HOW KETTEN TURNED THE TABLES.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2287, 16 July 1880, Page 3

HOW KETTEN TURNED THE TABLES.

Hencry Ketteu, the pianist (recently arrived in Australia from San Francisco) not only left behind him the goodwill and hearty favour due this most accoraT lished artist and courteous gentleman, but also the memory of so thorough and matchless a snub to one of those intolerable vulgarians who form,at least the superstructure of Frisco society, that we could afford to ever hold him in grateful remembrance for the latter reason alone. It appears that Mr K. was invited to a party at the house of one of our local Plutocrats, a large importing merchant, and attended the same with his wife, precisely as would any other expected guest. To his surprise, however, he found the company sitting solemnly around as though in a concert hall, and himself at once pressed to “play something” by his host. The cortoous Frenchman complied, and in response to repeated requests, continued to entertain the company for nearly two hours. When, at last, he was thoroughly fatigued, supper was announced, whereon the host arose and said : “You’ve got piano punching down fine, Ketten old fellow. Now, if you’ll play these young folks a few quadrilles and polkas while the balance of us go down to hash, I’ll send up Martlxa Louise to relieve you presently ; or, if you like you can have something sent up and eat it right here on the piano. I first kinder calculated to have engaged a couple of fiddlers, but the old lady said she thought you wouldn’t mind. I’ll make it all right when you go-” The astounded artist gazed at the speaker (who was well known to have been a bar keeper in the “good old days”) for a few moments, utterly dum founded; then controlling himself, he gravely turned his back and began playing dance music as requested. When the company had all reassembled in the parlor, he raised his voice and said —■ There was an awful silence, and then the shoddycrat, with a ghastly attempt to carry off the joke, prepared the drink and handed it to the musician. The latter drunk the beverage criti-

cally. “ You’re Inking practice my good man ; the fellow at the hotel bar does niiicli better. There you may keep the change,’’ and tossing tlio almost asphyxiated millionaire a half dollar, he put his wife under his arm and walked out.