Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-22
Portrait of a Landmark,
A Fellow Named Bornee
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businessmen and SocialiteS.
And his friendships know no
political lines.
The secret Of his success in
this political hotbed is that
he admits no politics at all.
He will be drawn into no politi-
cal arguments. When the talk
turns to politics, as it some
times does around these parts.
Barnee is content to sit beside
the road being a friend to man
Plays For Presidents
This, among other things,
has won him an enviable posi-
ton 1t is especially enviable
In the eyes of those entertain
ers who leap at any chance to
play here at any function to
be attended by the President
and other important Govern
ment figures.
Barnee played at his first
inaugural ban-it was Frank
lin D. Roosevelt's first, too
in 1882. He has played at
every one since. while the same
bands have come and gone.
He can recall other moments.
too, tinged with drama that
some orchestra leaders never
encounter.
Barnee was playing, for in
stance, at the Thrift Shop
White Elephant Tea at the
Sulgrave Club on the after
noon of April IL, 1945. when
Mrs. Roosevelt was called to
the phone, then departed hur-
riedly. President Roosevelt had
died at ABS pm. that day. -
A White House recollection
in quite a different mood is Of
the time Barnee was sum-
moned by a presidential aide
and asked to get down there
as quickly as possible. He did,
naturally, and found Presi-
dent Harry s. Truman with a
problem. Playing the piano,
Mr.. Truman was having diff
Guilty with a passage of Bach
and had sent for the handiest
authority he knew. the fellow
he had played duets with at
private parties.
The Orderly Mind
Barnee has had ample OPP
portunity for character study,
too, during his near quarter
century Of making music for
official and residential WASH
ington. There was, for ex-
ample, the insight he got into
the nature Of the late Albert
Einstein. when playing at a
reception for a group Of visit
ing scientists at which Elm
stein was the guest Of honor.
The great scientist naturally
was the center Of attention.
At one point he was the nu-
cleus of an excited circle
about a dozen feet from the
bandstand when a sheet OF
music slipped from the violin
lists music stand. EinStein saw
it out Of the corner of his eye,
walked over quickly, picked it
up and replaced it, resumed
his discussion.
Barnee thinks it may have
been the tribute of one violin
ist to another. but he's not
sure. It could have been the
mark of an orderly scientific
mind; music, after all, belongs
on a music rack, not on the
floor.
The Blue Room bandleader
also thinks he got an insight
into Senator Taft's character
the one time the latter visited
that oasis. The Senator paused
in the doorway and looked
around in some surprise at the
crowded room.
do these people go out ev-
cry night?" he asked his COM
panion in all seriousness
When do they read the Con-
gressional Record?"
Barnee has helped maintain
his unofficial position as "offi-
cial" court musician to Wash
ington by assiduous correspond
ence. Among his treasured
mementoes are notes from the
great and near great, headed
by Presidents he has known.
AS far back as 1885. for in
stance, he was receiving as
surances from William Gibbs
McAdoo that the Senator was
recovering nicely from that
California automobile acct
dent.
Recently Barnee received
two notes in one day on White