I just returned from a trip to Florida.  We like to run around as much
as we can to do all of the flea markets and junk shops that we can
find.  In Saint Augustine I wanted to see the Lightner Museum again.
(Haven't been there for 10 years.)  Somehow it looked smaller than the
way I remember it!  However, it is still a must see if you happen to be
in that part of Florida.

Mr. Lightner seemed to have a mild interest in musical instruments and,
for the few that is there (about 20), it is a quality exhibit.  What
got my attention was the person demonstrating them.  They play them two
times a day year 'round.

The nice older guy showing them was more than likely a volunteer but
did not know most of the terms of what the parts were called.  Said he
had worked there for years.  He kept calling the comb in the Regina
"reeds", and kept raking his fingers across it to "demonstrate" it.
(Big No-No!)

He almost put his finger through the roll on the player piano showing
the tracker bar, and later he explained how he _did_ put his finger
through one and repaired it with Scotch tape and it lasted for about
six more months!

They also have a real nice Mills Violano Virtuoso and all of the pipes
were called "whistles".  After playing the nickelodeon, a middle-aged
woman walked up to it in front of about 20 people and asked the
gentleman in a loud, serious voice, "How does it work?"

Jeese,  it was all I could do to keep from yelling "Sounds like it
works damn good"!  So long for now.

Julian Burke