The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-12-15
MAKING A HARP.


The origin of the harp is hidden in
the mist of legend and a remote past.
The musical twang of the hunters
bowstring was doubtless the original
suggestion of the harp. Many of the
ancient instruments were fastened like
a Bonded bow, and all were made with
out the front column, or pillar, of the
modern harp. On the tOmbs of GiZeh
in Egypt, may be seen the figure of a
triangular harp of beautiful proper
lions, dated about 1000 B. c. None but
the high castles were allowed to touch it
on pain of death, and every priest was
required to cultivate the art of harp
playing. The Greeks adapted some
thing of the Egyptian harp idea in
making their famous Tyre, but they
traced the origin of the instrument to
the musical sound of Apollo's bow
string, awakened by his shaft of VEN
geance.
1t was at the factory of an enter
prising Chicago firm that the painstak-
ing and expensive experiments of many
years resulted not only in overcoming
the defects of the European harp, but
in producing, upon advanced ideas, an
instrument whose beauty and merit are
superior to any other harp in existence.
At the factory where the harp is made
the visitor is constantly impressed with
1.-The genius for taking PAINS which
characteriZes every portion of the
work. The feverish haste and rush Of
the city find no expression here Glib
erateness, patience-infinite patience
are manifest in the most minute details
of the work. From the time the mate
rails arrive at the factory until the
harp is complete and strung period of
four or five years must elapse.
The ends Of the earth have been
searched for material to be used in pro-
ducing the music-wonder-w workers The
wood is carefully selected by experts
and placed upon the curing shelves,
where it remains for at least one year;
then it is sawed, and layer upon layer
of thin strips are glued together,
pressed and returned to the drying
shelves, where it remains for another
year or two. The sounding-board is
composed Of many pieces of carefully
selected spruce, which are glued and
pressed to form one board. The sides,
or body of the harp are made of deli
cate layers Of choice maple, one glued
upon another, heated and placed in a
zinc mold and subjected to strong pres
sure which gives the beautiful oval
surface so much admired in the body
of the instrument. When removed
from the mold the body is placed upon
the shelves for another long period of
time.
! When thoroughly cured the sound
ingboard is minutely shaped, the cor
ners edged and tongued with satin
wood, the upper and lower bridges at
tached, and then securely fastened to
the oval body, which has already re-
ceived its ribs of red beach. 1t is then
sent to the polisher, who spends day
after day in rubbing, vanishing and
metal workers have been casting and
| finishing the parts that compose the
mechanism of the harp.
When the metal worker has compile
{ ted his task and the polisher has added
the last touch to the wooden surface,
the mechanism is attached to the
rame, and the harp is sent to the
stringing-room. With the testing of
the last string the five years of con-
struction are ended, and the splendid
instrument leaves the skilful hands
that have wrought it's wonders, to be
fondled by hands no less loving, but Of
a different order of skill, that shall
awaken its harmonies to delight the
listening MISUNDERSTANDING Chroni-
Gle