The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-15
MUSIC is TABOOED.
But Store Full of Raqtime Is Just Un.
derneath.

Guthrie, o. T, April 1.-THE installa-
ton Of a music store in one of the rooms
below the offices used by the territorial
officials may be the undoing OF these men
and Is likely TO cause Governor Ferguson
to seek new quarters after the lease on
the second floor of the Oklahoma building
expires, which is June L The stock of
pianos and other musical contrivances
was only moved into the room last week.
but for several days remnant strains of
ragtime selections have wandered through
the halls, finding their way into terri
torial offices by means Of open doors and
windows, causing officials and stenograph-
ers to cease work. in order that every
faculty might be concentrated on hearing
the missing notes. Rag time seems to be
the favorite among the piano players of
the music store, yet once in a while some
one starts off on a selection from some
opera
Music in the territorial Offices is not
new. But the music the officials are ac-
customed TO is the rising and falling
cadences of the man pleading for office.
When the piano starts up the man desir-
ing the burden of office" is forgotten.
The music store has risht-of-way. Work
Is not taken care of as was the case for
merly. and when the piano playing ceases,
the enIaptured official finds that time is
flying and his work is unfinished. When
the expert accountant in the school land
department and auditors Office begin add
ing a column of figures. it is embarrassing
TO them 10 have that piano going and still
more figures to add. The young lady
stenographers are pleased that a music
store is near. When In the Good Old
Summer Time" comes floating through
the halls, their heads keep time with the
music and the resonant sound foot-taps
on the floor may be plainly heard.
Governor Ferguson, owing to the loca-
tion of his office has TO bear the brunt of
the music. Said he to correspondent OF
the Eagle: Il do not like the idea of
having music store under the territorial
offices. When a man wants to study over
some intricate problem of territorial gov
ernment, it is demoralizing to have a
piano going in the midst of his study.
First it was a restaurant that created
havoc with us and now il is a music
store. If we cannot have rooms free
from such annoyance, the only thing to
Go Is to look for new quarters"
When Governor Ferguson first consid-
cred the proposition Of renting the upper
floor of the Oklahoma building there was
talk of a bowling alley being operated in
one OF the lower rooms The governor
strenuously objected. He said that affairs
Of state could not be interfered with by
the noise sure TO result in a bowling alley
The bowling alley deal was declared off. |
Then one Of the rooms was leased by
restaurant man. Everything was lovely
until the odor of beef steak. onions and /
other edibles permeated the atmosphere
OF the halls above. In the winter the res |
taurant did not interfere much with Off !
cfal duties. The odors from the kitchen /
however caused many an official to be- !
come very hungry before his regular meal
time, and 1t became hard matter for the
men to get beyond that restaurant door /
when they started to lunch The restaur- !
ant man was unable to longer lease the /
room used by him and the piano man Sc
cured the first chance taking the room