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Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



and construction of organs was sought during the latter years of his 

 life, not only by his neighbors, but by contemplating purchasers in 

 distant cities and states. 



During the years 1853 and 1854 he studied musical composition 

 under Mr. Gottlieb A. Anthon, from whom he derived a thorough 

 acquaintance with the theory of music, although Mr. Anthon, who 

 was hardly able to speak a word of English, was not peculiarly 

 adapted at the time to be a teacher. The ready ability of his 

 pupil, however, overcame the difficulties of communication which 

 existed between the two. In 1855 he went to Boston, at his 

 father's suggestion, in order to become acquainted with the con- 

 struction of pianos and reed-organs. He boarded while in Boston 

 with a Mrs. Guild whose kindness he never forgot. Her son subse- 

 quently founded the "Boston Commercial Bulletin," and her 

 grandson afterwards became the Governor of Massachusetts. He 

 received much kindness from Mr. Chickering, the head of the great 

 manufacturing firm bearing his name, and from the Messrs. Mason 

 & Hamlin, and enjoyed the opportunity of hearing a number of 

 prominent and skilful musicians whose society was a delight to him. 



Returning from Boston he entered at once heartily into the 

 employment provided for him by his father, and in addition to 

 becoming acquainted with all the details of the business, traveled 

 quite extensively through parts of Pennsylvania, Virginia, and 

 Ohio. He still continued his musical studies, making great prog- 

 ress. In April, 1857, Sigismund Thalberg, the most renowned 

 pianist of that day excepting Liszt, came to the United States in 

 order to give concerts in the principal cities. He arrived in Pitts- 

 burgh late in April. Young Mellor, who had devoted much time 

 to the study of Thalberg's compositions, was delighted to be placed 

 in charge of the instrument upon which Thalberg performed, and 

 not only became well acquainted with the great master during his 

 stay in Pittsburgh," but accompanied him on his western tour to 

 Wheeling and Zanesville. He derived great inspiration from his 

 brief association with this eminent musician, and on his return 

 nothing would suffice him but to have a grand piano placed in his 

 room on the third floor of the home, where, muffling it with a soft 

 blanket, because his mother's sleeping apartment was below, he 

 played day after day until long after midnight, and also renewed 



