Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-18
oHooK FULL OF MUSIC

sorts are sold. "A stout, middle-aged man
came In the other day and. as all OF the
clerks were busy. waited on him.
"tGuv'nor he said. casting his eye
around at a lot of musical Instruments in
showcases and hanging on the walls. I
want to learn how to play on some burned
old thing
"'Well. that's bit indefinite, Isn't it,
couldn't help saying to him, but he took 1t
good-naturedly.
1t may sound that way, at that he
replied. But I'm In an indefinite state OF
mind about the thing, sure enough. That's
the reason I'm putting it up to you. just
want to learn to play on some kind of
music-making hewgag. and I haven't the
least idea in the world what 1t is that I'm
going to pick out and buy. But I sure am
going to pick out and buy something to
learn on. right here and now. today. and
begin learning right away-I sure am
don't want to seem discouraging.' I
said to him. but you of course understand
that 1t takes quite while to learn to play
kind worth while. and that it's particularly
uphill work for folks who've got past their
first youth
"'That's all right. guvnor.' he came
right back at me. pleasantly enough. I
know all that. But I've known 1t all my
life. Never had any chance before, though
the leisure, mean-to try to learn how
to play on anything before, and now I'm
willing to face the uphill job you call
1t, and see what 1 can do, anyhow
You're not thinking Of any such in
strument as the mouth organ. or jewsharp,
or kazoo, are your I asked him. to sort
of break ground and find out what he had
in mind.
"'Oh. no-nothing of that frivolous kind
he quickly responded. Nothing trifling like
that-I want a real instrument. No tinkly
ctr. hing that v0r'va
learn
'Banjor I said to him. We've got a
fine line of ban
Nix he cut in on me- No banjo for
NINE. Too tumpty- tum-tum and thumpy.
Nothing Of that kind
:" Mandolin? Mandolins are now highly
esteemed, and
Nope no mandolin either he replied.
That's tinkly junk, too-not the real thing.
Pickety-p pick stuff. None of that for mine
Well, how about a guitar? Quite re-
spectacle music is now composed for the
guitar, and q.
Don't want any guitars. either he
broke in once more. Sugary. sentimental:
gurgly kind Of a thing. q guitar. / want
something robust. mans size-a sure
enough instrument
Maybe 1 said then with some en-
pressement, you want q plano
"'He laughed at that and came to the
point with more speed.
" No. he said. III tell you what think
want. I think I want something to blow
into. I've got a whole lot Of music in me,
talking seriously. I'm crazy over music
can whistle anything after hearing 1t once.
even If it's highfalutin' grand opera junk.
and want to get hold Of something that
/ can learn to play the real stuff on. And
think the real stuff can be blown out OF
an instrument don't your
II was puzzled what to say to him, but
I pointed out to him that 1t takes a good
many years for a person to become even
moderately proficient on any kind of
wind instrument.
Twas your idea something In the wood
wind or the brass? I asked him.
"Say, at a vaudeville theater last win
ter he replied, I heard fellow play on
a thing that sounded mighty good to me
1t sure did. It was brass. or silver or some
kind Of metal, and 1t was shaped like big
German tobacco pipe-you know-with the
hanging stem and the big bowl. Had
lot of keys in front that the fellow manipu-
lated. Didn't sound much like cornet, or
any other kind of brass thing. but more
like some instrument made out Of wood
And 1t certainly made sweet, appealing
music I don't know the name OF the
"'That was saxophone.' told him.
and showed him one.
"'That's the articler he exclaimed. his
eyes swapping. That's the hewgag want.
Me for that! Say. guv'nor, how long d'you
reckon 1t 'ud be before could learn 10
play on one Of those thingsr and he ham
died the instrument gingerly but with
fond look
1T recommended certain saxophone
player in one of the Washington bands to
him, telling him he'd better interview that
musician as to getting instruction from
him, and SO on, before purchasing the IN
strument. But. no. he wanted the instru-
ment right OFF, and I'd no sooner named
it's price to him than he pulled out his
bundle, paid for It on the spot and walked
out with 1t in Its case I haven't seen him
since and don't know whether he took my
suggestion or not about hunting up the
professional saxophone player and finding
out about the instrument, but I do know
that he was as music-hungry man as
I've waited on for good many years
Another singular individual came In here
about three months ago with queer mo-
tive but he knew perfectly well what he
withered man with prosperous air about
him / happened to be in front when he
came in and attended to him.
1--we been reading the advertisements
of these contraptions that play the piano
by machinery, or somehow or another, he
said to me. The things that you stick
the records in and just start the ball
a-rolling and the machine does the rest
II told him that we had large variety
of the iano-playing attachments.
Its this way he explained to me In
confidential tone, as he took hold OF my
coat lapel. I believe you can afford to
listen to me while I make my little expla-
nation, because I'm going to buy one OF
those things before I leave your store
Well, It's this way. 1Vo SOt ldiAiiy VI
six daughters, ranging from fourteen to
twenty-five years Of age. TWO OF EN- are
married and settled down. but four OF the
girls are still living at home with mother
and me. Now, there's been a good piano
of some kind or other in my house ever
since my first daughter was born and I'd
hate to say, right out loud. how many
thousands Of dollars I've blown in giving
those daughters of mine musical educa-
tons. with especial reference to the piano
Rut sir. I have come to the conclusion
that there isn't five cents worth of music
in ary one Of 'em-not nickefs worth,
sir. IL there is, can't get any Of It out
Of 'em. After all the money I've freely
dished out to give those girls their piano
lessons, buying new pianos every once In
a while, buying music all the time, keep.
Ing the pianos in repair. and all that sort
of thine-after all OF this hopeful sloshing
around I can't get one Of those girls to
NAV anything for me when I'm through
with my days work and want to be
soothed. I'm wild over music, and like
a nretty fairish article of music at that,
hut nv daughters either can't play, or
thew lust out-and-out balk at playing Tor
ma for every time ask one Of EN-, when
T stretch out on the sitting room lounge,
To 20 in and hit UP few notes Tor me, she
savs she has q sore thumb. or that snes
ont of practice, or that she isn't reeling
vol, or that she's just going out or some
he