Evening journal., 1905-06-01
THE RETIRED
CORNET PLAYER

hlm. SITTING WIN MIN one day IN
cafe in Paris asked hira how he came
to give up his profession at so early an
Rge.
Because hated IT," he replied
"Hated IT? Were you not born to III" /
Il suppose 1 was, though when a boy |
heard no music and whatever OF abil-
lty have lay dormant. 1t was brought |
out suddenly and under great stress"
saw there was a story connected |
with the matter, and. after much pres !
sure on my part, he reluctantly con-
sented to tell It:
I'm not an Italian. I'm a Frenchman,
and my real name is Henrotin. Just
before the downfall Of Napoleon III !
l went to Paris from my fathers farm
on the Glvanne river and was solicited
to join the commune. Being young and
a countryman l believed anything any
one told me and consented, thinking
France to be on the eve of a new era
Of prosperity and happiness for oil her
people alike. | helped burn the palace
of the Tuileries and reviewed in the
sight of flames which I considered for
ever marked the end Of the preferment
Of one citizen over another We had
everything our own way, 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 a great deal to propose. They
proposed to first imprison us, then take
us out in droves and shoot US. was
expecting TO go out, stand with my face
TO the wall with the rest and be shot,
when 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 man will catch at a
straw, and, securing a bit Of paper,
wrote on it that was an accomplished
musician and would like to enlist as
such in the army. The paper I gave to
the officer who had us in charge The
htAA Ahoi hiAs Il AolA was tulitN VI lhuot
who were to be shot, my name among
them. But after calling it the sergeant
paused, bllnked his stupid eyes at the
paper, then said:
mo, Jacques Henrotin, you are to go
to be examined for the band being re-
organized for the - infantry"
Well, this was like reprieving a man
from being shot to strangle him later
on. had no knowledge Of music and
did not know one instrument from an
other. / 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 succeeded, and the next
day when was marched to the band
master Of the - infantry was cough
ing and sneezlng, my windpipe being
pretty nearly stopped.
What instrument do you play?" in
quired the bandmaster.
l had purposely made inquiry about
instruments and replied that l played
the cOrnet. whereupOn the bandmas-
ter called for a cornet and told me to
play something.
Great heavensr l exclaimed. do
you expect a man to use his lungs while
they are not even fitted for breathing?'
Take him back and cross his name
off the list Of applicants"
Give me time, a month, week, and
/ promise you that l 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 I can practice littleg I've
not played for some time"
"H'm-let me seel l might put you
with the band"
He directed the corporal to take me
to the quarters of the band and have
me locked in room by myself. He
also gave orders that was to be pro
vided with a 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 / could not
hope to pass an examination. so / pur-
posely slammed the door on my fin
gers and when called before the band
master showed him the mutlated
hand. He was sorry he had not sent
me back to be shot. but now he was in
for it he thought II best to give me
more time. He allowed me q month.
My fingers were not crushed as bad
ly as l claimed, and 1 did not cease
my lessons. All day l practiced for
my life. I hoped that the executions
would cease and l 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 I was called upon to
show my proficiency / played this
air. and it was like a pleading wall
for my life. The bandmaster was as.
tonished, and when / saw he was
about TO ask me TO play another piece
| feigned to faint. AS soon as l came
10 myself l was enlisted as cornei
player and sent to the hospital. The
bandmaster was in dread Of losing me
Soon after that they got tired OF
shooting communists. l served my en-
listment with the band. though play
ed but one air that made people weep
the air l played on my examination
My whole reputation as a musician
was made on that one air. l PLAYED
n for Ton ,roarc and qvarv time I dif