New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-27

the front row of the numerous musical organiza-
lions OF Eastern colleges. which must be filled
every fall; and of the experiences Of such an
officer in undergraduate life may be entertaining TO
the general reader, who at time another has
allowed his be tickled by the jestful tone
OF this unique American instrument exemplifylng'
as 1t does, the innocent gayety OF the life OF the
college student
Over the linen and silver Of an uptown club last
night young man. for two years leader OF his
varsity banjo club. and member Of the mandohh
club. held forth follows
AT prep school In New-E England I organized a
banjo club l had for the thing. and that
saved my taking lessons. When got my diploma
from the school in 1895, 1 went into the Maine
woods TO fish. At Portland, while waiting for
a Bangor chair car 1 noticed Phillips, the OLD
leader OF the B Club, and, waving all native
reserve 1 introduced myself. Before we parted
at Bangor I warmly invited TO try for the
club the next fall
LAS luck would have most of the star players
left college the June before and so after prellm-
mary trials survived wedding out process. and
made first banjorine. Towle, temporary
leader, succumbng to constitutional indlsposition
to hard practice changed places with me- ana by
November. two months after matriculaton, had
with Phillpss assistance got into form a pretty
fair club of freshmen.
81 found that two hours of rehearsng every
afternoon when most Of the college was loafng
under the following elms. interfered in nowise with
my studies. and for the honor of my fraternity
and for own reputation, Whlcn hau 10 De huaue'
! worked very hard with the fellows.
Thanksgiving recess found a train bound
for a small town where Parker. manager OF the
three cubs-glee, banjo and mandolin some forty
men-lived. The night sticky and stormy.
We went out after the glee clubs opening and had
a bright twostep we'll under way when the weather
got into instruments. My high and first
string snapped. I had hardly caught the fellows
with my reserve instrument when the CUTS snapped
from the first to the second banjos and then be-
hind to the guitars
About three bars from the coda big bit Of
wind lifted tin roof off the theatre and carried
it (the tin roofing beyond the city limits; the gas
in the hall went out. the people did likewise. seem
ingy satisfied with our managers maiden speech.
but yet believing i'll their hearts that our club was
not up to the standard OF the previous year.
SO I thought myself. Passengers the outgo-
ing train the next day. commuters into Boston. read
little OF the morning news. novel our rehearsal
the train seemed to them.
In Western Massachusetts where. by the way, I
was assigned the pleasure Of keeping Thanksgiv
ing turkey in the platter. and at the same time.
carving for and serving to hall full OF seminary
girls gave good concert, worthy Of our Alma
Mater.
Following virgin success. took our in
struments and the best voices of the glee club.
went among the gravelIed walks about the dormi-
tories where the young women were sleeping, and
upset their dreams by further roundelays
Under the November moon, in the silence Of the
autumn night our voices sounded forth in harmony.
The young hocked to their windows and
flung appreciative souvenirs to the troubadours.
but the distress of the thing that Parker
afterward could book a date for that particular
girls school,
'.StrikngIy emphasized as an incident of this our
first trip with full clubs a Lowell be-
fore q concert there. with Parker and myself
principals He curly haired fair and good to
look upon; being manager, he allotted the best
bed in town and all the concomtants that such
assignment implies I shared in the spoils solely,
by virtue of a four years friendship.
The mother at Lowell sat serene enough over
her array Of Wedgewood; the daughter and girl
friend. called in assist, separated us from the
mother
Parker and I. long used to such amenities, had
in years past assembled various and sundry al
legged bon mots, subject to release in just such
gatherings. Before dessert had skilfuly
dovetailed our dispensatons that the table was in
a state bordering decentralization.
Swiftly on the heels of a carefully reserved
quip of mine a clatter of something hard sounded
across the hardwood floor.
'Innocently 1 asked Parker If he had dropped
his pocketknife No reply followed for he had
looked below. and was then engaged in a
what disappointing effort to swallow second
napkin. The daughter, the quieting
somewhat left her seat picked up from the
floor. not pocket knife. but her mothers false
teeth
BY Christmas by dint of uncommon persistence
we had well in hand rollickng selections, sufficient
being green club. we often practised while travel
ling Down South. leaving Norfolk for Lynchburg
Va again we encountered seminary girls. Parker,
prompted by the knightly spirit of Sir Galahad.
bribed the country conductor introduce to the
chaporon. Then followed perhaps the best re-
hearsals of trip, for the girls, returning to
school, four hundred miles away. some thirty or
them. were glad enough to critcise not Adversely
and to strengthen with voices and their own
tinkling mandolins and guitars
TO before q
posed audience, 10 nod friends made at i'm
promptu meetings the afternoon before. and to
hear the fellows swing into spirited air. with
spirit of gusto found only among college men; TO
hear the tap of feet TO twostep. and take
the measure of our hearers appreciation by their
thing was when we entertained before
o'clock after the concerts at private homes.
AT Beverly for instance Clary centre in the
varsity football team. shock haired. 22o pounds.
out OF the naGf c9un1S 3l the rGdoP 6 was
esca Hoped oysters. He refused to decline Neither
would he felnquish his apparent hold on the
a fifth invitation TO the same dish.
by experimenting his Please Don't mind II / do
by You can talk madame. about your escslloped
oysters. But for me there's nothin can touch
good old Boston baked beans
His half mile SWIM in March surf the next
day added not whit to his manners.
There's a pretty town down on the Ohio River
prep school pal of mine named Stearns sitting
in the audience, caught my eye, spoke TO his fam
~ and then came IN Gp @ him The on sg e 10 ask
escape the uncertainty of Kentucky hotel, and
graphs as being something worth while, We &C
copied and in due time sat in splendor in carved
There existed a tradition our college Hill
that the clubs could go nowhere in winter without
Bankvie IN summer; it is very pretty when every
That noon stearns senior Of the old school,
snile-detyi and contained said: You should
~ he hut nv