Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-07-13
FIDDLED IN THE FERRY HOUSE.
Why Adolph Brodsky Did This and Passed
His Hat For Money.


Why Adolph Brodsky Did This and Passed
His Hat For Money.
Three men were standing on the cor
ner of Twenty-second street and Lex.
ington avenue few evenings ago when
a short, stout gentleman, wearing a silk
hat, came walking rapidly toward
them.
"Do you see this MANI" inquired one
Of the trio, speaking to his friends.
eyes" chorused both.
"Well, " continued the first speaker,
che is one of the finest violinists in
America. "
The short man just then passed the
trio by and walked ON down Twenty
second street. As he hurried along the
three men kept watching him, when
suddenly one Of them, who had been
listening to the first, blurted out:
"Oh, yes, 1 remember him. He is
splendid player heard him play the
violin in the ferry house at st. George,
Staten Island, the other evening, and
then he passed his hat and took up a
collection from the passengers. 1 should
think he could do better"
The first speaker hereupon burst out
laughing on hearing his friends re-
marks; then he went on:
"Why, don't tell me you ever saw
that man passing his hat There would
be no occasion for his doing that. He
is the leader Of the Damrosch orchestra
and thorough musician. That is Mr..
Adolph Brodsky"
BY this time the person in question
was out of sight, and great argument
ensued between the friends, the second
speaker being positive that he saw the
short man play the violin and pass his
hat around the crowd, and that he him
self contributed to the pile, while the
first speaker was sure there was some
mistake. A wager was made, and the
money was posted in the hands OF the
third party.
1t was agreed, as Mr.. Brodsky was
now gone, that the trio see him at the
first opportunity, and the stakeholder
was selected as the spokesman.
Mr.. Brodsky resides at 224 West Cen
tral park and was interviewed the next
day. He was rather amused at the stu
alton laid before him and explained the
affair in the following interesting man
ner:
In regard to my playing with the
Damrosch orchestra, he began, in an
swer to several questions, Il will say
that am not with that body at present.
but was musical leader for Mr.. Dam
rosch from November, 1891, until De-
cember, 1898. l did play on the violin
in the waiting room at St. George,
Staten Island on the night Of May IL,
and as it seems somewhat strange that
l performed in such an unusual concert
hall find it necessary to make explana-
ton in regard to the matter. You see,
was invited to partake in the celebration
of the fourth anniversary Of the Staten
Island Chess club on that night, and
after the festival l was with party Of
20 persons returning to New York. The
waiting room at st. George was crowd
ed with passengers waiting for the boat
and two fellows were playing music,
one a violin and the other guitar. The
yiolinist appeared to be a very gifted
boy / enjoyed his playing, and l took
my hat and passed it around the crowd
to try to make a collection, but nobody
would give even a penny. l then bor-
rowed his instrument and rendered some
of my favorite selections. I passed my
hat around several times after that and
always got something, the donations be-
ing mostly dollars, fifty cent pieces and
quarters. Think the fellows made about
500"
The first speaker had lost the bet, but
under no consideration would the win
ner accept the money, though the loser
insisted.
The violinist who was the object OF
Mr.. Brodsky's philanthropy was discoy-
cred to be a young man named Barney
Sinclair Of the musical team Of Sinclair
& Wilson. He was spoken to and cor
roborated Mr.. Brodsky's story in every
particular.
But the funny part of it all was, Z"
remarked Sinclair, that myself and
my partner were simply playing for our
own amusement when Mr. Brodsky and
his friends entered the ferry house. He
thought we were playing for money.
He passed his high hat around and
threw in a 81 bill himself. Twas at first
inclined to refuse the money, but when
1 saw all the bills 1 accepted it, and !
tell you it was very welcome. Mr..
Brodsky is the best fellow ever met. I"
New York Sun.