Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-29
JouaneylNes IN MlTreswAlo.
T.In. with johann Reiser-A Snug Lite
Bavarfau Hamlet.
tRIcbard schos, In vom Felssum Meer.)

b8v0Ifau
fR,cn.rd schost in vom Felszum Mcer)
Even professionals must agree that 70
nnd out all about fiddiers, fddles' ana
nddIesticks one must go to Fiddietown.
Fiddletown is analogous to Mittenwaid'
and MIttenwald Is the quaintest, snug
gest. cosiest little hamlet In all Bavaria
The Mittenwalders are Gil fddiemakers'
and from sunrise to shutdown their con-
slant tuning. testing, practicins' ana ac'
tuaI playing furnish an everlasting string
concert. Here the Industrious artists
and workmen have catered to the pa
irons OF virtuosos from ell ianos, snt
they are also responsible for most OIL
,hs .Tatzeniammer' OF amateurs. whose
heart-crashing malfeasance draws oa'"s
even from sIumbering saints.
NIttenwald Is not fashionable sum
NOR resort. nor a great rendezvous LOT
tourists yet many lovers OF the PIC
turesaue and of the romantic reVei lor
few days of their vacation III its nlou'i-
tains and valleys, and Meister Reiter
points in his studio register 10 the auto
graphs of many famous men, hopies,
princes, and musical ceieorltles. No'
are pilgrins attracted only by the repu-
tation Of Afittenwald's interesting indus
try The beautiful scenery OF mountains,
lakes. rivers. and valleys. with which IL
e surrounded it's ancient stone street,
lined with old-fashoned gable houses
ira unsophisticated inhabitants. ana their
saui- Tyrolean customs, make TINS Gel"
eendorf the artists paradise.
Not far to the north, on the road TO
Munich. we passed the Berg Castle, where
the unfortunate King Louis, the dlstil-
cuished patron OF Wagner. ended MS
melancholy days. Still nearer we came
to the Kochelsee with its pretty oathins
Mace. Tutzing, in whose deep-blue watery
mirror the steep, almost perpendicular.
mountains are clearly reflected, and right
above Mittenwald towers 5000 feet EiSn
Herzogenstand, which the demented mon
arch was wont TO ascend in the moon
lit nights of mid-winter A few miles TO
the SOUTH across the border. the lsar Is
born. and dashes proudly with its silvery
cataracts through the village. and help 20
swell the Danube at the Bavarian capl-
tai.
ALL SUNSHINE.
In the domicile OF Master Reiter there
surely was nothing but sunshine. What
joyful, happy countenances! What unI
alleged sincerity was expressed in the
vigorous handshake, The great work.
Italian treasure. and apologized for ap'
nearing in sleeves and apron. From the
hearty reception. 1t would seem as 4
we were the only callers this year, which
the register contradicted. Mother. daugh
ter, and Hanni Ohe future heir OF Refers
secrets) were called from the kitchen.
where they were mixing and boiling colo
phonum according to the world-famovs
Reiter recipe. But everything must be
N.ts sala nFaF
welcome, and. as Is the custom In Bava-
ria. the homemade brew had to be sam
pied before more serious things were di3-
cussed.
When we began to besiege Reiter with
questions regarding the manufacture OF
his violins he seemed to feel hurt. You
surely do not mean manufacture. ne
said. reprOachfuly. IF you want to
investigate the fiddle industry you must
go to the factory OF Herr Neuner'
I do not manufacture fiddles-l make
violins My work Is appreciated.
My instruments are In demand with
the greatest musicians In the worli'
and in all my life l have not made
as many violins as some Of the workmen
turn out singy I'm a year. My books
show that | have made only 200 volins
during my lifetime and these were
for private customers In America, or
many, Holland. England, and Russia
who correspond with me from time to
time. | used 10 be in the employ OF the
State, and superintendent for long time
the Royal School for Violin-Makers NO"
have for many years followed my
profession independent of the government
and / posses letters OF appreciation
from the greatest artists OF the century,
from Sophr, Vieuxtemps, Joachim
Strauss and others,
AN ARTIST.
We were on the point of Offering an
apology for our faux pas, but before we
had time TO stammer out "pater peccavi'
he took one OF the repaired violins and
in reconciliation began to play one OF
Spohr's masterpieces with such rapture
that II spoke the fact that he was an
artist-not "a manufacturer
The secret of excellency OF tone lies
principally in the constant testing OF
the proportions during the composition
and in the quality and quantity or the
fine hard-surface varnish, which work
does not only require a skilful mechanic,
but an expert player. Much care must
be taken in the carving of sound-post
and tail-piece, and the most exact pro-
portions Of the shoulders or the two
upper ribs.
sometimes" continued the enthusi-
astic expert. II am compelled to string
and unstring my creations a nundred
times. until / have struck the right pro-
portions all around, and until the tone
pleases me. No rules can be prescribed
TO obtain perfection OF sound, as tnere
Is so much difference In the acoustlcai
strength of the wood.
THAT rings" he exclaimed, proudly
after rendering favorite operetta on
newly-finished violin. And now. come,
friends and l will show you the klamm.
a weird scene worth visiting. and we
will stop on the way at the Bruecklwlrt
(the inn-keeper near the BRIDGE. and we
will taste the best beer in the World.
| must use a cane, az | am not as Dap
per on my feet as ! used to be.
Arrived at the tavern. we meet the
village oddities, all enjoying their sips
and varying the performance with music
on all sorts OF string instruments accom-
panied by the jodel and dudel songs OF
The happy Bavarians. Scharnitz-Maxl.
the leading tenor, was dreamingly I'M
provIsing the notes from his either ana
the refrain was taken up at the further
table by three genuine Tyroleans.
"a beautiful instrument" remarked
our guide. II also make guitars, but L
can't beat old Scharnitz- Karl"
HIS LOITASCHER JODEL.
All was silent when handsome Seppl
raised his plain-looking fiddle and began
his loitascher jodel. in which he was
Joined by the belle Of Mittenwald. Nandl.
The genuine jodeiers from Tyrol and
Upper Bavaria must be heard at home In
the mountains near the rushing falls OF
the Isar and the inn to be appreciated.
Whether It Is the beer that oils their
threats or the pure air. they produce
there their marvellous melody Cor Jo-
ham Reiter never showed us the klamm
on that day. His wife jokingly remarked
on his return that the Brusc6lwifth Is
mighty fertilization which even her hus-
band could not overthrow on mis- way to
the Klamm.
Matthias KlotZ, the great sounder or
the Mittenwald violin industry, Is the
hero worshiped In this vicinity, and his
fine statue stands in the msrket-place.
In the year 1880. when this ancient hamlet.
which dates from the time OF the Roman
Empire was threatened with oblivion,
Klotz saved II by introducing the making
OF viollns, which he had learned In Gre
mona. Since then the great-grandfathers,
grandfathers. and fathers OF the inhabi-
tants who all seem to attain a good old
age. have been engaged in the work.
The government has lately erected a