The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-07

Ends of the Earth Are Searched for
Material.

Chicago Chronicle.
The origin of the harp is hidden in the
mist of legend and a remote past. The
musical twang of the hunters bowstring' s
the harp Many of the ancient instru-
ments were fastened like a Bonded bow,
and all were made without the front COL
umn, or pillar, of the modern harp. on
the tombs of Gizeh in Egypt may be seen
the figure of triangular harp of beautiful
proportions, dated about 1000 B. c. None
but the high castles were allowed to touch
1T on pain of death. and every priest was
required to cultivate the art of harp play
ing. The. Greeks adapted something 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 bowstring. awakened by his shaft
of vengeance.
1t was at the factory of an enterprising
pensive experiments of many years result
ed. not only in overcoming the defects of
advanced ideas. an instrument whose
beauty and merit are superior to any other
harp In existence. At the factory where
ly 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 De-
nberateness, patience-infinite patience
are manifest in the most minute details
of the work. From the time the materials
arrive at the factory until the harp is
S.
five years must elapse.
The ends of the earth have been searched
Tor material to be used in producing the
music wonder workers. The wood is care
fully selected by experts, and placed upon
curing shelves, where ii remains for at
least one year, then it is sawed and layer
upon layer of thin strips are glued to-
gether, pressed and returned to the driving
shelves, where 1t remains for another wear
or two. The sounding board is composed
OF many pieces of carefully selected spruce.
md
board. The sides, or body, of the harm are
made of delicate layers of choice maple
one glued upon another, heated and placed
In a zinc mold and subjected to strong
pressure, 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
Ior another long. period of time.
When thoroughly cured the sounding
BOARD is infinitely shaped, the corners
edged and tongued with satinwood. the
upper and lower bridges attached and then
securely fastened to the oval body which
has already received its ribs of red baech
1t is then sent to the polisher who spends
DAY after day in rubbing, vanishing and
poisning the surface. Meantime the metal
workers have been casting and finishing
the parts that compose the mechanism of
the harp. -
ms task and the polisher has added the last
touch TO the wooden surface. the mechan-
ISM Is attached to the frame and the harm
Is sent TO the strfngins room With the
testing OF the last string the five years of
construction are ended, and the snIendid
instrument leaves the skilIful hands 49,
nave wrought its wonders to be fondled bv
hanoS, no less loving, but of a different
order or skill, that shall awaken its bar
monies TO delight the listening thousands.