The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1906-02-08
THE RETIRED
CORNET PLAYER

uIllbllC ulu
him. Sitting with him II day In a
cafe In Paris | asked him how he came
to give up his profession ut SO early an
age.
Because | hated it." he replied.
Hated 1t? Were you not born to itT'
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"
| saw there was a story connected
with the matter, and, after much pres
sure on my part, he reluctantly con-
scented to tell 1t:
I'm not an Italian. I'm a Frenchman,
and ny real name Is Henrotin. Just
before the downfall Of Napoleon Ill
| went to Paris from my fathers farm
on the Giyanne river and was solicited
to Join the commune. Being young and
a cuuntryman / believed anything any
one told me and consented. thinking
France to be on the eve of 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 prefermenf
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 q great deal to propose. They
proposed to first imprlson us, then take
us out in droves and shoot US. l 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 man will catch at a
straw, and, securing Il bit of paper, l
wrote OH 1t that | vas an accomplished
musician and would like to enlist as
such in the army. The paper l gave to
the Office who had us In charge. The
ncxt morning a roll was called OF those
who were to be shot, my name among
them. But after calling 1t the sergeant
paused, blink+d his stupid eyes at the
paper, then said:
mo, Jacques Henrotin, you are to &C
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
did not know one instrument from an
other. | could only think of some plan
for delay. Our prison was cold, and that
night | 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 | was cough
Ing aud ~sneezing. my windpipe being
pretty nearly stopped.
What instrument do you playY in
Quircd the bdI4master.
l had purposely made inquiry about
instruments and replied that | played
the cornet, whereupon the bandmas
ter called for a cornet and told me to
play something.
Great h%eavens!' | exclaimed. DO
you expect "A man to use his lungs while
they are not even fitted for breathlng?'
Take him back and cross his name
off the list OF applicants"
Give me time, u month, a week. and
promise you that | will make music
such as you have never heard before"
Very we'll, I'll give you u week.
Il have caught cold In prison. Can't
you nave me put where l may recover
and where l can practice q little? I've
moi played for some time"
"H'm-let me see. l might put you
with the band"
He directed the corporal to take me
10 the quarters of the band and have
me locked In a o by myself. He
also gave orders that l 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 Il week l could moi
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 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
ly as | claimed, and l did not cease
my lessons. All day l practiced fol-
my life. l 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 l learned to pla
a tune which my instructor told me
was a great fayorite with the band
master. When l was called upon te
show my proficiency l played this
air, and II was like a pleading way
for my lifa Tho hanIroo.A