They Laughed When I Sat Down At The Piano By John Caples

They Laughed When I Sat Down At the Piano But When I Started to Play!—

"Can he really play?" a girl whispered. "Heavens no!" Arthur exclaimed. "He never played a note in his life."

Arthur had just played "The Rosary." The room rang with applause. I decided that this would be a dramatic moment for me to make my debut. To the amazement of all my friends, I strode confidently over to the piano and sat down. "Jack is up to his old tricks," somebody chuckled. The crowd laughed. They were all certain that I couldn't play a single note. "Can he really play?" I heard a girl whisper to Arthur. "Heavens, no!" Arthur exclaimed. "He never played a note in all his life. But just you watch him. This is going to be good." I decided to make the most of the situation. With mock dignity I drew out a silk handkerchief and lightly dusted off the piano keys. Then I rose and gave the revolving piano stool a quarter of a turn, just as I had seen an imitator of Paderewski do in a vaudeville sketch. "What do you think of his execution?" called a voice from the rear. "We're in favor of it!" came back the answer, and the crowd rocked with laughter.

A Complete Triumph As the last notes of the Liebestraum died away, the room resounded with a sudden roar of applause. I found myself surrounded by excited faces. How my friends admired me! Men shook my hand—women congratulated me—pounded me on the back in their enthusiasm! Everybody was exclaiming with delight—plying me with rapid questions: "Jack! Why didn't you tell us you could play like that?" "Where did you learn?" "How long have you studied?" "Who was your teacher?" I replied. "I have never even seen my teacher," I replied. And, just a short while ago I couldn't play a note. "Quit your kidding," laughed Arthur, himself an accomplished pianist. "You've been studying for years, I can tell." "I have been studying only a short while," I insisted. "I decided to keep it a secret so that it would surprise you folks." Then I told them the whole story. "Have you ever heard of the U. S. School of Music?" I asked. A few of my friends nodded. "That's a correspondence school, isn't it?" they exclaimed. "Exactly," I replied. "They have simplified the study of music so you may learn any instrument by mail in just a few months."

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