Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-05-31
DElL'S CREMONA,

was troubled neither Oy domestic nor Ousi-
ness cares. Most men living alone and
without family ties would have felt life to be
somewhat wea-isome, but Dell had no fault
TO End with this world. The secret Of Als
grsat happiness Was that he had hobby,
and was able ;oride It to his heart content.
He was cornoisseur and collector not Of
paintings, eric s.brac, or china, but Of
fddles. he possessed over 200 viOlins,
which he had hunted for aud pur-
chased in almost every corner of Europe.
When in trade Dell had been a renowned
tea faster, but is the opinion Of hose best
able to Judge he vas not equally qualified
to test the merits OF violin. The conse-
uueuCe was that be had been grossly i'm
posed on, and had spent several thousand
pounds in acquiring . number OF lnstru-
nents of G;;le or no value. The conviction
that his Judgment in this matter was not
infslhble had az last dswned upon Dell
himself and be was now very chSry Of add
pg TO his collection Indeed, so far as
numbers went, ne might we'll have been
satisfactory. because as soon as his doc
was opened the iddles hanging in his halls
scarcely room in his house in which the5
were not conspicuous. Now though Dell
wGs aware tha. he had frequently DOUGH;
yalvclrss instruments under the lmptesSIol
that thew were Stsiners, and that on mOra
thar one occasion he had gwen nearlf
cI0U for some old fiddle which turned on
% be KlC,z worth about - or tlO
i must nog be supposed that ne was dlssst-
i.6ed with his collection. Nor had he res'
son 10 be so, and he was the happy posses
sor Of one gem OF the first water when was
able 70 redeem even its companions from
insignifcance By comforting celebrity upon
their owner. BY some fortunate chance
bell had ACQUIRED remarkably fine Strsdi'
warns. a genuine instrument, OF mag
nifcent tone, which many com
pa,ant critics affirmed to De the
finest specimen known of the great
master 3 hand!wOrk. There was no doubt
whatever about the authenticity OF this
famous violin, as it had been seen and
PLAYED on By many of the mos! celebrated
performers IN Europe who, when they came
to London, obtained an introduction to MIR.
Dell that they nigh. inspect his matchless
Cremoua. To DO Dell Justice, on such oc.
casions he Vas always yery willing to afford
the curious the qualification they sought
Time after time lie had been offered toOO
for his CreuO-a, and one wealthy
yirtuoso had been eager 10 buy It at
price very lar exceeding that sum
but the owner never for q moment
entertained any Of these proposals. Dell,
himself in more than easy circumstances,
used 70 listen with q certain grim smuse-
uent 10 those who thought that 5000 would
be an inducement to him to part with that
possession which gave his life its greatest
value. Though it would have been other
wise inferred BY any one entering his house.
Dell was no musician; he did not even pos
sess An ear and merely by his sense OF hear
inc could not have distinguished between
Joachim performing on the Cremonla and
some amateur scraping on one OF his crack,
ed KIotzes. Why one who was destitute OF
ell soul for n usic should still ind his great
pst Measure in treasuring an instrument
which could produce ethereal strains may
rerbaps be explained By those more e'e2'y
skilled in psychology than tra lr-Ssat
writer. -,
IN this respect Dell presented a striking
contrast 10 his counsin, Tom Hopkins, VINO
for an amatuer, was very talr performer
on the violin. Toms skill as musician
however, was rot on par with h:a a.
tios, sii55 ; ;hUo,fg ne practiced hard ne dlC
rot rise ADORE medIocrity. Unlike many
amateurs, he had formed no false estimate
oFbis profciancy He was aware that ht
Dever received praise from those whose
;,S5gpent could be valued and though be
was very acceptable visitor at several
suburban Villas, when he occasionally
caIlsd IN the evening carrying his ylohI
case he did no; attach much weight to the
r,Ior5i,s of the maiden members OF these
Households. for be was q wellto-do wldoTeE
ond more thsn commonly suspicious o
attamnts 20 deprive him of his restored no
srtv As be grew older Hopkins seemed
oniy 10 become more attached to MS tsVor
Inc pursuit, and grudged neither money
na;ns nor time in order to acquire tn
sL;II which had hitherto been denies
him Tom was one OF those va
coveted his cousin famous Cremona. II
had frequently tried 10 obtain It Of oferni
the owner an almost fabulous price. bop
Eirs ON several occasions had been peEmItte'
10 nlsy on the S;radivarius and 1t app2aee'
40 him that when he held the grand lnstru
man, in his hand he became possessed OF
new mower. and that for the moment ne wa
tr,e ar.is4. OF course this behet va
soiaIv due 20 imagination, bat in Hopkins
oD,o;,rtsd N conviction, and his delusio
60 ssrvs 20 extenuate slightly the yer
ranrabensible conduct OF winch ne wa
Guilty in connection WITH tne ma
ter. If ne had only his COUSIN
fiddle 10 play on Hopkins Tel
that he would be second to no Vlohnlst
the day, and BY continually brooding, owe
his idss he resolve to obtain 1t at lengt
rnastered hin. Before resortlng to an
,1trateaem in order to get possession OF tn
CraIo6na. he resolved to make another etfor
- rprcbsse !, fairly. Accordingly one even
mo violin case in hand, on his return fron
some musical party, Hopkins called upol
his cousin. -:
Deli glaneips supereillious!T st the hdaI
case Hopkins was carrying.
"VeU' yes" was the reply, spoken IN
ro,be- melancholy tone, "ald as was pass
ms though; | would look in aud have on
more Eighf IS s6af Slrsdiyarlus
- M unususl request on hop
lals " "a DsIl smiled as he unlocSe'
~ ia oak cabinet and ProGueea tns rs :,
IrbsTein rsposed his priceless aSS.iI ~
Honkins for q few momeaS ~ Da;nt
tS ase 10 conceal Den stood looking s s hin
I'D very naturally derived = gooSs e0t, -
Sat;sfacton from his COUSIN 0''N'"' -
mirstion. e.oo far tY' asked HoE
kins, at length .,.uos, Won had said tbs
II should have thought ~ Nh So
often enU ng sssmed nervous, and be locke
alt.ls pale ale, as 81. Ss i 81 900 for itY'
% va IyC o@@ I reUiisd Dell as he took th