The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1943-12-02
OUR PIANO-IT'S GRAND!

Only couple of months ago this
column devoted no less than several
paragraphs to hymn of praise OF
the USO juke box. We of the Staff
felt then, and we continue to feel
especially those of us who per-
sonally can't sing or play a notel
real sense of indebtedness to it
for many an hour of entertainment.
Soon another tribute will be due
in that direction: for under the
guidance of Serviceman Russ SEQ
will tRuss has been made sort of
its guardian and spiritual guide) it
is playing only the most up-to-date
records and it is in excellent work
ing order For awhile it required
so much time to be spent at work
on it that almost no time was left
to play on it, disappointing every
body Maybe that went to prove
the old adage 'All Work and No
Play makes luke dull boy, OF
dull box" or something like that
or do we misquote?
What we started out to say was
that we wish here and now to offer
a few words of appreciation to our
other source of steady musical en-
tertainment our faithful piano
We've often had occasion to express
thanks to our many fine pianists,
but we don't recall a single kind
word that has been written about
the instrument itself Things must
cal are generally supposed to be
things tempermental; but not SO
our piano. 1t is in room in which
the temperature on any given day
may range from high of 80 de-
grees cat leastD to a low of near
freezing, it gets pushed off its posi-
ticn of dignity on the platform at
the whim of lot of us who don't
know one note from another; ash
u oyo oiC oPhACN oii ~, diiO WCO
coke bottles clutter it up; and daily
all sorts of singers, wouldbe sing
ers, and non-singers, make violent
assault upon any and every song
Of which the music is thrust under
the pianists nose: But patiently
through it all, our faithful piano
remains ever on the job, and in
nearly year has developed only
one minor ailment-it once needed
to have a pedal fixed-and it has
required tuning only twice.
Our favorite recollection about
the piano will continue, we believe,
to be the occasion in the summer,
when it afforded such pleasure 10
Coastguardsman Don Crosby. An
excellent player, Don had looked
forward especially eagerly to the
chance to enjoy it during his leave,
following closely after a long seige
of fog enveloping the light house
which was his station. OF course
the fog had meant that Don had
been subjected for several weeks, at
intervals of few seconds, at dis
lance of few yards, to the blasts
Of foghorn designed to be heard |
nearly twenty miles away So it did
not surprise us that Don spent most |
Of his leave playing the USO piano. !
It was his final night there that we /
won't forget. He entertained every
one until closing time: he kept on
while we were cleaning up for an
lour or so 1--WE took our time, wish
ing to prolong our enjoyment as
ong as possible) Finally we had to
90 home. The one customary night !
light was burning; we asked Don if /
t would be sufficient for his play
ng. He said he'd really prefer to 7
continue without it. We turned it |
'ut; and listened for little while |
onger to what seemed even finer
music as he started on the Ameri-
IAN folk songs. We said goodnight I
and goodbye; as we walked UP the |.
street away from that totally dark
ened building Don was swinging a I
gay and fascinating version OF "Old /
Black joe" And suddenly we felt |,
slated because USO once again was
proving how versatile it can be in
is never-ending efforts to serve
he varied needs of its many SER
yicemen!
CONCERNING A So FOUNDER
The most important single phase
II USO work lies, in our opinion,
within the realm of friendship. Not
)ulv should a IJSO CllIh no ha sical-