The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-10
VOLS THAT ARE LOVED.
THE MUSICIANS IDOL AND HIS CARE
FOR HIS FAVORITE INSTRUMENT.

Why It Is the King of All Instru-
ments-Most Like'the Human Voice.
FIddiers Who should Play the
"Swinette."
From the New York Times.
1t was a dingy-looking shop as viewed
from the street. for the windows looked
as If they had never seen water. and the
few signs within could not be read for the
dirt which had gathered upon them. There
was little show. and unless one peered
closely into the interior he would never
have discovered what kind Of business
might be transacted in the place. And the
/ same business had gone on there for twen-
ty years past. during which time no alter
atoms or improvements have been made
by the landlord, and the same may be
I said of the occupant, who views the cob
webs in the corners of the ceiling with
calm and satisfied compliance, and smiles
at the inroads of time.
He is a German, with long, gray beard
and a whistle that has music in it, and
| the music he whistles and sometimes
huns is purely classical, showing the taste
of the man and his appreciation Of that
which is artistically majestic. once within
| and in the presence of the man, you viii
find scattered around and piled up in va
riOus parts of the room, on old tables and
benches. musical instruments Of all sorts,
but particularly stringed instruments,
some in good order and Others in pieces,
some infirm and crippled and stil others
ready for sale. Some are In boxes, and
many exposed to the atmosphere. He was
talking with a friend who had. like other
/ occasional callers, just dropped in for
| short chat, when their conversation was
! interrupted by the entrance of little lad,
who seemed to be in great hurry as lit
tie lads often are, and exclaimed, while
| he still held the door of the entrance in
his hand:
Have you come to it yet, sir?"
He was a brght-looxing lad. and his
| face wore a smile as he made the inquiry.
/ The instrument maker looked up from his
/ work bench a little surprised at being so
| suddenly interrupted in the course OF
! both work and conversation. But after
| he had glanced at the boy ana SomprS-
| hended who he was, he smiled. and his old
| eyes twinkled He paused in his work
| with the evident design of having talk
with the youngster Ordinarily ne would
/ have gone right on with what his hands
| were occupied in doing as ne had done
with the friend who had just dropped IN m
with his eyes upon the work while talk
4 ing, but the lad had something in him
| that evidently pleased the old man and
1 caused him to forget the work IN hand
| for the pleasure of talking with him.
4 thought that perhaps you might you
| see, have altered your mind and taken up
my job right off, sir, contlnued the D3y,
why, boy" said the other, smiling all
over his broad face, you only ieit II yes
/ month ahead of yours. Don't you suppose
/ they want their instruments as much as
/ you want yours Why, s9llle ol eIlei ~ ~
| playing in the opera, and some are lead
| ers in orchestras and can't do without
| them, but have to wait until l can get at
The man seemed to enjoy the discomfit-
ure of the lad, for his mouth opened as II
| ready for a laugh While deep gloom
! overspread the countenance of the young
| customer. For a moment, TO the great
| amusement of the Onlooker, they remained
/ thus, the lad making a great endeaVor to
/ discover some argument which he might
| offer in furtherance of his object, and the
! man wondering how the boy would get
over the old and fixed rule Of 'hrst come,
| 6rst served" Finally, after squlrming
around a little the boy came to q full stop,
| and said confidently, as If he had found
! an argument which could not be gainsaid:
| Don't you see, sir, my fiddle is no
| trouble to fix, and-and"-with an ap-
/ pealing look, 81 want 1t so bad!'
This time the instrument maker could
| not hold his laugh, and he laughed so
! heartily that the trio became a unit in the
! laughter, and the lad. seizing his oppor-
! tunity, approached the bench and point
ing to a violin of cheap manufacture
That's it, isn't It, sir?'
Yes dots him." replied the man, still
! laughing, land he looks as If he would
/ give me lots of trouble sometimes"
/ 1t was a second teaser for the lad, and
] brought him out again, for, with face
full Of concern. he said argumentatively;
You'll see, sir, when you get at it,
/ there isn't much to do, I'm sure, and then
what's a fellow to do without his violin?
! I've only one, and those other fellows
4 have several, and can wait. I've been
used to having 1t every day, don't you
/ know, and there's no getting along with
| out 1t any more than my breakfast. You
| don't know how badly J want that fiddle
/ or you'd fix 1t right away, m sure, for
| you look like a musician yourself, SIR
/ As he noticed the instrument maker re-
/ lenting, he continued:
| You know, sir, I've only one fiddle and
/ the other fellows have several, which they
! can use; and can't get along, because
yes" replied the other, its sad case.
while +o ms baJ Iece en wore 6ssn m epa
rated one day, and here you are looking
/ after your baby as If it had been lying
1 here month, like the others"
+ The mans face did not bear out his re-
| proof, for IT showed signs of relenting,
which the boy was not slow to observe,
! for he said: II was just now ON my way
/ to school, and thought | would stop in and
see how it was getting along, sir" fond
! ling his fiddle, as he talked, as II at 1t,
| instead Of to the ms trument maker. Re
/ member / want it awful bad, and if you
don't object I'll stop in again tomorrow
| The lad looked so pleasingly at him
| the man could not resist him, and so he
/ said:
you may call in the morning, but, mind
/ now l don't promise 1t for you then"
The boy laughed, gave him merry
! smile satisfied that he had materially
/ furthered his interest, then he rushed
/ out quite as quickly as he had entered
/ the shop, and tore down the street in a
/ great hurry.
! Il suppose 1 must fix that fiddle for
| the boy after hours tonight or get wor-
/ ried to death every morning about IL -
/ said the instrument maker when the lad
/ departed But / don't care, If l must
/ forget my rule for once, to please and
| comfort such lad. He's worth it,
"Why?' asked his visitor.
Because" replied the German, who was
1 also musician and had made his mark
! with the viohncello, The loves his fiddle
/ and music was born in him. You should
| see that child draw a bow. And ne can't
| do without it, he says. Hal hai Well,
1 should say so. The only regret that fellow
! has about going to school is that he can't
/ stay at home to play his fiddle Why, he
/ sleeps with ii under his pillow l really
/ believe and ne reminds me Of my own
! boyhood days. You should hear him play
/ Born in him. His father, too. The hoy is
/ to have the best violin in the land when
ff.t fsaal H. -