Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-12
la1ncaster fntelIigenrer.
FRIDAY EVENING, MARCH -, 1880.
Fun on the Cars.
Two Amateur Fiddlers AstOnished by Re.
menyi,

Fun on the Cars.
Two Amateur Fiddlers Astonislned by Re-
mehyi.
The Iowa City Republican tells the fol-
lowing: can amusing scene took place
on the train from the West on which Re-
lnenyi was a passenger last evening, and
was witnessed by the writer hereof. Not
far west of Iowa City a great, green,
awkward young fellow numbered into the
smoking car bearing in his arms an ancient
and badly damaged violin case. He seated
himself just in front of weather-beaten
individual fully as unique as himself, but
evidently some forty years older. The
ancient person surveyed the youth with
lively curiosity and then asked what he
had "thar." =" GA fiddle" replied the
youth with the red nose and watery eyes.
Forthwith the old man besought him to
play few tunes.
The youth declined, however, on the
theory that it was ''agin the rules to fiddle
on the keers." Just at this moment Con-
ductOr 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 fiddllng. 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 cOrdiality, eyes,
sir; the young man can play all he wants
to-" With this warm encouragement the
young man at once brought forth from the
case a wheezy old violin with an American
eagle painted in red on the back.
lie began to tune up and Conductor
Acllley passed on through the train until
he came to Remenyi in the palace car
He told the great musician 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 60 for
ward and hear him. Forthwith Remenyi
and one or two of his party rushed forward
to the smoking Car, where they encounter
ed a remarkable scene. The passengers
had gathered around the young man with
the fiddle, and shouts of laughter greeted
the musician as he scrapcd through the
first bars of the "Arkansaw Traveller
with variations
The young man accepted this rs a mark
of encouragement and sawed away with
renewed energy. temenyi, who was en-
tircly unknown to the passengers, took a
seat just across the aisle and joined
heartily in the general laugh. When the
young man had finished the "Arkansaw
Traveler,' the old man just behind him
took the violin, saying, Il haint played
any fur forty year. | married me wife
and she wouldn't have it, but reckon |
kin scrape a catgut yet" A fresh sally of
laughter broke forth as the old man s.tuk
the fiddle " and began scraping on ".Jump
Jim Crow
1t was an agonizing piece of melody,
and kept the audience in Il fever oc laugh
ter. When the old man finished Remenyi
asked for the violin, and it was passed over
to him. The train had just stopped at a
small station, and the rumble Of the car
wheels was stiled into quiet. Remenyi
drew the bow, and the grins still on the
faces of the passengers began to melt away
with marvellous rapidity. Immediately
there fell upon their astonished ears the
opening notes of Il beautiful fantasia. whose
sweet wltchery would charm the dullest.
The wheezy old violin seemed to rejoice
under the hand of its first master and gave
forth such music as it never did before and
never will again. The gaping. astonlshed
crowd listened until Rcmenyi stopped and
then broke in with rapturous applause and
besought him to continue. But no-he
held up the bow in gleeful derision and
exclaimed vehemently - Can't play with
that-only three hairs on it-no no. no -
He handed the violin back to the youth.
who thrust it into the case and left the car
at once, vowinS that he would never play
another tune.