The Washington times., 1905-12-10


a genuinely exclu
sive function. since the public could
not have procured admittance for
love or money. Our diminutive
friend. Shorty" presided, and none
of us disputed his right to Go so.
Shorty presided because he was the
next to die.
Many a professional toastmaster
might have learned from him the
supreme art OF this trying position.
He understood perfectly that pre-
siding officer should not be much in
evidence himself. Shorty wasted no
time. Shorty didn't have much time
to waste. With exquisite brevity he
introduced each one of us, knowing
that we were pledged by the sacred
oath taken when initiated on the
first night passed in the Dead House
TO do on this occasion whatever he
requested.
Hello, Benjamin! came from
BENJAMIN" And then we knew
that the most sacred of our many
last rites and ceremonies, THE
Concert of Farewell Appearance"
had begun
Black Benjamin performed in a
very feeble voice his favorite ditty
about .'OId Massa," ''Yaller Gal"
and Slavery Days" Shorty ap-
plauded and we all followed suit,
charmed with anything of which
our chairman was pleased 10 ap-
prove. a story was then demanded
from Larry, which was told, but
which is unfit TO set down here for
at least one reason
Others were called upon in turn
and each responded Then, last OF
all. Shorty invited the Honorable
Navor of Death Chamber 10 sing
/ knew / had 10; it was the law Of
the land.
"What shall | sing?" l asked,
much doubling my ability to render
anything.
Ave Maria. - was shorty's
prompt response
in the other days ] had studied
three of Schubert's, Gounod's
and Luzzi's. I sang the last named.
for it was in Shorty's mother
tongue.
Imagine singing Luzzi's Ave
Maria" in the Death Chamber at
misunderstanding it 10 COM
panion with whom you have lived
for years and whom you have never
seen, That is altogether some
thing" as Shorty himself would
have expressed it. but when you
know that that companion will
never hear arother song on earth,
and when your accompaniment is
the whirr OF certain machinery in
the next room you cannot express
the feeling at all.
Somehow or other ! commenced
The matchless hymn. There must
be magic in those notes, for as
went along the past came bach
again. memories that meant Sc
much to me and which another haC
forgotten. and then time and place
were gone and I forgot Door Shorty
for there is something the memor.
Of which is stronger than the plac
in which my friend was TO rest tn,
morning after.
finished. Perhaps ! had suns
abominably, foT- Shorty Shorty started n
applause, and, OF course, unde
those circumstances none of tn
others would have dared to intrud
upon his silence
But | heard Shorty mumbling i
his cell. ] saw one of the Deaf
Watch" peep into it and tipto
away The other. my keeper, An
drew, came 10 me, trembling wit
excitement
That's it," he whispered, so a
not TO disturb Shortys devotion,
That's it, When did you hear 1t?
"What?' ] asked, astonished.
''Adeso nell'ora della nostr
morte, Ave Maria He humme
the air correctly. He knew the Ems
lish meaning. to-"Mary, Be wit
Us in the Dark Hour of Death
Back of Andrews question was
story, and finally got it from hin
AS set down here ! have spared yo
his repetitions and the many quei
tions / asked. / can mention n
names, but here is the story as
remember 1t:
Years ago, in New York. befoI
the better class OF Italian familit
had moved uptown TO Lexingto
avenue. there lived In Elizabet