The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-02
CHEAP HARMON|CA BEATS WHOLE BAND "Mouth Organ" Most Popular of Musical Instruments AMERICAN BOY PLAYS WELL He Is the Chief Consumer of MiIllons of Harps Made Each Year In
 Germany-Grand Nation
 al Meet.
AMERICAN BOY PLAYS WELL
prom the Washington Post.

Ion the WaSnlnslon FOSl.
 The harmonica is probably the most popular musical instrument of this coun- try. though still neglected by the great masters. Twenty million harmonicas were imported into this country last year. Eight out of every ten went to supply the needs of the small boy, the greatest ex- ponent oI narlnUnlca music.
 f1afinonieas were nrst imported in 1852. For years Germany had hard tune Tn supplylng the demand here Tor them, ana every years there Is an increase in the number sent over.
 Any one who thinks the American boy isn't musical need onl, study the impor- tation figures tor harmonicas,' said a dealer the other day. "To be sure some are bought as toys, for babies, but the boys buy three-fourths of them. They buy them to play on, and to play har- monica one has to have q good musical ear. To all others it's music Is mys- tery.''
 Most, if not all. of the harmoncas whose music set feet doing Jig steps around the globe are made In Germany and Austria. Nine-tenths come from the Black Forest of Germany, where in one factory alone 1900 persons are employed turning out the little instruments. Ma NAt-NAs RAos o HeAAA thSAi ture, but the delicate fitting of the little reeds, as they are called. which make the tone, is done by hand.
 No music is written for the harmoniea. It can be played only by those who have natural ear for music. Years ago, when 1t first came out, somebdy did get out a book of instruction for 1t. The book didn have any sale, because there is only one possible teacher and that is ones own ear.
 Strange to say, the German boy doesn t care half so much about harmonicas as tke English boy and the American boy. for only 10 per cent of the total output re mains in German The English speak ing people of the globe buy most of them.
 The Italian boy, the Spanish boy and even the French boy have no regard for the harmonica. Like their forbears they prefer the stringed instrument to make music on and not the harmonica. If you ask the harmonca sellers the reason for this unpopularity of the harmonica in those counthries. nine times out of ten they'll say it's because the American boy has better ear for music, take him all in all, and hence there are more here who can play the harmonica.
 You can buy harmonicas for a nickel and you can pay s5 for one. You can buy foursided and sxsided harmonicas, which are only harmonicas of different keys made together. You can also buy har- monicas with bells attached to them.
 But the American boy buys the ten-cent kind generally. and has as much fun as he would with the $5 one, for a ten cent harmonica manipulated by a master will turn out anything from "Alexander' to "Carmen." Even the harmonica kings sell dom pay more than twenty-five or fifty cents for their harmonicas.
 Some of the kings do great things with the harmonica For instance, one man who poses as the PaderewslS of the har- monica, initiates on it the sound of the the music of chimes and the organ, and whole brass band marching by. He alos advertises his ability to make it speak fifteen distinct words
 In New Jersey the harmonica players have an annual contest for the cham pionship of the state. The last one wal held in Jersey City and contestants came from all parts of the state. with the re- suit that Sid C. France still holds the state championship after three straight victories, in which it is said he made it do everything but talk.
 There Is now movement on foot to have grand national meeting of harmo- nica players for the purpose of deciding the mooted question of which national champion is the real champion Nothing outside of grand opera will probably be allowed, except initiative sounds Special attention is to be given to tremolo and tongueing all marks of the harmonlca players efficiency
 John r. Irish, who has been playing the harmonica for thirty years. recently re- piled to critics for the instrument Irish. who holds several championships says that there is nothing better for boys and girls with weak lungs, for it is a great chest developer. All harmonica kings have great chest expansion.
 "A great many persons don't play the harmonica properly" said Irish, the other day. You should never play it sitting down, any more than the violin
 "I advise all boys and girls who play 1t to stand perfectly straight have the head well up and to fill the lungs first with air. Then hold the little instrument in the right hand. with the palm open; place 1t in the mouth with the base to the left and blow easily into it few times, in fact. breathe through 1t.
 This may cause dizziness at first, but that will pass away as suddenly as it came You can fill any hall in time with melodious music. The notes are as fine and true as any instrument made, and when you are through you can put 1t in the smallest pocket in your clothes"
 The harmoniea. in spite of the harmoni- ca kings, has no place in the orchestra yet. principally because it lacks half