Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1880-03-12
A ~FIDDLING, INCIDENT.
I'm which Remenyi was One OF the
Principal Actors.
Iowa City Republican.

menyi was passenger last evening,
and was witnessed by the writer here
O.. Not far west Of Iowa City
great, green, awkward fellow lum-
bered into the smoking car bearing in
his arms an ancient and badly damaged
violin case. He seated himself just
in front Of weather beaten individu-
al fully as unique as himself but evil
IDENTIFY some forty years older. The
ancient person surveyed the youth
with lively curiosity and then asked
what he had "thar." "a fiddle,n re-
piled the youth with the red nose and
watery eyes. Forthwi h the old man
besought him to play few tunes.
The youth declined, however, on the
theory that it was "agin the rule to
fiddle on the keers" Just at this mo-
ment Conductor Ackley came through
the car and the old fellow appealed
to him to know if the young man
could not be permitted to do little
fiddling. There was a twinkle in
Ackley's eye as he remembered that
he had Remenyi in the rear car and
he at once replied with great cordiali-
ty. eyes, sir, the young man can play
all he wants to-" With this encour-
agement the ye ung man atonce brought
forth from the case wheezy old vio-
lin with an American eagle painted in
red on the back. He began to tune
up and Conductor Ackley passed on
through the train to Remenyi in the
palace car. He told the great musi-
that there was a remarkable violinist
in the smoking car-in fact, he had
never heard such playing in his life
and advised Remenyi to go forward
and hear him. Forthwith Remenyi
and one or two of his party rushed
forward to the smoking car. where
they encountered remarkable scene
The passengers had gathered around
the young man with the fiddle, and
shouts of laughter greeted the musi-
clan as he scraped through the first
bars of the "Arkansaw Traveller" with
agonizing variations. The young man
accepted this as mark of encour-
agement and sawed away with renew
ed energy. Remenyi, who was ell
tirely unknown to the passengers,
took a seat just across the aisle and
Joined heartily in the general langh.
When the young man had finished the
"Arkansaw Traveller" the old man just
behind him took the violin, saying,
"I ,,aint played any fur forty year !
married me a wife and she wouldn't
have it, but | reckon kin scrape a
cat-gut yet" A fresh sally Of laugh
ter broke forth as the old man "tuk
the fiddle" and began scraping on
Jump Jim Crow" 1t was an agoniz
ing piece Of melody, and kept the aud
ience in fever of laughter. When
the old man finished, Remenyi asked
for the violin, and it was passed over
to him. The train had just stopped
at small station, aud the rumble of
the car-wheels was stilled into quiet.
Remeuyi drew the bow, and the grins
still on the faces of the passengers be-
gan to melt away with marvellous ra-
pidity. Immediately there fell upon
their astonished ears the opening
notes of a beautiful fantasia whose
sweet witchery would charm the dull
est. The wheezy old violin seemed to
rejoice under the hand of its first mas
ter and gave forth such music as it
never did before and never will again.
The gaping, astonished crowd listened
until Rcmenyi stopped and then broke
in with rapturous applause and be-