, 1889-03-09
LITTLE FIDDLERS.
A PEEP AT A MERRY SCHOOL OF
YOUTHFUL WoLINlSTs.

Fancy 200 little fddlers all fddling
away at oncei Fancy the noisel Fancy
the u n 1t is like n concert of katydids
to hear them, and like stirring up a shoal
Of sand iddlers to see them running up
and down the steep stairs to and fro from
their lessons. Moreover, 1t is like trying
to catch an old granddaddy sand fiddler
to catch one Of these little youngsters
and ask him how he learned to fiddle
and when and where. Saturday after
loon is the time to see these baby virtu-
osos in their glory. From east, from
west, from Harlem and Hoboken they
come skipping along by twos, by threes,
with maids in attendance, to worship Mt
the shrine of the violin. Professor Wat
son, OF Fourteenth street, is master of
this marvellous school, and he draws no
lines regarding sex, age or previous con-
dition. Rich and poor alike come and
are treated to the same free instruction.
PUPILS OF L INDs.
you would be astonished, he said,
ms the unique entertainment drew TO a
close, ito know some of the names that
are among the two thousand we have on
our books already. No one, no matter
now rich he may be, cares to throw away
money on finding out simply whether n
child's fancy is u natural taste or a whim.
So people who know of the school send
their boys and girls TO me. / can soon
find out If the child has any cleverness,
and | Immediately notify them. II the
boy of rich parents likes his violin, they
naturally buy him a good instrument and
engage IA teacher. Other children come
and go. more as their own fancy dictates,
but they usually have some one, an older
sister, or an aunt or q grandmother, who
takes pride in their little iddlings and
o o buys for them a violin of their own,
which they can take home and practice
on to their hearts content. In that way
/ get n partial recompense for my time
and trouble, and at the same time / have
the satisfaction Of knowing that l have
been dc to keep some children's minds
away from worse things during their
first few years"
1t was Q o'clock when the youngsters
began to arrive. Some fly down the
street as il they moved on steel springs,
grinning happy little grins Of satisfaction
as they pound on sturdy legs up to the
rooms above. Others, coming for the
first time, wander open mouthed along
49, ~ fpnAA6 " u iluIu OIRhll
man, and now n policeman, if they know
where the music mans place Is" Unless
they know Professor Watson's name they
are apt TO have some trouble In finding
him, for Fourteenth street Is full Of
music men," At last they see some
other little boy with n fiddle and their
roubles are all over.
Once upstairs, their real troubles are
usually over, but the poor, unhappy kids
do mo- seem to think so. A little twist
catches their tongues as they start up
stairs, and by the time they have reached
the office n double bow Knot could not tie
them any tighter. Tho professors
daughter takes them in hand first and,
after their unruly little members get
limbered up u bit, finds out all about each
new pupil. Then she passes them along
to the next room, where they make their
professional bow to ono of the teachers,
TO say nothing of their first violin. They
stand around in helpless rows until the
busy professor comes flying along, then
n by one are stood out in the middle Of
the floor, their knees jogging beneath
them, and set to work.
THE FIRST LESSON.
Feet sol' says the professor, his right
heel in the hollow of his left foot.
Invariably the left heel drags itself UP
to the right foot.
"Brrrl" says the professor. you
would tip over on your nose if you tried
to stand sol Now the violin under your
chin, SO that your check just rests on it
to keep it steady. Hands off the strings,
but holding the case, sol Elbow down.
Bow in your right hand. Oh, no, never,
my boy. That's n good way TO hold n
saw, but it's n bad way 20 hold a violin
bow. There, look you. Thumb sol
First and second fingers so-last two fin
gers So"
Very clumsy h pudgy little fingers
arc to begin with, but in a few minutes
when the violin fright is worn off the
fingers begin to Timber up, and in a SUR
prisingly short time these babies are
saving away as natural us life.
In far less timo than it would take q
greater mind these youngsters know each
string as well US they know their own
anne better in fact, than they knew
them when they faced Miss Watson in
tho office. Then they are crazy for q
tune. Before any one could believe 1t
possible their shrewd little wits have
conquered the mysteries Of the staff and
the notes, and they are saving away at
g, a, d, 6, d, a, c, with all the gusto Of
artists. The next step Is to twist tho
little fingers so they can slide up and
down the strings and pinch them down
at the proper points, and as soon as that
is done there begin to grow variations of
the first wonderful theme.
To an outsider tho hour on q busy
Saturday afternoon is a wonderful sight.
Tbs mental dexterity with which the
clever professor handles his small schol-
ars, his patience, and the interest which
be takes in the poorest and least clover
OF these little free pupils, is something to
be admired. Professor Watson was the
famous Ole Bulls manager, and when
he finds a child whose heart goes out
into the old fiddle that snuggles up under
his chin he takes him about through the
rooms and tells stories of the great mas
ter. and shows him the pictures and
relics that hang about the wall, the
watch which was his Gift md choicast