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About The Hesperian / (Lincoln, Neb.) 1885-1899 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1900)
. ..."WjSsHiaWSnS mp. , H,m jy , jiimjjijgijij,. JULLLiW W J! JH lIDlllilf jlJipW mmmf THE NEBRASKAN-HESPERIAN, M pssssgra- LEGENDS. TIIK BKItAPUIU UANJO 0LUI1. A number of years ago It was be fore you ever Baw the university, so you don't care for the date the school had among other good things which It does not possess now a banjo club. It was one of the real kind, four banJoB, a couple of banjeourlnes for leads, a plcollo banjo and a bunch of guitars for bass. It took all tho mate rial the school offered to compose tho club. Every man who had a banjo and could play It was pressed Into servlco, besides seme who had thorn and could not play, and others who played on borrowed "shells." There wore sev eral banjos that were In use which cost under $100 notably Laurlo Pack ard's. Now, Packard's banjo was the unhapplest musical consummation that was over heard In tho university. No one could play It but himself, which was juBt as well, because no one cared to. Ho traded a pair of suspenders for It at a pawn shop, and tho Jew beat htm badly. It had a long swan-like neck studded with five mlsmated pegs, a sheep skin head with part of tho wool on, and an ornate tailpiece weigh ing about two pounds. (If you have over played a banjo, freshman, you laughed then. . If you haven't, the force was lost on you.) Tho club was under the direction of a Circassian headed Indian who received his board and washing at the conservatory in re pay for services as instructor. At this time Sleveklng, tho great pianist, was holding forth at the uni versity. He was booked for a concert at Beatrice and the banjo club was in vited, not at Sleveklng's instance let It be said, to go down with him and help round out tne program. Did tho club go? Well, the train started at 2:30 p. m. and every man had afternoon classes and drill that day. This ought to be answer enough, inasmuch as the chancellor was excusing all performers who took part in the concert. Every man was on hand at the starting time, including Packard, who had his banjo under his arm wrapped in an old quilt. The concert was a grand success. Sieveking's nerves were at high ten sion and he made the boys go clear down Into the furnace room of the opera house and sit on tho ash pile while they tuned up, lest his sensitive ears be shocked. The boys didn't mind their quarters at all, because they had been practicing regularly In Palladlan hall. There was a stunning soprano with the company and Sieveking took a great shine to her. He stood in the wings and batted his hands together and said "Bravo!" after every song. This tickled the boys. "Bravo" was a new one on them. And they laid for Mr. Sleveklng going home. The trip back to Lincoln was made in a special car. It was pretty swell for the banjo crew, but they could adapt themselves with ease to any thing, from an ash bin to tune up in to a palace car in which to hold a rough house. Sieveking sat with the soprano and tried to make a hit. At the proper tlmo the boys, who were sitting all over each other in the extreme rear of the coach, conceived the bright plan of singing in an inharmonious chorus all the songs the soprano had given with so much effect. In order to com plete the burlesque they unwrapped Packard's old tub to use for an accom paniment. The original intention of putting it badly out of tune was dis carded as unnecessary Packard's banjo was never supposed to be in tune. At the first note his highness squirmed and at the end of the ditty he came back and told the gang to quit their fool noise. Tho boys met him with a bland smirk and made no promises. He went back and ibfi crowd began "Because I Love You, Dear," Russell Thorp singing tenor. This brought Sieveking back on a can ter. Ho began swearing at them viciously, but this only made the boys feel more at ease. Then he threatened to whip thera separately or collectively. Ho was a whalo, this man, and an ath lete, too, and not ono of tho club now would deny that ho could havo done so with ease, but thoy didn't think so then, and told him as much with somo directness. At tho first talk of fight Packard wrapped up his cherished banjo and put It under tho seat. It would bo hard to predict tho ondlng had not tho soprano horsolf como back and began talking with tho crowd In her own fascinating way. This beat worrying Sieveking all to pieces and the concert was Indefinitely postponed. It didn't help his highness' tompor, howovor, and ho paced tho alslo ceaso lossly until the train struck Lincoln. That night on tho way homo tho boys wore talking over their escapade in high glee. "If ho had como back to whip us," said Ed O'Frunklyn, "I should havo clubbed Pack's old banjo and busted It over his head." "No you wouldn't," broke In Pack ard, with earnest warmth, "or It would have cost you $15." 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