The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1905-05-11
THE RETIRED
CORNET PLAYER
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DAtf VI %tAa1a N@SA ~ t.A -
artistic and pecuniary success before
him. Sitting with him one day in a
cafe in Paris I asked him how lie came
to give up his profession at so early an
age.
Because | hated It," he replied.
"Hated Il? Were you not born to it?'
81 suppose l was, though when a boy
| heard no music and whatever of abil-
ity | have lay dormant. 1t was brought
out suddenly and under great stress"
I saw there was a story connected
with the matter, and, after much pres
sure on my part, he reluctantly con-
scented to tell tt:
I'm not an italian. I'm a Frenchman,
and my real name is Henrotin. just
before the downfall of Napoleon III.
I went to Paris from my fathers farm
ON the Givanne river and was solicited
20 join the commune. Being young and
a c~olntryman l believed anything any
one told me and consented, thinking
France to be on The eve CT a new era
OF prosperity and happiness for all her
people alike. l helped burn the palace
Of the Tuileries and reviewed in the
sight of flames which l considered for
ever marked the end of the preferment
of one citizen over another. We had
everything our own wey, but unfortu-
nately we had no way. No one had
anything to propose; nothing was pro-
posed. Such being the case, the other
side had q great deal to propose. They
proposed to first imprison us, then take
us out In droyes and shoot us. I was
expecting to go out, stand with my face
to the wall with the rest and be shot,
when a fellow prisoner told me that the
French army was short of musicians
and one OF our number had been par
doned and enlisted to play the from
bone.
A drowning Ia Will catch at a
straw, and, securing a bit of paper, I
wrote OH 1t that | "a an accomplished
musician and would like to enlist as
such In tie army. The paper l gave to
the officer who had us in charge. The
next morning Il roll vas called of those
who were TO be shot, my name among
them. But after calling 1t the sergeant
paused, blinlked his stupid eyes at the
paper, then said:
NO, Jacques Henrotin, you are to go
to be examined for the band being re-
organized for the = infantry"
Well, this was like reprieying a man
from being shot to strangle him later
on. l had 70 knowledge of music and
did not know Ii Instrument from an
other. l could only think of some plan
for delay. Our prison was cold, and that
night l poured water over my clothes
and sat in them in order to catch cold.
Fortunately l succeeded, and the next
day when | was marched to the band
master of the - infantry 1 was cough
ing and sneezlng, my windpipe being
pretty nearly stopped.
What instrument do you playf" In
quired the bandmaster.
l had purposeiy made inquiry about
instruments and replied that 1 played
the cornet, %whereupon the bandmas-
ter called for q cornet and told me to
play something.
Great h~eayens!" I exclaimed. "Do
you expect q man to use his lungs while
they nre not even fitted for breathinS?"
Take him back and cross his name
eff the list of applicants"
Give me time, a month, a week, and
| promise you that 1 will make music
such as You have never heard before"
Very well, I'll give you a week.
Il have caught cold In prison. Can't
you have me put where l may recover
and where l a practice a little? I've
not played for n time"
"H'm-let me see! l might put you
with the band"
He directed the corporal to take me
to the quarters Of the band and have
me locked iii a room by myself. He
also gave orders that | was to be pro-
yided with O cornet. This was done.
| succeeded in inducing the man who
brought the cornet to give me instruc-
tons. He was surprised at my ability
to learn, but In a week l could not
hope to pass an examination, 20 | pur-
posely slammed the door on my fin
gers and when called before the band
master showed him the mutilated
hand. He was sorry he had not sent
me back to be shot, but now he was in
for 1t he thought 1t best to give me
more time. He allowed me a month.
My fingers were not crushed as bad
" as | claimed, and l did not cease
my lessons. All day I practiced for
my life. l hoped that the executions
would cease and I would be lost sight
of, but every day a number Of COM
munists were shot. A week before
the end of the month / learned to play
a tune which my instructor told me
was a great ~favorite with the band
master. When l was called upon to
show my proficiency 1 played this
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