1923 Yearbook
Source URL
Title
1923 Yearbook
Description
ORCHESTRA JOTTINGS
". He called for his pipe,
And he called for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three."
This, my dear reader, was written many, many years ago by a soft-boiled old lady
named Goose, who lived in an old shoe and had many children. All of which, of
course, is familiar to the childish mind. (Just ask Eddie West or Mattie Timmer
about "Mama" Goose.) But that's that, so to speak. The point that I wish to emphasize is the fact that a big man like King Cole had only three fiddlers. In contrast
to that, consider that our humble little orchestra here at college boasts of ten promising
young "bow-men". Not that superiority is to be gauged by weight of numbers; but
nevertheless, in a fairly waged contest between the two factions, if King Cole would
kindly furnish our ten contestants with a bowl of his—er—ahem!—soup, I have no
doubts whatever as to the outcome.
Which only goes to show that the world hasn't progressed a d—a-shed bit since the
days of King Cole. Kings still persist in drinking—er—soup, dreaming pipe dreams,
and amusing themselves with diplomatic fiddlers.
It has been said that Music exercises a strange influence over men, and it is a fact
that has generally gained recognition. Even in my own experience, I have seen big,
strong men at the strains of a certain piece of music struggle to their feet as if compelled by the force of their emotion. I have seen little men do likewise under the
same circumstances. Also women.
Which, of course, only goes to show that the "Star Spangled Banner" is an act that
always goes over big—it always gets a rise out of everybody.
For the liberty taken above with such a national institution I offer all due apologies
to Ambassador Harvey and Uncle Joe Cannon. The former, of course, is the recognized King Bug of all "Faux passers", and besides this, is gifted almost Providentially
with small feet, making, as a result, the act of opening one's mouth and putting one's
foot in, a quite painless and uninconveniencing operation. But poor Joe!! He sticks
his foot right into a "Cannon's" mouth! Boom! Boom! (Such is a pun!)
I note in passing that Father Rohret, formerly first violinist in the orchestra during
his college days here, has returned to his beloved "Alma". After wasting the soul of
his music on the desert air, he has come back to the scenes of his former escapades and
taken charge of the orchestra, this ensemble of budding geniuses. Needless to say, he
intends to cultivate them to the limit. At the risk of mixing metaphors we make haste
to express our good wishes—hoping that the Dutch Cleanser of Ambition shall wipe
clean the Windows of the Future so that Success may peer through like a Thief in the
Night, and the Foolish Virgins of Hope will not have to walk home when the Gasoline
gives out on the Long and Narrow Road.
Shortly after he began his duties as a director, Father Rohret began to consider the
purchase of a new set of drums for the orchestra. Drums, he said, would add greatly
to the scope of the orchestra and enhance its playing qualities. We, with our usual
good taste and common sense, rushed into the breach as advisory and suggested that if
the very best was to be desired, to purchase drums without any heads, as we had heard
Page 91
". He called for his pipe,
And he called for his bowl,
And he called for his fiddlers three."
This, my dear reader, was written many, many years ago by a soft-boiled old lady
named Goose, who lived in an old shoe and had many children. All of which, of
course, is familiar to the childish mind. (Just ask Eddie West or Mattie Timmer
about "Mama" Goose.) But that's that, so to speak. The point that I wish to emphasize is the fact that a big man like King Cole had only three fiddlers. In contrast
to that, consider that our humble little orchestra here at college boasts of ten promising
young "bow-men". Not that superiority is to be gauged by weight of numbers; but
nevertheless, in a fairly waged contest between the two factions, if King Cole would
kindly furnish our ten contestants with a bowl of his—er—ahem!—soup, I have no
doubts whatever as to the outcome.
Which only goes to show that the world hasn't progressed a d—a-shed bit since the
days of King Cole. Kings still persist in drinking—er—soup, dreaming pipe dreams,
and amusing themselves with diplomatic fiddlers.
It has been said that Music exercises a strange influence over men, and it is a fact
that has generally gained recognition. Even in my own experience, I have seen big,
strong men at the strains of a certain piece of music struggle to their feet as if compelled by the force of their emotion. I have seen little men do likewise under the
same circumstances. Also women.
Which, of course, only goes to show that the "Star Spangled Banner" is an act that
always goes over big—it always gets a rise out of everybody.
For the liberty taken above with such a national institution I offer all due apologies
to Ambassador Harvey and Uncle Joe Cannon. The former, of course, is the recognized King Bug of all "Faux passers", and besides this, is gifted almost Providentially
with small feet, making, as a result, the act of opening one's mouth and putting one's
foot in, a quite painless and uninconveniencing operation. But poor Joe!! He sticks
his foot right into a "Cannon's" mouth! Boom! Boom! (Such is a pun!)
I note in passing that Father Rohret, formerly first violinist in the orchestra during
his college days here, has returned to his beloved "Alma". After wasting the soul of
his music on the desert air, he has come back to the scenes of his former escapades and
taken charge of the orchestra, this ensemble of budding geniuses. Needless to say, he
intends to cultivate them to the limit. At the risk of mixing metaphors we make haste
to express our good wishes—hoping that the Dutch Cleanser of Ambition shall wipe
clean the Windows of the Future so that Success may peer through like a Thief in the
Night, and the Foolish Virgins of Hope will not have to walk home when the Gasoline
gives out on the Long and Narrow Road.
Shortly after he began his duties as a director, Father Rohret began to consider the
purchase of a new set of drums for the orchestra. Drums, he said, would add greatly
to the scope of the orchestra and enhance its playing qualities. We, with our usual
good taste and common sense, rushed into the breach as advisory and suggested that if
the very best was to be desired, to purchase drums without any heads, as we had heard
Page 91
Date
1923
Rights
St. Ambrose University, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport, IA 52803
Identifier
http://cdm16810.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16810coll2/id/7700