The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-18
FAMOUS yroLEN.
An Instrument Valued at Thousands Of Dol
lars Originally Bought for $50.

lars Originally Bought for $50.
Atlanta Constitution.
A gentleman of Atlanta gives the subjoined
Interesting narrative Of famous violin:
I'm 1885, an opera company was filing an en-
gagement in Baltimore. The leader or the
orchestra Italian named Perdi. who was
u remarkably accomplished violinist. His vlo-
Ain possessed a beautiful which rang out
clearly above all the other instruments. IL was
genuine sGagliani." made in Naples in TIA.
Perdi valued il highly. He refused many
tempting offers for it
There was wealthy banker IN the city
named PBrslow who was passlonately Iohu u
music. and very sKitful vioiiuist he was
something of crank on the subject or oia vlo-
Inns. He had in his collection specimens OF eno
old Cr.monese makers, and several eenu,Ts
Steiners The 'Gagliaui' struck bis fancy ne
offered TO exchange for it rare example OF DO
seph Guemerius. valued at 81 600. Inc PROPOSE
ton was declined by Perdi. who sWoFe ne
would never sell his violin. one Gay the
banker was visited by Perdi, who seemed IN deep
trouble. He carried his violin case, andr When
Mr.. Parsow asked him what was the matter. ne
said he had Just received letter telnng MIN
that bis aged mother was dangerously ILL.,
and she earnestly pleaded with HIM to come
and see her before she died lie made confes-
gion TO the banker He admitted that he was
an inyeterate gam bier; that games of chance
had so strong = fascination over him that he
could not resist the impulse TO STAKE ms money
on the turn of card. he had played Tor heavy
stakes At first fortune smiled upon him; then
the cApricious goddess frowned hngr1ly and he
was borne on the tide to ruin Every dollar
raise money and he asked the banker to lend
him $500, and offered to leave with him his vio-
lin as security He exacted from the banker
solemn promise that he wcnld keep the violin
for him until he should call and redeem it. The
money was paid him and the promise was given.
Perdile left Baltimore for Florence, Italy
stTan years passed and not word came from
PERI All inquiries regarding him elected
nothing Mr.. Parslow kept the violin some
thing sacred and he would never let it go ont OF
his hands
'"Ten more years passed and Mr. Parslow
now an cd man, gave the violin TO his son. Ten
more years rolled by, Mr.. Parslow was dead and
bis son had come be a man. He inherited
Ills fathers love of music and was fine violin
Isl Above ali his other possessions he priced
She Gaeliani violin.
He removed to Richmond, Va. and in 1873
visited that city. / became acquainted with
Mr.. Psrsow and was invited 60 his house.
Being something of a violin coDnosseur myself
I was delighted when he showed me his collec-
ton of valuable old instruments. After explain
ing the merits of each violin he paused moment
and said: But here the remains of the
greatest OF them all; genuine Gaglani,
which I valued at thousands of dollars.
1t 10 valueless now-Dot worth the room
it occupies in this case. It Is broken in forty
seven pieces, and is irreparably ruined. L be-
lieve I'll throw the beautiful fragments into the
FIRE, for it makes me sad to look at the magnih-
cent wreck He then told me how it was
broken. His wife had seen newspaper stick
ing ont the top of a high bureau. She pulled it
down. and down the violin case Contain
ing the famous 'GaglianL' 1t vas mashed into
NIT the remains to the flames. but to give them
to me, and would try to repair them You
welcome 20 them, said he, but I'm confident
they cannot be put together
II took the fragments, aud after two months
careful working-I would spend abou: an hour
every night tt succeeded in rebuilding the
violin. Not one of the pieces had been lost
The violin Yves strung up. and was impatient
to test it's tone. 1t sounded more like gourd
than violin. | showed it to Professor Koep-
PEE, the eminent musician, and he said it was
worthless that it was too badly used up to be of
zone day showed il to DR. ]. F. Ensor, the
superintendent of the South Carolina Lunatic
Asylum. He became interested in the violin
when / related it's strange history. He said he
would like to own it as curiosity, even if IL was
devoid of any merit as a musical instrument
He offered $40 for it, and took IT,
"A few weeks later Dr. Ensor went to New
York a visit and took the violin with him.
He placed IL In the hands of George Gumender.
the world renowned violn-maker. and told him
TO repair it in his best style, regardless of
Gumender informed the Doctor that he would
repair 1t for 800. or would give him that sum
for IL. DIR. Ensor, being rich. refused the
offer and told him to go ahead and repair it,
I'm three months DIR. Ensor was in New York
again, and he called upon Gumender, who pro-
duced the 'Gagliani.' The could
recognize il, for it looked like violin, with
out split about it. The repairer had
done a wonderful piece of work. He said to the
Doctor that. SO far as he knew, this violin and
smother, owned by young Dana, son OF Charles
Dana, of the New York Sun. were the only
Gagliani vioIins in the United States and that
Dana's cost 81, $50 only few weeks before He
pffered to buy Ensors violin at very high price,
but the offer declined.
''Dr. Ensor returned to Columbia. S. c., and
placed his violin in Professor Keepers hands.
This great musician was amazed at the work OF
the repairer. lie declared it was wonderful.
The violin was strung, and was found TO have d
noble tone, resonant and sweet Bernard Lis
terman, the distinguished soloist. tried the
violin Q few weeks later, and pronounced
1t q very valuable instrument DIR. Ensor
was not much of performer, but he held
10 the violin, and refused all offers for il.
Whether or not he still owns it. do not know.
but about TWO years age / heard him playing
IL away M in the mountains of North Carolina,
where be was spending the summer.
This narrative have recited is not fanciful
Or imaginary. but is positively true in all of it's
details, and / regard it as a very interesting
story"
HOW TO JUDGE WHISKY.