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Show Atect JHurical Instrument. In the Metropolitan Museum of AW hi New York city there is an interesting collection of musical instruments of all nations, many of which belong to past centuries. They lie silently in the glass rases. The strings of mandolins and lutea that made sweet muaio in das gone by are broken and twisted, and the fingers that once swept them have passed away, but still tho air seems trembling with melody. Imagination pictures the banquet hall, the summer nights when the troubadour sang songs ander his ladylove's window, or the Bedouin camp in the desert, where thft flute and guitar were played during the evening hour of repose. There are in rtrumenta here of all characters rude riolins and banjos fashioned by savage hands, and dainty lyres inlaid with gold and mother of pearl, instruments which have played their part in ancient ceremonies cere-monies in faraway India and China, ia the castles of the middle ages and in the Airican wilderness. It ia interesting to note that all nations have tried to make instruments to please the eye as well as to produce sweet Bounds. The stringed instruments and flutes of savage races are often grotesque and even ugly sivilized eyes, but the poor savage did Ms best Ho carved his instruments as well as he could and also adorned it with whatever precious trinkets he had m his possession. JEL S. Conaai in Bi Jfioholaa |