Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-06-06
A MUSICIAN
BY ACCIDENT
Strange Story Of a Member
Of the French Commune.

Sign0r Caracalli. the great cornet
player. retired when he had years Of
artistic and pecuniary success before
him. Sitting with him one day In a
cafe in Paris I asked him how be
came to give up his profession at 10
early an age.
Because l hated It" he replied.
"Hated It? We're you not born to it?'
II suppose was. though when boy
heard no music and whatever abil-
ity have lay dormant. It 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 oon-
scented to tell It.
I'm not an italian. I'm Z French.
man. and my real name b Henrotin.
Just before the downfall Of Napoleon
III. went 70 Paris from my fathers
farm ON the 0ivanne river and was 70
ncited to Join the commune. Being
young and . countryman believed
anything any one told me and consent
ed, thinking France to be on the eve
Of q 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 time.
Soon We were prisoners Of the regular
troops. They proposed to first impris-
on us. then take us out in droves and
shoot yus. I was expecting to 60 out.
stand with my face to the wall with
the rest and be shot. when q 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 win catch at Z
straw. and. securing bit Of paper. ]
wrote on It that was an accomplished
musician and would like to enlist as
such in the army. The paper gave to
the ofncer who had us In charge. The
next morning 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 60
to be examined for the band being re-
organized for the - infantry"
Well. this was like reprieving man
from being shot to strange him later
on. l 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 l poured water over my
clothes and sat in them In order to
catch cold. Fortunately succeeded.
and the next day when I was marched
to the bandmaster of the - infantry
was coughing and sneezing, my wind
piIe being pretty nearly stopped.
What instrument do you playr IN
quired the bandmaster.
had purposely made inquiry about
instruments and replied that played
the cornet Whereupon the hand mas.
ter called for Z cornet and told me to
play something.
"Great heavensw I exclaimed. DO
you expect . man to use his lungs
while they are not even fitted for
breathing"
Take him back and cro0 BIZ name
Oh the ut Of applicants"
''Give me time. month, Z week. and
I promise you that WIN make music
such - you have never hard befeee.~
VERY well. Ill give you Z week"
Il have caught cold In prison. Can't
you have me put where may recover
and where can practice a nttle1 I've
not played for some dms."
Him. let me see! 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 Z cornet. This was done.
I succeeded In inducing the man who
brought the cornet h give me instruc-
lions. He was surprised 1t my ability
to learn. but In . week could not
hope - poGe IN examination, - pof.
peesly da1nsd ~ doer on ~ 0noogD
~ Vhen ealisa t,sfsss ~ ba11nno-