New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-08
GEORGE WAsHINGTONS VIOLIM
Az OLD cRrMoNA THAT THE FATHFR OF HIS oooN
TRY Is SAID TO HAVE PLAYED on

AZ ON cprMoYA THAT THE FATHFR OF HIS GUN
TRY Is SAID TO HAVE PLAYED ON.
A.. ola vioin a worm-eaten case, some historical
,...r and an aldayit vouchng for tho vions history
all I'm possession Of violin MAKER vi .n'. w
III noh.h,v lead 20 some interesting hstoricai TO
searcbes concerning the musical 'nc"h"''"'
abilities OF George Washington, for tho V'on - Dor"
10 have been his Tho violin ana us case a'o
onrn.d nv a son of Gcmunder, the Astoria V'o'h
o""N 40, IA nresumption enough that young
NJ cemunder IL ND on vioLs HIS surname Is
George and that possibly gives him authority "
sn.ak concerning the "Fathcr Of his country
was not known generally, until TINS Vio'in w
that George Washington, like Thomas 'eho.so"' 90
unsteady inclined, but the anidaVts anu io''o
Mr. Cemunder's possession seem to make OUT pe.y
strong case in favor of the tradition that oenorA'
~. -, ,r.s sometbine Of a musician Mr. &C.
,ndor sbowcd tho violin and its case to reporter
rccent,y together with tho letters and andaV', snu
told the yioIin's history. 1t came 10 MIN anu ~
father at Astoria N. Y, about two years ago 9a,
need of repairs. Tho owner, Thomas ID. ~ 49,,
NJ Charleston W. Va, wrote them at inc Same I'M
NJ, about tho violin and its case Ihey trieu ~ ~.
Tho instrument but Mr. Washington would not let IL
~ .t hecausc he said that It had always been IN
h wosbnrton famIlys possession since the Generais
death But a short time ago the Gemuhders sue
coded In getting 1t. Thomas b. Washihgtoh' VIM"
he sold It, gave the Gemunders an ahlua'' Nn
for thu Instruments having once been owned ny ,ho
frat President OF tho United States. The story runs
that nc the Father of his Country was riding one uay
throuoh Southern virginia, he heard sweet con-
course of sounds issuing from negro's cabin which
ada him An amateur musician. for he alghted from
MIA morse entered tho cabin and bought the vlonh'
which was being played by an old negro" history
"a client "a To how well how much the General
n,aved on his violin and the traditions OF the WASH
ncton family do not furnish any Information as 10
whether the Father of his Country "whooped her up
for the bows at barnraslngs, huslhngs ana fourth
Of July celebrations But seems that after he dlcd
tho violin and its old case to his nephew, Judge
Bushrod Washington.
Judge Washington called 1t the "Old Cremona'
because he found slip paper glued inside the violin
b.a airing tho inscription Jacob Steiner, 1879" a
Cremona maker. Mr. Gemunder, however, thinks
that it is Tyrolean violin made In imitation of the
Crcmona school
Judge Washington had a nephew, Thomas b. y" ASH
ncton father of the who sold the violin to the
Gemunders. Thomas b. thought that he could play
the fiddle II he only got after persuasion the old
Judge turned 1t over to him. On his death MS son.
Thomas b.. got It. lie could not play
1t, but preserved 1t as jealousy , as III
az pic or cherry tree, the famous Ratchet Itself
W tn the violin he turned over newspaper slip from
The Spirit of Jefferson" paper published In Charles
ton in which the editor revercnally speaks OF The
relic as the property of President George "ash-
The violin is under the usual size. but It is called
fulI size, and Il is of shapey model. The back Is
made OF maple and tho top Of spruce, and 1t is
stained a brownish black color. Tho case IS shaped
like a leg of mutton. 1t opens at the end TOO, Just
violin is now at No. 81 Union Square 1t is valued
81 OOO