The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-07-05
ANCIENT vIOLiNS.
A Doctors Test of the Superiority of
His Cherished Amati.
-sUncle Billo in Chicago Herald. |

("Uncle Bill" in Chicago Herald
A collection of old and celebrated
yiolins is an exhibit in the Bartholdi
statue show. TO casual observer they
look ordinary and uninteresting. There
are nine of them, and they are in q
glass case that bears no label calculated
to arouse enthusiasm. Ninety-nine vis-
itors in hundred pass them by con-
temptuously. And they deserve it, !"
said bystander when this disregard of
the treasures was commented on.
There is no greater nonsense in the
whole range of ancient violins. The
very men who go into raptures over an
old specimen can't tell you why or how
1t differs from the workmanship of the
present day in the same line. !"
All but think of the associations, !"
urged an enthusiast, DIR. S. B. Tuthill,
of Brooklyn. Look at this Amati-
genaine specimen, with an authenticated
history. 1t is more than 200 years old.
Cardinal Ottibeni played it along about
100. From the pomp of Catholic cere-
monial music making, it was transported
to the court of England, where Handel
himself accompanied its solos with a
harpsichord. George ILL., drew bow
across it at the end of its first century.
Thus it went from the hands of pope
to those of a royal profigate. After
ward, it became the property of Ole
Bull, who used it great deal in his
concerts, and left it to his widow"
All this was pooh-poohed. Even DIR.
Tuthil1s own exhibit, another Amati,
commanded no respect, though polite
ness protected it from ridicule. Three
countrymen came along. Two only
gave glance at the violins, but the
third stopped at them. His remarks dis
closed him as a fiddler; but he, too, was
devoid of appreciation. He guessed
he'd put his own fiddle into glass box
when he got home, and charge SO cents
to look at it. The doctor was nettled.
He is a Philistine, like the rest OF
you," he said, "but I'll let him be q
| Judge whether or not there is any extra
merit in my Amati. He shall play it,
AMI decide the question without infu-
ence."
It was a morning hour, and the
Academy of Design, in which the .exhi-
bition is held, had only score or so OF
inmates. The doctor removed his violin
from the case. It is in almost constant
use, and needed only few scrapes and
screw turns to be ready for the trial.
Il believe you play, my friend?" he
said to the countryman.
"Oh, [ only fiddle little at home, u
was the diffident reply.
A little urging. however, and he took
up the valuable fiddle and it's compare
lively worthless bow. You can readily
guess what he played. money Musk, y
of course; and with that peculiar,
rythm;e swing that sets ones foot to
shutting almost uncontrollably to the
figures OF an imaginary reel, no matter
what may be the critical opinion of the
execution. There was no denying it.
The rich, full, sweet tone was better
than the average of the sounds given
out by violins.
well, what do you think of that %
the doctor asked.
"That's the best fiddle I ever drawed
a bow across" was the reply; whats
the price of it?'
"Five thousand dollars
The precious instrument was for q
moment in peril, for the fiddler seemed
about to drop it in surprise.