The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1903-09-10
A MUSICAL
NATION
By RAYMOND RAYNE
Copyright, 1908, by T. c. Mcclure

AIlouS lle uldlA uupleuSuuI IdSks
which fall to the lot of concert agent
not the least difficult is to decline the
tempting offers of certain virtuosl
without hurting their very sensitive
feelings.
When Pan Ogle Trepanowski wrote
to me from Poland in this sense. my
first impulse was to indite very firm
refusal Reading his letter second
time however, | gathered from the
mixture of English and what appeared
to be Volapuk, in which his intentions
were conveyed, that he was following
on its heels with such truly artistic
impetuosity that no reply could pos
sibly reach him in time to prevent his
departure.
All his qualifications were duly set
forth. OF course his hair Che inclosed
a photograph and his names were un
exceptional; the rest | did not go into.
1t was quite out of the question for me
to run any pianoforte virtuoso on my
the Paderewski himself.
On the morning of the 18th | re
ceived telegram couched in these
terms: Locomotive twelve hours per
NIT that one encounters me to the sta
ton Trepanowski." On solving this
he had evidently got 1t word by word
from a dictionary l gathered that the
professor was coming by way of Que
bee on the - O'clock train, and wanted
to be met at the station.
l went down myself and saw the
train in. Pan Ogle was there-a private
detective could not have missed him
He stood we'll over six fe6t and was
broad even for his height. Despite the
warmth of summers day he wore
an immense fur lined oyercoat with
collar and cuffs of sable
He spoke English rather worse than
he wrote it, but fortunately understood
fairly well what was said to him He
was full of questions about the series
of concerts which he supposed | had
already arranged for him. | avoided
giving any definite replies as well as l
could until we reached the house.
During luncheon l was saved any
trouble by the artists appetite. which
was well sustained and did credit to
my housekeeping We retired to the
music room, and | got Pan Ogle behind
a big cigar before breaking to him that
| had not yet arranged any concerts
| told him that many most deserving
foreign artists spent their first decade
in New York in playing for nothing at
the functions of wealthy patrons of
the art and in giving their services at
charity concerts, or in fact, wherever
two or three could be gathered together
to hear them. | said that was a pOpu.
lar error into which all Europe seemed
to have fallen. | told him we were the
most musical nation in the world.
sank my voice to confidential whis.
per | said, The real reason we cannot
get audiences is that for some time past
listeners have been to Il man (or wO-
mani better performers than those on
the platform"
Pan Ogle looked incredulous. 1t was
time to lead trumps. | said, Il will
wager anything you like that the first
tradcsman who calls at this house this
afternoon will play you any one OF
Beethovens sonatas you choose to
name"
Pan OGle laughed aloud.
"You make what you call re fun, is
1t not?" he asked.
81 was never more serious in my
life" replied. l rang the bell, and the
servant entered.
"Parkin," | said, TASK the first trades
man who calls to step up here"
"Mr. Blunt the pork butcher, is down.
stairs now, sir" said Parkin.
"Well, ask him to spare me mo
ment or two"
Yes, sir" replied the impressive Par.
kin and disappeared.
The door opened, and Mr.. Blunt
walked in He WAS in his shirt sleeves
and had on the blue apron which seems
inseparable from the vending of pork.
"What can | do for you today, sir?'
he said. Il have just started a new
line of sausages which | can thorough.
ly recommend | call them the Dimin
ucndo brand merely for distinction.
They taper toward one end, you see
suppressed "A smile
at was not in connection with youl
that | wanted to see
you, Mr.. Blunt. DO you play the pi.
anoT
"Well, | do, sir, or. rather, | did, In
fact, | very much wanted to 20 in foi
the music when | left school, but my
father would not hear of it. He said
there was no money in it. THE music
business is played out he would say.
There are too many at it. But the art
of making sausages will always pro
vide a competency for the few
quite true Mr.. Blunt" | asscnted.
Nov, the professor and | are at issue
Of Beethovens sonatas, and | should
be greatly obliged if you would play it
TO US. 1t Is the first movement of opus
g."
The pork butcher sat down deferen-
TALLY on the piano stool, presenting
blHSuld ulluuSlCdi SpeCluClt.
Il have not had any practice foi
months; still to obige customer" and
be struck the commanding phrase
which begins the introduction.
Before he had played many bars tho
pork butcher had disappeared and the
artist was revealed. The colossal
phrases of Beethoven's last sonata