The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1901-06-29

DluctS where lIt'It are lltllllS anu IlII
rorS and music and gayly dressed wo
men and men, that | first heard it
that air which was destined to have So
great an influence upon my after life.
How can | describe it to YOU? 1t is
like trying to describe n beautiful We
man, ana that sort of thing always
looks so foolish on paper l am not
a musician, or | might write il down.
1t began with two long noteS-lah lah--
and then followed six short OncS-la In
In, In In In. 1t was the most DcWitCh-
ing melody, the most inviting, mtONi-
eating, tantalizing thing that was ever
heard. | thought SO then, think 50
still All the way home | kept trying
to hum it and succeeded very we'll with
the first few measures. In the night |
awokc and remembered moreover
some of the second part with its
change of key ANA the beautiful swing
back to the original air. But in the
morning it was quite gone from me.
/ worried over it for two or three
days, and th@u one afternoon, as |
could not get the thing out of my head
Tor in it, | stopped in the restaurant to
ask the leader of the orchestra what
the air was. But the man had gone
and had taken his music with him. |
asked one of the members of the band
and even made u dismal attempt TO
sing the opening strain. lie rcmcm-
bered there was some such thing, but
did not know what it was-thcy play
ed so many pieces. lie seemed to take
no interest whatever in my quest.
Then l set to work to stop thinking
about the matter and had almost sue
ceeded when one afternoon l heard it
again. 1t was on the street. An Ital-
ian with a violin and small boy with
a guitar We're playing my beloved air
distorted and mangled, it is true, with
hideous discords in the feeble bass the
boy thrummed out, but still my air
hurried to the curb Already the
musicians had begun on another piece.
I thrust quarter into the mans hand
"Play that again. l said.
"Si, signor." he replied dclightcdly
and continued his dolcful slaughter of
"Di ProvenZa" from the "Traviata."
''Not that" l said impatiently; the
other one-the first one-what the dick
ems is the italian word-Potro primo
The mans grin widened, and, nod
ding vigorously, he began to play a
waltz. .~
'No, no; rotro" said, gcsticulating
violently, and, approaching as near his
ear as l dared, l hummed. Lab lah; In
Ia Ia, la In Ia" The waltz ceased, and
an awful coon song walled out from
the catgut l was angry enough to
strike the man with my stick. Tell
me its name if you won't play it over
the name of the beautiful piece l want,
not that hideOus stuff"
l heard a litter and, looking around,
found that crowd of score or more
persons had stopped on the sidewalk
interested in my excited colloquy with
the Italian. | even noticed that two
well dressed ladies had paused and
We're standing a little apart from the
rest. Greatly mortified, | hurried away.
And then it began all over again. Night
and morning that air or some fragment
of it was in my head disturbing my
peace. | felt myself growing Worn and
thin. | visited all the music stores and
resolutoly made of myself figure of
fun by singing what | could remember
Of the air to the statesmen. but none had
ever heard of it. | also went to all the
thcatcrS and vaudeville houses, but in
vain.
Three weeks passed. My days and
nights were haunted as perSistcntly as
ever by those elusive strainS-thOsc
two long, wooing notes and those six
short, tripping ones. Seluom could
get any further.
One never to be forgotten night |
was going home. The hour was about
8 o'clock, when suddenly | paused.
The melody running through my tired.
beWildcrcd brain seemed echoed by an
angelic voicc-faint and far away. but
there was no miStaling it. 1t was nv
air. sung by WOman's voice. and, oh.
how far more beautiful than anything
/ had ever imagined. | quckened my
steps. The melody grew clearer.
slough still all too far away. 1t was
In that house there. 4 soprano voice,
clear and penetrating. was singing
those haunting, delicious strains. Yes,
there was the change | had tried so
hard to get and the long lovely phrase
swinging back to the opening notes.
For an instant | felt faint with very
joy Then, with beating heas, | leap
ed up the steps and in another instant
would have pressed the bell But l
took thought in time. | had another
plan in view, and, rushing down the
steps again, pulled the area bell A
stout, red faced woman came to the
grating.
"My good woman" said GREATNESS
ly, "go up stairs at once and ask your
mistress the name Of the song she is