The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-24

an inferior instrument. A fair quality may
be had for 500, and $3.50 is the price for an
instrument of fine tone but simple orna-
mentation. From that the price runs all
the way up to 5000. the extra expense be-
ing principally in the line Of ornamental
ton.
1T is rather difficult instrument to mas
ter thoroughly and ii requires pretty hard
work to become even a passable performer
on it. Then, too, the amount of music
written for the instrument is meager. The
composers of harp music are. as a rule,
piano players, and do not wholly compre-
bend the range and scope of the harp.
They write chromatic passages and changes
of key, both of which are not only difficult
of execution, but also very ineffective. The
harp Is pre-eminently a woman's instru-
ment. Artistic gowns and picturesque poses
suit ii perfectly, and this may be having
much to do with the present revival of In
terest in this most beautiful of musical in
struments'
Henry j. Carlton, a Chicagoan, who was
In Indianapolis last week, and who has re-
Gently returned from a business trip to
Cuba, says that the one great disadvantage
of living in Havana is the everlasting pres
ence of the mosquito. II would probably
have prolonged my visit for another fort
night" said Mr.. Carlton, 'if ii had not
been for the pesky creatures. They say
down there in the island that the mosquitoes
are worse this spring than ever before, and
i can easily believe that this statement is
true. The insects greet stranger from
the States witt open arms-or, at any rate,
that was my experience. They never al
lowed me to get entirely out of their sight,
so delighted were they to extend to me
their hospitality. There was one of them
that stayed with me constantly. / learned
to know him through his peculiar singing
voice, which was a rich baritone. 1t may
have been ungrateful of me, but made any
number of attempts to kill him, and never
succeeded. don't know that this partic-
ular mosquito ever actually bit me, but
he sang to me so persistently that / can
even at this moment imagine that 1 hear
him launching forth into one of his favor
lite ballads. The song he liked best was
the Toreador Song from Carmen At
least, there was something about 1t that
reminded me of that stirring march. and
as my constant companion was Spaniard,
/ had every reason to believe that 1 was
entirely correct in my judgment. Full as
Havana is of these dreadful insects, there
are fewer in the city than on the outskirts
of the town, owing. 1 suppose, to the alb
sence of shrubbery and trees in the former
place I spent just one night in Havana's
suburbs, accepting a friends invitation for
a short sojourn at his house. That is, /
thought the man was a friend. but, in
thinking the matter over since, I've come
to the conclusion that in reality he is my
bitterest enemy There were just an even
million MOSQUITOES assembled at his coun-
try home, each one of them wide awake
and wonderfully energetic. If there was
one of the entire army that didn't get a
shot at me before / got away it must have
been a weakling unworthy of its job.
Stories were told me of one part of the
island in which the mosquitoes are so bad
that during the day the women have to sit
under nets, suspended from the middle of
the ceiling. and do all of their reading or
sewing with this protection. / suppose my
business will take me back to Havana again
next spring, but the next time / go l intend
wearing armor like knight of Old
Eastern avenue, quiet and secluded
little street out near the ball park. was
in the throes of a delightful excitement
for a day or two last week. over the COM
ing of a young married pair to reside in
the neighborhood. For several days a pref
ty girl and a broad-shouldered young man
we're busy fixing up the north half Of
a certain new residence. There are several
new housese In the row and each is built
for two families. They all look alike from
the front. One evening after the pair had
gone IL became rumored around in the
neighborhood that on the next night they
would return as man and wife. The fol-
lowing morning the local satirist got in
his work and a big piece of card board
was displayed In the window. 1t was COW
cred with big black letters which spelled
out some sentences something like these:
This house will be occupied by q bride