The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-03
rHE EVENING STORY.
The Retired Cornet FAC.

The Retired Cornet Player.
Signor CaracaIH, the great cornet |
player retired when he had years CO /
artistic and pecuniary success before /
nlrn- Sitting with him one day IN a |
cafe in Paris asked him how he came
to give up his profession ~ so early an /
age.
Because hated it, he replied.
Hated it, Were you not born to it 2" |
I suppose I was. though when q boy |
heard no music and whatever of abil- |
tty have lay dormant. It was brought |
out suddenly and under great stress"
l saw there was a story connected
with the matter, and, after much pres
sure on my part, he reluctantly con-
scented to tell it:
I'm not an italian. I'm a Frenehman.
and my real name is Henrotiu. Just
before the downfall of Napoleon III. I
Went to Paris from my father farm on
the G1vanne river and was solicited 10
join the commune. Being young and
countryman I believed anything any
one told me and consented, thinking
France to be on the eve of new era
of prosperity and happiness for all her
people alike. I helped burn the palace
of the Tuileries and reveled in the sight
of flames which I considered forever
marked the end of the preferment of
one citizen over another We had every
/ thing our own way, but unfortunately
1 we had no way. No one had any
| thing to propose; nothing was proposed.
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 expect
/ ing to go out, stand with my face to the
4 wall with the rest and be shot, when d
fellow prisoner told me that the French
army was short OF musicians and one
of our number had been pardoned and
enlisted to play the trombone.
A drowning man will catch at a straw
and, securing bit of paper, I wrote on
/ it that I 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 next morn
ing roll was called of those who were
to be shot, my name among them. But
after calling it the sergeant paused,
blinked 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 reprieving man
from being shot to strangle him later
| on. had no knowledge of music and
did not know one instrument from an
other. I could only think of some plan
for delay. Our prison was cold, and
that night 1 poured water over my
clothes and sat in them in order to
catch cold. Fortunately I succeeded,
and the next day when I was marched
to the bandmaster of the ---- 1nfan-
try I was coughing and sneeztng, my
4
What instrument do you play?' in
quired the bandmaster.
| / had purposely made inquiry about
instruments and replied that I played
the cornet, whereupon the bandmas-
ter called for a cornet and told me to
play something.
! .iGreat heavensl'' I exclaimed. DO
you expect man to use his lungs
while they are not even fitted for
ssTale him back and cross his name
off the list of applicants
"Gfve me time, a month, week.
and I promise you that l Will make
music such as you have never heard
before
VERY well. I'll give you a week"
Ct have caught cold in prison Cam
you have me put where 1 may recover
and where can practice little? I've
not PLAYED for some time.
MET me see! might put you
with the band
He directed the corporal TO take me
to the quarters of the band and have
/ me locked in a room by myself. He
also gave orders that I was to be pro-
vided with a cornet. This was done
/ I 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 ar examination. so puTposely
slammed the door on my fingers ana
when called before the bandmaster
showed him the nlutilated hand. he
was sorry he had not sent me back to
be shot. but now he was in for It he
thought it best to give me more time
He allowed me a month.
Ny fingers were not crushed as badly
as claimed and I did not cease my les
sons All day I practiced for my life
I hoped that the executions would cease
and I would be lost sight of, but every
dav a number of communists were shot
A week before the end of the month
{ learned to play a tune which my IN
struetor told me was a great favorite
with the bandmaster. When I was
/ | called llpon to show my proficiency
played this air and it was like plead
> ing vail for by life. The bandmastel
: was astonished, and when saw he was
: about to ask me to play another piece
7 feigued to faint AS soon as I came
: to myself I was enlisted as cornet play
J., er and sent to the hospital. The band
I master was in dread of losing me.
soon after that they got tired o
: shooting communists served my en-
= Hstment with the band. though l play
S ed but one air that made people weep
I the air I played on my examination
2 NV whole reputation as musician wa
? made on that one air. I played It 10
S len Years. and every time / did so
n renewed the feelings with which play
e ed for nv life It made for me half
r million francs. I will never play ]
4 again. 1. -,.-.,-, ----cr-,
The Attendants Joke.
t An American, recently returned from