Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 20 June 1893, Page 3

Notes and Events.

Mr Harry Fifcfcs, better known as " Harry Atkinson " is known in London as the man with the orchestra in his throat. He is a Melbourne boy and by the advice of Mr Toole he went to London and secured first-class engagements at the various music halls. Dr Orwin, the great throat specialist told him that his was the most extraordinary case he had ever met with. The whole of the passages of the throat and nostrils were honeycombed, acting as a sounding-board and a reed as well. Visiting Melbourne the other day he was interviewed and on being asked " Wouldn't you like to give a few imitations here, just to give an idea of the thing ?" Instead of answering, Mr Fitfcs folded his hands one upon another, leant back in his chair, and gazed with a sweet happy smile at the ceiling. Presently a cornet began to play — not a common cornet, but one of absolute perfection of tone, fingered by a master of the instrument. It got out the melody, then it came back aud worried it with intricate variations. It rolled, it thundered, it made excursions into the desolate regions of the staccato, and wandered back by the broad dreary road of the arpeggio, ending finally on a not& at first barely audible, but rising to a crescendo that made the doors shake. Then Mr Fitts seized his walking stick and thrummed on the guitar and the mandolin, and ping-pinged ou the banjo. Finally, hurling his stick into a corner, he got hold of his nose again, and in a trice the musette and the penny trumpet joined in the concert, which finished with a prolonged drone on the bagpipes. Then the door flew open and a crowd of people came flocking in to try and find out where on earth the German band was playing, but seeing nothing but a quiet-looking gentleman seated in an armchair, and no incriminating evidence in the way of musical instruments lying about, they went away again dissatisfied.