The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-02-18
THAT OLD VIOLIN
which May Figure In the West Virginia
Campaign this Year-An Old story Re

Campaign this Year-An Old story RE-
produced.
The following extract from an
article which appeared in the PITTS
burgh Dispatch early liant summer is OF
especial interest just now and well
worth repeating;
IVES" or George Wesley Atkinson
came up TO Pittsburgh from Wheeling
for brief visit. Not to know the ex-
congressman argues oneself II a West
VIrGinkan, unknown. Mr.. Atkinson Is
known in every county In the state.
When he Is among the river bottoms
near Parkersblrg he can tell ripe
watermelon by merely looking ut H.,
Just as well as the farmer whose agrl-
cultural methods he is praising. He
doesn't need to ''tHump" the fruit. He
knows something Of the making OF
nails and Iron and steel. useful ac-
compilShment for politician domi-
cied IN Wheeling; Up In the Pan
handle" he can tell the probable price
TINT his constituents wool will bring
just by passInS 1t through his hngers
In the mountains, however, his we'll
known principles relieve him from the
necessity OF passing Judgment
on the qualities OF mountain whlskey.
How about the story that you open
cd United States court at Clarksburg
with violin solo?" asked ar. Atkln-
son.
There was VIOLIN" he replied. but
I didn't open court with II. I'll tell
you about II. One morning at Clarks-
burg. just before court opened. l was
in the Office Of the United States mar
shall. Lnfe Garden OF Wheeling. A box
had Just come by express, and when
the marshal opened II he found Il con-
tanned violin. took up the tnStru-
ment. tuned It. and then played an air.
LATE. who Is q good player, also tried
a tune. and then ! started in on the
Arkansas TraVeler.' BY this time big
crowd had gathered. and while was
saving away heard a voice exclaim:
well. I'll be switched
II turned around and whom should
see but Nathan Con. the United
States Judge.
you could play the fiddle
"tBut can, Nate replied. i
learned Il twenty-five years ago
".well, WE'LL the judge retorted.
I'VE known you for twenty years, and |
never knew you were ornery enough
TO play the f1dle.
Then played Gnother tune, and Nate
said It was q pretty fair execution.
Now, as soon as played the fiddle
knew It was good one. and offered
LATE a hundred for il. He refused.
and / offered him my fddle. which
bought for $50 from JoI CrAmer, who
used to lead the Opera House orchestra
In Wheeling. and who. I believe, is now
IN Pittsburgh. and $50 20 boot. But
LATE refused
ri tell you wha,: I'll do, Wes." he
said. IN give you cldE flddle Il you
ever become governor OF West Virgin
ia. That's promise"
And all his deputies. who. OF course.
are Democratic. laughed and said: IT'S
a safe promise, Marshal. West Virgin
IA Will never have Republican gov
ernnr.'
But ON going to have that fiddle.
concluded Mr.. Atkinson. even under
the CONDITIONS set by Late.
Then Mr.. Atkinson told the story
OF the violin &seIf. II WAS present
to Marshal Garden by one Of the depu-
was out In the wiids OF Pendleton
county when ne Ulme across an old
farmer. whose ancestors had lived IN
New England. Before goiuG 90 bed
one night tCic old fellow took the fiddle
from It's shelf on &he wall and reeled
on tune. He charmed the Rattle
snake" The laser can play the eddie
n little himself and he recognized the
Instrument as an Old one. None OF the
modern make. he knew. could have tina.
depth OF tone and sweetness OF sound.
The old man showed papers, yellow
with age. which proved that the violin
was at least $50 years old, and had de-
scendcd from one to another genera
ton OF his family. and tad az last
landed high up in Pendleton county.
Rattlesnake Pete WurGed the fiddle,
and. rs he has siUcc said, wanted II
bad" Tentatively he tried the old man
with an offer OF SIS.
To hts surprise, the farmer placed
the violin in his hands, with the re-
mark; Shes yours, stranger. Fork
over the money"
The old h!d!le has entered on a new
era in Its history. Perhaps II once
lay neglected In some New England
garnet. It's owner fearful OF evoklnE
It's s,rnEns. leo some noSing sclec:m1u
hear thc 1evilish music and report him
to the church authorities.
Perhaps Il saw the light o. day later
when. during the Br!tlSi occupation.
the gay milNary hau lntuSed some OF
the desire for the more frivolous de-
lights OF society into the descendants
OF ific stern Puritnns
It's known history begins when
Washington wus boy OF twelve, II Is
recorded thsh one OF rs owners had
II In camp at Valley Forge during that
long and dreary winter, the very time
that tried mons souls" and perhaps
the determined umaader-in-chict
had his weary evenings somewhat en-
llvened by It's spriEhtly strains.
But v win play difTcrent tunes mex:
year. Then, II George Wesley Akin
Son Is tho Republican candidate for
governor, Lsfe Garden Will lend him the
fiddle. and It will be very strange II
the mountaineer can't Induce him 10
play a tune occasionally to make sure
that his reputation for musical ubility
has not been mlsrcpresentei,