The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-04-08
No.
A MUSICIAN
BY ACCIDENT
Strange Story of a Member
Of the French Commune.

| player. retired when he had years OF
artistic and pecuniary success before
him. Sitting with him Que day in q
cafe in Paris | asked him how be
came to give up his profession at so
early an age
Because hated IT," he replied
Hated it: Were you not born TO it,"
Il suppose was. though when boy
heard no music and whatever abil-
ity l 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-
sented to tell it.
I'm not an Italian, I'm n French
man, and my real name Is HenrOtin.
Just before the downfall Of Napoleon
III. went to Paris from my fathers
farm on the Givannp river and was So
licited to join tn" commune. Being
young and countryman / believed
anything any one told me and consent
ed, thinking France to be on the eve
OF new era Of prosperity and happi-
ness for all her people alike. We had
everything our own 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 i'll droves and
shoot lis. | 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 bit Of paper, l
wrote on it that was an accomplished
musician and would like to enlist as
such in the army. The paper gave to
the officer who had us in charge The
next morning roll was called of those
who we"e 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 go
to be examined for the band being re-
organized for the - infantry"
Well, this was like reprieving a man
from being shot to strangle him later
on. had no knowledge of music and
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 bandmaster Of the - infantry
was coughing and sneezing, my wind
pipe being pretty nearly stopped.
What instrument do you play?" in
quired the bandmaster.
l had purposely made inquiry about
instruments and replied that played
the cornet Whereupon the band mas
ter called for cOrnet ull told me to
play something.
Great heavens | exclaimed. DO
you expect man 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. II month. week. and
| promise you that | will make music
such as you have never heard before"
Very well, III give you a week.
Il have caught cold in prison. Can't
you have me put where may recover
and where can practice little? I've
not played for some time"
HIN, let me see. l might put you
with the band"
He directed the corporal to take me
to the quarters of the band and have
me locked in room by myself. He
also gave orders that | was to be pro-
vided with c0rnet. This was done.
| succeeded in inducing the man who
brought the cornet to give me instruc-
tions. He was surprised mt my ability
to learn, but in week could not
hope to pass an examination, so | 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
he thought it best to give me more
time. He allowed me month.
My fingers were not crushed as bad
ly as l claimed, and did not cease my
lessons. All day | practiced for my
life. hoped that the executions would
cease and | would be lost sight of, but
every day number of communists
were shot. A week before the end of
the month learned to play tune
which my instructor told me was a
great favorite with the bandmaster.
When l was called upon to show my
proficiency | played this air, and It
was like a pleading wall for my life.
The bandmaster was astonished, and
when l saw he was about to ask me
t. play another piece | feigned to faint.
As soon as | came to myself ! 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. | served my en-
listment with the band. though I play
ed but one air that made people weep
the air played on my examination.
My whole reputation as musician
was made on that one air played it
for ten years, and every time did so
renewed the feelings with which
played for my life II made for me
BALI million francs. will never play
II AGAIN