celebrated, it does not at all
resemble a human voice, though a very good stop of the kind; but the
world is very apt to be imposed upon by names; the instant a common
hearer is told that an organist is playing upon a stop which resembles
the human voice, he supposes it to be very fine, and never inquires into
the propriety of the name, or exactness of the imitation. However, with
respect to our own feelings, we must confess, that, of all the stops
which we have yet heard, that have been honored with the appellation of
_vox humana_, no one in the treble part has ever reminded us of anything
human, so much as the cracked voice of an old woman of ninety, or, in
the lower parts, of Punch singing through a comb." Let us hope that this
most irreverent description will not apply to the _vox humana_ of our
instrument, after all the science and skill that have been expended upon
it. Should it prove a success like that of the Freyburg organ, there
will be pilgrimages from the shores of the Pacific and the other side of
the Atlantic to listen to the organ that can _sing_: and what can be a
more miraculous triumph of art than to cheat the ear with such an
enchanting delusion?

Before the organ could be accepted, it was required by the terms of the
contract to be set up at the factory, and tested by three persons: one
to be selected by the Organ Committee of the Music-Hall Association, one
by the builder, and a third to be chosen by them. Having been approved
by these judges, and also by the State-Commissioner of Wuertemberg,
according to the State ordinance, the result of the trial was
transmitted to the President and Directors of the Music-Hall
Association, and the organ was accepted.

The war broke out in the mean time, and there were fears lest the vessel
in which the instrument might be shipped should fall a victim to some of
the British corsairs sailing under Confederate colors. But the Dutch
brig "Presto," though slow, was safe from the licensed pirates, unless
an organ could be shown to be contraband of war. She was out so long,
however,--nearly three months from Rotterdam,--that the insurance-office
presidents shook their heads over her, fearing that she had gone down
with all her precious freight.

"At length," to borrow Dr. Upham's words, "one stormy Sunday in March
she was telegraphed from the marine station down in the bay, and the
next morning, among the marine intelligence, in the smallest possible
type, might be