A COLLEGE REMINISCENCE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXX, Issue 2483, 9 June 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A COLLEGE REMINISCENCE.

A senior Don " kept" in the rooms above iniup. He was very musical, and had a resonaut grand piano, on which his learned leisure led him generally to begin playing at about ten every morning. By that hour I was supposed to be fit my books. Every note of this performing "fellow's" instrument sounded iu my room. Reading was impossible. The man drove me half mad. Of course I ought to have civilly remonstrated (the authorities extinguished a youth who began to learn tho cornet with his window open at about the same hour), but some information reached me that iu my case remonstrance would be waste of energy. My man was not an undergraduate, and in his musical utterances did not, like the cornet player, address the whole college. Ho was, I suppose, reported to be unapproachable. So I tried another line of action, and one evening bought a flageolet. Next morning I laid it down by my ink stand and began to read "conic sections." Ho began a "fugue." I put down iny pen and piped " Marbrough s'on va-t-en guerre." I should observe that to this marked and penetrating melody tho youth of the place used to .-iiig "we won't go homo till morning." Presently my Don staggered and stopped. I stopped. In about ten miuutes he began again. So did I. This intermittent instrumental duet went on every forenoon for nearly a week, and was (on my side) watched with much interest by many friends. At last indications of defeat were perceptible. On tiie fourth or fifth day, when my man found that he could not touch his piano without starting my pipe, I hoard him slam dowii his instrument, stamp about the floor, and presently bang the door, having gone out. I was much encouraged, and used not only to play bits of tunes in moments of leisure, but left a standing note oil my table by tho flageolet requesting any friend who might come in to do his best. At last our enraged musician appealed to tho authorities against me. I could only reply that, whilo I admired his efficacy and regretted my own want of skill. I hoped to do better in time and with practice. The business ended in my victory : he promised not to play in the morning ; I did the same. And he was not such a bad fellow after all, for when he was beaten we shook hands, and he asked me to '"wine."—Rev. Harry Jones, M. A., in " Good Words."