River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-08-29


maestro who had arrived incognito,
FASTENED t. thank him for the favor
he had conferred upon us and also to
offer him his hospitality during his
/ STAY in the town. The Man in Blue at
first refused, then hesitated, and final
ly accepted our pressing invitation.
We paid him every attention, and by
his gentle manners and delightful tall
ent he soon won our affection. But
every attempt TO find out who he was
and whence he came proved vain; he
took no notice of our hints, and not
one Of us dared ask him the questions
direct.
If a stranger happened to pay us a
visit. our new friend would Immediate
ly take refuge in the garden. He liked
| to be alone with Karl, myself and
Fortunate" One day a merchant
named Krebbs came on some matter of
business he had to transact with my
father. and stumbled upon the Man in
Blue, who was making good his es-
cape. The poor violinist on seeing
Merchant Krebbs turned as pale as
death, and, covered with confusion,
tottercd to bench, hiding his face
in his hands
"Weil, declare" said Krebbs to my
father, you are an odd man to re-
ceive that creature into your family.
Why, thought he was in prison or in
a lunatic asylum, or drowned or run
over"
DO you know him, then?" asked
my father with ill-disguised curiosity.
know him! OF course 1 do. His
name is Beze and he is by trade car
penter. But, bless you, he's as mad as
a March hare. Some time ago our
church organ was struck by lightning.
Beze came forward at once and pro-
posed to mend it, provided the parish
furnish him the materials. As he was
known for a good musician and a clev-
er workman, our pastor granted his
request. To work went he and shaved
night and day for at least six weeks.
| At last the organ was mended, Beze
struck a few chords, and it sounded
better than ever. The day arrived for
the first public hearing of the removal
cd instrument; the mayor and all the
village was present, and Beze himself
did not fail to appear attired in his
usual blue. Blue is his color. He
made some VOW or other years ago TO
the Virgin never to wear any other
than her colors-blue and white.
tell you he is crazy. But to return to
the organ. When the organist began
to play upon it, devil of sound would
| it produce, except when he pulled tho
new stop ont. Off went the organ whpo!
vince, and then it set TO squeaking and
whistling like mad. The girls began
to laugh, the mayor to swear, and the
| pastor-well he became frantic, poor
man. Beze is a fool, an IDIOT He has
ruined the organ cried everyone.
And soon, amid the derision of the
congregation your friend left the
church. Strange to say, since that day
we have never seen the creature, but
our organ is completely spoilt and re-
mains as silent as the tomb"
Thus spoke Merchant Krebbs. Icould
hear no more, but hurried out to con-
sole our poor friend. | found him sit
ting all forlorn under an apple tree,
| his face turned toward the setting
sun. "Ah! my good young friend"
he cried, "do you see yon little cloud
which obscures the splendor of the
sun? So the words of foolish man
may tarnish the fame of a genius"
But" / replied, ''see the little cloud
has already vanished and the sun is
all the brighter for the contrast"
He smiled. THE clouds that hang
over my furnished name win have to
pass away soon, or it win be too late
That organ / reconstructed has a soul
within it. All my life / have worked
hard to lodge my ideal of music within
the compass of a single instrument.
have done this. The soul is there,
but l know not how to play upon the
organ, and in their blind rage they
will not allow me to explain the
mechanism of the instrument to them
Oh! that could find Sebastian Bachl
He would awaken the soul of music
that lies asleep in my organ and prove
TO the world that Beze is neither mad
nor an impostor."
My father took no notice of what
Krebb had said, and when he joined us
in the garden he entreated Beze to
play to him as usual in the open air.
The Man in Blue played number of
national and simple melodies in such
a pathetic manner that several times
| saw my fathers eyes fill with tears.
At last, he said, My friend, though
your organ is a failure, your music is
Heavenly. Stay with me, pray you,
yet awhile
MY organ is not failure; it is the
one triumph of my life"
"But no one can play upon it."
"0ne day someone viii, and then
well, we win say no more about it.
Come, supper is ready" and he led
the way indoors.
: Next morning the Man in Blue was
} missing. We were sorry for his dis
appearance, but soon forgot all about
: him, the festival being at hand
5 Chuck had promised to come, and we