Off the subject to an extent, but in response to your Digest inquiry 
about Scott Joplin rolls: I have a very old roll stamped only March 31, 
1916 that is so much like Joplin, I always preferred to think it was he.  
Do you know?  The roll has no box, no other distinguishing character-
istics, just musically very him.

Susan Hoth

 [ Editor's note:
 [
 [ A totally unknown piano roll turned up in 1970 in Los Angeles; the 
 [ label stated simply "Silver Swan (Joplin)".  Once the new buyer
 [ realized it might be special a manuscript was transcribed and the
 [ music flashed around the country.  Within mere hours (or so it
 [ seemed!), all the expert collectors and ragophiles said "It sure
 [ sounds like Joplin."  After thorough study and discussion the
 [ experts declared it genuine -- a Joplin rag which was never
 [ published.
 [
 [ I suggest you make a good cassette recording, Susan, and ask
 [ our ragtime-loving members to identify the song.  It's not likely
 [ to be another undiscovered rarity, but you and the ragtimers can
 [ have fun identifying it!  :)
 [
 [ -- Robbie