Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-11-20
Egosiss the Bow.

7
Charlottesville Chronicle" gives de-
scription of a family known at every dance
that happened in Augusta in old times:
In the enumeration of the distinguished
men of Virginia who have eXcelled in theli
performance ON the violin, we have seen
no mention of family of tlddlers perhape
better known Throughout the State than any
musicians who have been noticed III the
public prints. We allude to the famous
Sc s." who for more than half cen-
tury lave been regular attendants at thu
most prominent watering places OF Vlr'
,inia, supplying the music III the nal
rooms and directing the intricate figures "i
the dance. So great has been the noSnrlfty
Vt these old Virginia fdiIers and so pop
liar their charmed Instruments tat toi
many years they have not only figured
conspicuously at private parties and or
wedding occasions in ieir Immediate
aeighborllnod. but have been sent for from
al Paris IF the State to Wiell the bow OF!
reat public occasions, when the pleasures
If the dance constituted n feat re OF tie
entertainments. An interesting chapter
might he worked out from their recolitc
IONS of the gay scenes which they have
Witnessed in the course of their profes-
tonal career, and many striking incidents
doubtless be gathered from them in regal q
to the prominent gentlemen and ladies =
the bellies and beauX who constituted the
beaumondp, and m wed in The circles nf
fashionable places of summer resort in the
days Of Aud Lang Sy..e."
An interview with one of the "boys .
low seventy-one years of age, has furnish
I'd us with some inform 'tion in regard t.
the .mily that may possess not merely To-
cal interest, but he pertlsed with pleasure
by many persons TIN ougdout Virginia, who
are indebted for many of the most charm-
ing entertainments of the past to the Scott
and their fidd!rs.
The Scott family, as is well known, are
rolored people, but were never slaves, and
they have maintained through life a char
arter for integrity that has never been as
sailed, minglng in the best society, in the
of musicians, their manners par
took OF the geutili y and dignity of th'
polite society with which they were so con
stantly associated, and we find them still
respectful and polite in their demeanor and
conversation. The members oil
The family associated as musicians wrrt
Jesse Scott, the father, and lis three sons.
Robert. Thomas and James.
Jesse Scott was born i'll the county OF
Charles City. He WAS of Indian descent.
Ills wife was born on Pamtnkey Island.
md WAS reported to be the daughter of d
dis inguis|led Kentuckian. The father OF
Jesse was noted as violiiist, and trans
mitted his talents in that line tc his de-
scendants eken to the present generation.
Ills son LESSEE W IS the leader of the or
chestra until his death, which occurred Ill
Charlottesville i'll 1862. The secnnd son.
Thomas Scott, accompanied Hon. Vim. e..
Rives to Paris in the canacity 1T valet.
when that distinguished gentleman went
as United States Minister to France
Thomas returned with Nh. Rlves, having
served him with such fiji lily and So muci
to his satisfaction that lie WAS eng ged fol-
the same service by Mr.. Livingston and rt'-
turned with him to Paris He remained
in France, and is supposed to have died
there. as nothing has been heard OF him fo'
many years. The death of the fath + and
famous band, / ut the remaining brothers.
Robert aud James Scott, continue TO fire.
quent the watering pieces, aud are neve
at a loss FIR all engagement. They still
live in Chariot teaville, where they own con-
property and are much respected
by their fellow citizens. Around them are
gathered large number of children and
svne of whom are being
trained us in the way they should go. hand
ling the bow with great facility, and giving
assurance of Il successful walk in the way
their fathers trOd."
In the palmy days of the ''Scotts' they
were engaged principally in the springs
season at the Old Sweet and the Salt Sui
phW, then two of the most popular Watel-
ing places in the mountains of Virginia.
OF late years they have been at RaWley.
Coyrer's and the NJ ~ gomery White
Tney were often sent for to PLAY at the
commence mants of colleges and univer-
sitivs, frequeAtly from other States. Their
winters We're spent, principally, III the city
of Richmond. where their services were i'll
nightly requislon in private families and
at the hotels. The surviving brothers have
vivid and pleasing rec ,llect ons of the
scenes and incid ants through which they
have passed and among the distinguished
men VINO figured ii the nlazes of the dance
and the whirl of the gdly waltz, to the
music Of their enchanted fiddles. they Ca
sually mentioned the names of such men
as President Tyler, VIM. q. Preston, Bdl-
lard Preston and others.
What tale those old fiddles of the
Scocts could tell if they coiild speak How
many "sylph like'' feet have tWnkled to
tleir music? How many soft eyes have
spoken love to eyes that spoke again,
while their notes ravshed the ear and
thrilled the hearts of the fascinated deyoteeS
of fashion and ''S'ciety." How many ten
der words nave been whispered, as the
patrons of the German whirled around the
glazed floor, "locked in each others arms
and pillowed cheek to cheek ?'' How many
sly tiirtations have been ctrried on i'll the
corners, and how many little hands have
been squeezed, while Jesse and his b Us
supplied the music for the promenade OF
directed the movements of the Old Viz
81 III reel Perhaps many into whose
hands this paper may fall may recall some
such experience of days long gone by. If so,
let them breathe a benediction ON the survi-
vors Of the fam GUS violin orchestra whose
praise has been in all the bathrooms,