Year: 1874

the Snowman says; g..


"NIy friend, you seem to know
pretty much all the tunes there are,
and you worry along frst-rate. But
then didn't you notice that sometimes
last night the piece you happened to
be playing was a little rough on the
properties, so to speak--didn't seem
to jibe with the general gait of the
picture that was passing at the time,
as it were--was d little foreign to the
subject, you know.-as if you didn't
either trump or follow suit, you un-
derstand?"


"Well, no, the fellow said he hadn't
noticed, but it might be; he had
played along just as it came handy.


So they put it up that the simple
old dummy was to keep his eye on
the panorama after that, and as soon
as stunning picture was reeled out.
he was to fit it to dot with q piece
of music that would help the audi
enoe get the idea of the subject, and
warm them up like a camp meeting
revival. That sort of thing would
corral their sympathies, the Snowman
said.


There was a bigaudience that night
mostly middle aged and old people
who belonged to the church and took
strong interest in Bible matters,
and the balance were pretty much
young bucks and heifers they always
come out strong on panoramas, you
know, because it gives them chance
to tasts one another's mugs in the
dark.


Well, the Snowman began to swell
himself up for his lecture, and the
old mud-dobber tackled the piano
and run his fingers up and down once
or TWICE to see that she was al right,
and the fellows behind the curtain
commenced to grind out the pano-
rama. The Snowman balanced his
weight on his right foot, and propped
his hands on his hips, and flung his
eye over his shoulder at the scenery,
and says:
. "Ladies and gentlemen, the paint
ing now before you illustrates the
beautiful and touching parable Of the
Prodigal Son. Observe the happy
expression just breaking over the
features of the poor suffering youth
so worn and weary with his long
march; not alsoe the ecstasy beaming
from the uplifted countenance of the
aged father, and the Joy that sparkles
in the eyes of the excited group of
youths and maidens, and seems ready
to burst in a welcoming chorus from
their lips. The lesson, my friends,
is as solemn and instructive as the
story is tender and beautiful. 4"


The mud-dobber was all ready, and
the second the speech was finished
he struck up:


"Oh we'll all get blind drunk,


When Johnny comes marching home"


Some of the people giggled and
some groaned little. The Snowman
couldn't say word. He looked at
the piano sharp; but he was all lovely
and serene-he didn't know there
was anything out Of gear


The panorama moved on, and the
Snowman drummed up his grit and
started in fresh.


"The fine picture now unfolding
itself to your gaze exhibits one Of the
most notable events in Bible history
our Savior and his disciples upon
the sea of Galilee. How grand, how
awe-inspiring are the reflections
which the subject ihvokesl What
sublimity of faith is revealed to us in
this lesson from the sacred writingsl
The Savior rebukes the angry waves,
and walks securely upon the bosom
of the deepp


All around the house they were
whispering, "Oh, how lovelyl how
beautiful and the orchestra let him
self out again:


"Oh, q life on the Ocean Wave,


And hone OH the rOllipgideepW


There was good deal of honest
snickering turned on this time, and
considerable grooming, and one or
two old deacons got up and wentout.
The Snowman gritted his teeth and
cursed the piano man to himself; but
the fellow sat there like knot on
log, and seemed to think he was doing
frst-rate.


After things got quiet, the show
man thought he would make one
more stagger at it anyhow, though
his confidence was beginning to get
mighty shaky The supes started
the panorama to grinding along, and
he says: ~


Ladies' and gentlemen, this ex-
quisite painting illustrates the raising
Of Lazarus from the dead by our
Savior. The subject has been han
died with rare ability by the artist,
and such touching sweetness and
tenderness of expression has he
thrown into it, that / have known
peculiarly sensitive persons to be
even affected to tears by looking ut
it. Observe, also, the attitude and
expression of the Savior, who takes
him gently by the sleeve Of his
shroud with one hand, while he
points with the other toward the dis
tant CITY,"


Before anybody could get off nm
opinion in the case, the innocent old
ass at the piano struck up;


Come rise up, William Ridley,


And go along with me"


1t was rough ON the audience, you
bet you. All the solemn old flats
got up in huff to go, and every
body else laughed till the windows
ratified.


The Snowman went down and grab
bed the orchestra, and shook him up,
and says:


"That lets You out, you know, you
ch0wder-headed old clam Go to
the doorkeeper and get your money,
and cut your stickl vamoso tho
ranchei Ladies and gentlemen, cir
over which / have no
II 4.