAGTIME ON THE ORGAN.
Brsthren and Sisters Astonished BY the
strains from the scored Pipe.


N~NN@@AN
"RAgtime" music has gained 2 foot
hold In one OF the most aristocratio
churches In Evanston. At reception
and dinner given ct abe South Presby
terrain church Thursday night the old
pipe organ, which has never known any
other than saored music, beloved and
squealed to the tune Of "A Hot Time In
the Ola Town Tonight" and Just Be-
cause She Made Them Goo-Goo Eyes"
A large number OF the most prominent
Presbyterians In Evanston were present
at the dinner, which was held In the
church. After the dinner there were
speeches by the pastor. the Rev. j. W.
Francis, and the guests OF honor. After
they had finished It was announced that
those present would be entertained by an
impromptu musical programme in the
auditorium OF the church. whsn thu
seats were filled the orga7ist was asked
to play for the delectation Of those pres
ent. She went to the organ and, after
moments hesitation, started OF with
"A Hot Time in the Old Town To-
night"
After the fret MEASURE was played the
audience was horror-stricken. They had
expected to hear Bach sonata or selec-
ton from 1.-THE Messiah The older
members, who have hesn good Presbyte-
ians for years, ssraightened mp In their
Sc alta and rubbed their ears and wondered
what was the matter with the old organ.
1t had never been known to do anything
In the least undignified, and they could
- A.tt no tav xra rnfctaknn in
the tune. A murmur Of disapproyal ran
through the audience. Some ons sug-
gested that 1t might be prelude to some
piece which had not been near1 before IN
the classic town. Others thought that
perhaps the church had adopted some
bars were finished and the chorus was
reached all realized that there was moth
ing OF a sacred kind In the piscs, and
that the instrument that had been tau ght
"Uld hundred and Rock OF Ages :" was
bsing profaned.
There were some In the audience who
did not think that the music could be
people. They caught the refrain and
numne1 It, and when the organist had
finished the tune that inspired the sol
diers as they oIim bed San Juan hill, she
received a hearty encore.
She returned TO the organ, pulled out
q lew MOEb btOps1 anu bCkoh RAoSAAA
sacred interlude This was not what the
listeners wanted, and the piece received
little attention. When 1t was over there
was n faint ripple OF applause, A.moment
later some one started the hand clappiug
and 10 soon became general. The organ
list knew wha. was wanted. Sh9 turned
a gain to the organ, touched thu keys, and
Just Because She Made Them
Jco-Goo Eyes When the verse was
finished and the first notes Of the chorus
rolled from the deep throat of kthe Eorgan
tbs notes swslisd until the music sounded
ike thunderstorm on a spree. The
music bt came as giddy as that OF a coun-
try dance. The "wind1ammer,' who
pumps air into the lungs OF the organ,
c Aughs the spirit and worked until the
pipes reared like Kansas Cyclone
BY this time those who used to dance
the Virginia reel and the hopping waltz
had begun to like the music. Some said
that it was revelation IN music, ami
others said THAT the Salvation Army is
ten years in advance ofsthe church, be-
cause 1t has adapted sacred words to Pop
ular music. There were some 10 the au-
dfeuoe who did not approve of ths new
departure, and SAID that it was wrong TO
the music of the hurty-gurdy
into the church.