Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-05-13
A MUSICIAN
BY ACCIDENT
Strange Story Of a Member
of the French Commune.

- SASAA\ oAAN ESNNhAoy oSAOAS
him. Sitting with him one day in a
cafe in Paris I asked him how he
came to give up his profession at so
early an age.
Because I hated it," he replied.
"Hated it? Were you not born to it"
II suppose 1 was, though when a boy
ity I have lay dormant. 1t was brought
out suddenly and under great Stress"
I 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 French
man, and my real name is Henrotin.
Just before the downfall of Napoleon
III. l went to Paris from my fathers
farm on the Givanne river and was So
licited to join the commune. Being
young and a countryman I believed
anything any one told me and consent
ed, thinking France to be on the eve
Of a new era of prosperity and happi-
ness for all her people alike. We had
everything u W way, but unfortu-
nately we had no way for a time.
Soon we were prisoners OF the regular
troops. They proposed to first impris-
on us, then take us out in droves and
shoot us. I 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 pardoned and enlist
ed to play the trombone.
A drowning man will catch at a
straw, and, securing a bit Of paper, I
wrote OF 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
next morning a 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:
mo. Jacques Henrotin, you are to so
W NC " ChC po1A1 pCAhS IL
organized for the - infantry"
Well, this was like reprieving a man
from being shot to strangle him later
on. I had no knowledge of music and
did not know. n instrument from IN
other. l could only think Of some plan
for delay. Our prison was cold, and
that night I poured water over my
o11+l,o, -,1 ~ e. 4l>>-, =. No. l. -
catch cold. Fortunately l succeeded,
and the next day when I was marched
to the bandmaster of the - infantry
I was coughing and sneeZing, my wind
pipe being pretty nearly stopped.
What instrument do you playa" in
| CURED the bandmaster.
1 had purposely made inquiry about
instruments and replied that l played
the cornet. Whereupon the band mas
| ter called for a cornet and told me to
play something.
"Great heavens!" l exclaimed. do
you expect a mar 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, a week, and
I promise you that / will make music
such as you have never heard before"
VERY well, I'll give you a week."
II have caught cold in prison. Can't
you have me put where I may recover
and where l can practice a little? I've
not played for some time"
HIN, let me see! 1 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 l was to be pro-
vided with q 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
hope to pass an examination, so I pur-
posely slammed the door on my fingers
and when called before the bandmas-
ter showed him the mutilated hand.
He was sorry he had not sent me back
to be shot, but now he was in for it
liz LAVOSAC j y OSoL W SlNC 0S w
time. He allowed me a month.
My fingers were not crushed as bad
ly as l claimed, and I did not cease my
lessons. All day 1 practiced for my
life. 1 hoped that the executions would
cease and I would be lost sight of, but
every day a number Of communists
were shot. A week before the end of
the month l learned to play a tune
which my instructor told me was a
great favorite with the bandmaster.
When I was called upon to show my
proficiency I played this air, and it
was like a pleading wall for my life.
The bandmaster was astonished, and
when'I saw he vas about to ask me
t. play another piece I feigned to faint.
AS soon as l came to myself 1 was
enlisted as cornet player and sent to
the hospital. The bandmaster was in
dread Of losing me.
Soon after that they got tired of
shooting communists. 7 served my en-.