Portable Harmony
SIR,—When my brother and I were small boys, in the 90's, 'we were given an " Orchestrianette," a hand-operated mechanical organ. Its tone was like that of portable harmoniums, known to us as " Dismal Jimmies." By turning a handle, bellows were inflated and a turntable was revolved on which perforated discs of stout cardboard were placed.
We had several records of secular music, " Robin Adair," etc., but only three which we were permitted to play on Sundays; "Pull for the shore sailors, pull for the shore," " Safe in the arms of Jesus " and "Hold the fort for I am coming." We soon discovered that this meagre repertoire of sacred music could be doubled by putting on the records upside down; the tunes were thus played in reverse. We are probably the only two living persons who can render "Safe in the arms of Jesus " the wrong way round.—Yours faithfully, Mildura, Cranleigh, Surrey.
FRANK H. KNIGHT.
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