Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-18

in sight and are happy as long they
can listen to his merry music.
In the poorer sections Of the city one
has only TO pass OF an evening To see the
unwaShed urchins gathered about the ma
chine, some listening. some dancing and
all of them enjoying themselves each ac-
cording 10 his temperament. In view Of
this the claim made by nice old ladies and
gentlemen that the organ grinder is Il
nuisance to be suppressed seems slightly
at fault. No man who helps 20 keep his
fellows in good humor. no matter what
method he uses. is utterly useless.
The organ grinder is quick 10 appreciate
an advantage and use ii. His trade
teaches him to constantly watch out for
something new that VIII catch the poru-
lace sufficiently long to enable him to part
them from their money.
The average person knows that nearly
every organ grinder In Washington nas
Dixie" among his selections. Behind
that fact lies an interesting story.
Six years ago Angelo Rocco. an organ
grinder of ordinary fame. while listening
to performance of the Marine Band one
evening was struck by the fact TIA IN.
crowd always seemed so willing 10 a.-
plaud Dixie He heard the .une sew
eral times. noticing each time that tn.
crowd cheered wildly, and he memoriZed
ii. Several days after he dropped NO
a music store and inquired the nam Of
the tune after hummin. ii. The music
clerk after recovering from the fainting
spell occasioned by hearing an Italian
sing the great song of the southland. told
him that it was pixie.
Immediately Angelo wrote TO New York
to the piano makers asking them 20 rear
range his machine to play this tune. T he
firm agreed and Angelo forwarded h
machine to New York where the fl M
took out its appendix or performed what
ever operation is necessary to change tn
vitals of street piano and sent II hack
to him.
Several days afterward. Angelo with his
new tune started upon the highways an
byways to try his luck. His luck aston
ished even his optimistic soul. ne man
in New York. being an obli;,ing soul. h ID
arranged the piece so that it could be
ground out at the rate Of two Lars Il
minute. 1t rolled from the machine.
heavily. generously. like battle hymn
or the doxology.
Angeles success was instantaneous The
first night he played in front OF a ladies'
seminary. and rumor has IL that he
ried his money away in hat. He tried
ii again and again and AGAIN, and Cat n
time he net with a success tina. "a y
paralyzed him. But other organ grinders
got next TO the scheme OF "Angelo's
'Deex-sie. " as he called it, Other or
ders were forw arded TO New York. and i.
soon became evident hat Washington was
to be flooded with the tune.
'Deex-sie" was played IN ten-Seco1a
time. she was played IS Chopin's flu
neral march-oniy worse. Everything an
anything that could be done TO "DeeX-
sic" was done by the innocent and UNI
mindful Latins who seemed to regard tho
piece. by the way, a sort OF charm.
Finally Angelo made enough To leave for
New York. here he low lives in COM
paratiye retirement, being the prGpret'r
of small fruit store there.
The remainder OF the ''DeeX-Sie' player;
are grinding ont their Tunes to this day
suffering from the fond delus.on that they
Will some day reap a reward like unto
Il at OF ANGELO