The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-18
GOV. BOB AND his FIDDLE.
A Unique Entertainment by a Former
Chief Executive of Tennessee.
Ern,, fho tnn,,rinr- I.,.,.-...rI

a OulQuS DY a neF
Chief Executive of Tennessee.
From the Courier-JourndI.
Only those who listened to the Hon. Bob
Taylor at Mscauley's theater last night can
adequately measure the deprivation OF those
who did not hear him. His lecture on the
Fiddle and the Bow" is a composite produc-
ton. Its central idea takes the form of an
ardent and eloquent tribute to music but
this he has woven into brilliant, variegated
and harmonious cloth OF incident. anecdote,
and reflection. Gov. Taylor said a speech
without variety is like fiddle with but one
string. and told dialect story about an old
negro who, when asked il he had gone to
preaching. said no, that he was exhorting
Questioned as to the difference between
these two occupations, the old darky said
when man preached sermon he had TO
stick TO the text, but when he exborted he
could "branch."
And the lecturer proceeded to branch.
He would tell humorous story and follow
it with recital of tender and beautiful
pathos, this in turn succeeded by a strong
and lofty rhetorical flight. He described the
violin as the poet laureate of music, ad-
mired by the great and caressed by the
lowly. He told how he had seen a man
come before the governor OF a state with
rude fiddle a poor convict had fashioned
with his pocket knife and sent to the custo-
dian OF the pardoning power as his only
appeal for mercy. Christmas eve was APP
preaching, and away up in the mountains
stood little cabin. The fire on the hearth
was almost gone. The little children, ragged
and unfed, chung about weeping and dis
consulate mother, and the day which should
bring peace and Joy to all promised only
sorrow aud wretchednesss. The governor
received the simple, rough fiddle, which was
a more eloquent plea In its makers behalf
than any human tongue could have made.
The records were looked up, and on Christ
mas day there was rejoicing in the little
home over husband and father restored to
his family.
Among the various kinds of music, the
speaker said, the music of political discus
sion is very fascinating tothe American ear.
and this suggested a narrative of 1.-TWO polit-
ical speeches he had heard in Eastern Ten-
| nesses, made by rival candidates for the
| legislature. Both were raw uncouth, and
ignorant, but they delighted their audiences
| In a high degree. Among the pioneers the
| four important possessions were the fiddle,
the rife, the ak, and the Bible The first
dissipated melancholy; to the second they
turned for protection against the savage;
with the third they conquered the forest,
and to the last they went for comfort,
| guidance, and inspiration.
He then passed to a description OF the
| feelings which had been aroused in him by
| hearing great master Of the violin play.
| The governors Interpretation of the COM
| position, which represented a storm on the
| ocean, the smiling forth OF morning, the
coming Of calm, in which could be heard
the songs of birds, happy voices, peals Of
laughter, shifting into sweeter strain
| where two lovers walked, would do credit
| to a great musical critic. He followed the
idea of the sweethearts till curly, golden
haired baby was the leading figure, and
| went off into the comedy vein as illus
| trated by the hapless father trying to soothe
the collicky infant and skinninR his
shins on the cradle. The imagination
| was carried another year forward when
| the icy hand of death had been laid on the
precious one, and the speaker utilized the
suggestion by making a simple and touch
| ing appeal to parents to see that the lives
| of the little ones were surrounded with
brightness He humorously advanced the
position that none but bald-headed men
| and fat men were fit for heads Of families,
as they were noted for their meekness and
sweetness of temper. Music, he said,
beckons the human race on, and is followed
by the two columns, the joyous, light
hearted and happy, and the sorrowful,
| wretched and despairing.
He described some of the scenes of misery
and woe which were pressed on his view
| while governor of Tennessee in connection
| with appeals for pardon and emphasized
| the virtue of one who is intrusted with the
power of mercy using it. The governor
evinced his affection for the recollections
| eutwined about his noun tain home by re-
curing to il again and sketching the old
fashioned singing school. its queer master
and his grand, eloquent, but meaningless
lecture on the elements of music. He passed
to the music Of the old camp-meeting
ground, and from this jumped to the time
| when he first heard an Italian tenor sing in
a 81 II -.
and Other Hearts" giving ludicrous imita-
ton Of the foreign artists pronunciation
and dramatic expression. The governors
peroration was a very fowery and impress
i've apostrophs to music, which he
christened the Minerva of Nations, which
had touched all civilizations and brought
forth their noblest achievements.