THE PERILOUS ORGAN OF OTHER DAYS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 12 February 1929, Page 2

THE PERILOUS ORGAN OF OTHER DAYS

There was mention a little while ago in an English paper of tho discovery of an old “church barrel organ,” said to have been in the possession of one family for over a hundred years. If itis a genuine specimen of the mechanical organ which in far-off days did duty in village churches, we have reason to believe that the congregations of those churches were in considerable danger of musical confusion.' For we note that while this church barrel organ was perfectly in order by reason of three hymntunes, it also could give out “Jim Crow” and “Jenny Jones,” not to speak of “Scots wha hae,” and “Home, Sweet Homo.” What happened in those moments when bhe organist'is- attention strayed—presuming that'the aforetime organist was susceptible to a weakness not entirely unknown to organists of now —can be imagined. A congregation rising in its place to sing a hymn, and hearing at the organ the strains of “Jenny Jones,” might be excused for Un-charchlike hilarity, while the excitement of tli3 organist can easily be imagined. Clearly, to bo in command of such ail instrument had its trials. Then, as now, to press tlie wrong button meant disaster for tiie organist.