Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1904-01-08
MUSIC ON SHIPBOARD
Pianos and Other instruments Co
mon on Sailing Vessela>
Sailors Glad of Diversion Will
Long voyeGes-PopUaar ARerY
lean Airs sums tn soufhs T
sru Seas.

you are invited to q musicale on
ship Orinoco, in Erie Basin. Friday ev1
ing. August g."
A number OF persons responded to
invitation cheerfully. for they kns
captain very we'll. relates the Nefr
Times He had been In the South me
lean trade to this port for number or
years, married a Brooklyn girl and
made money for the owners OF his ship
IN spite OF the number OF steamers that
Lore down upon him. The mate received
the guests at the gangway. and the cheer
full captain and his wife did duty below
The captain displayed with pride new
piano presented by the owners. beauti-
full piece OF polished mahogany. with
works OF the best construction; piano
that he said would not move from Its
bearings II the ship turned turtle.
The captain further explained that he,
put aboard a cheaper plano at the reques1
of his wife when they were marriecp
Sailors love music. and the good effects
of II were SO apparent on the crew that
the owners had decided to put them on
all their sailing vessels. beginning with
his. 1t Is nothing surprising these days
to hear a piano on a good sailing ship
he said. why. only the other dayV
heard the strains OF a piano coming from
an old canal boat over there"
When the musicale began the captain.
his wife accompanying. sang in a round
and pleasant voice Tosti's "Good-by."
Then the mate. with the same accom-
PIANIST. played melodies of South Amer
lea that seemed to make the ship roll and
bow to the waves under the southern
moon. The effect OF combination like
that in a Fifth avenue drawing room
would be electric A purser from South
American steamer anchored In the basin
played horn solo. The captains wife
sang songs of the Amazon women, as she
had pictured them in her voyages. and
then came rousing glee by the crew.
1T Is rare thing now" said the cap
tain. ito find sailing ship without
piano. especially IL she belongs TO good
line. Ocean liners haven'tany monopoly
in that business. by a good deal. How
often do you find a tramp or freight line
steamer with a piano! Women in
Orinoco get New York songs sooner than
many OF our American towns do. They
are very quick to play by ear. and some
OF them copy from my wife's music and
from that OF the wives OF other captains.
When l got there on my last voyage I
heard everybody singing: The Good
Old Summer Time They caught the
contagfon from Liverpool vessel
Il invite my men TO come into the
cabin when OF watch and make use of
the piano. All sailors on long voyage
have much spare time that they don't
inow what to do with. They loll In the
fo'c'sie and play cards. They smoke
more than is good for them. Some of
my crew do that still. in spite OF the
piano. but the most of them are In the
cabin whenever they can get there. sing
Ing and playing. They organized the
glee club. didn't. We have a man who
can play the concertina. and another
who can 90 wonders with an old flute
tnat he bought In a South street Junk
shop 30 years ago. 4
Another thirg-s sailor. like anv
man. Is more careful In his personal an
pearance II he lnows he is to appear with
lady. Ii is wholesome thing. in nv
opinion. for captain to take his wife
to sea-"