The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-08-24
A COWBOY VIRTUOSO.

was asked TO uuul6 Tor Qdno6
You may remember that this gentle
man, who was second to none when it
came to close quarters in the branding
pen, or following a wild calf through
the sagebrush, had not one ounce of
musical capacity in the hundred and
sixty odd pounds of his make up, yet
had particular ambition and an I'M
tagging zeal to become fiddler The
object of this writing is to show that he
received ample returns upon the zeal
invested, but never attained to the am
bition
For SO many years that the memory
of man runneth not to the contrary he
had packed violin in his bed roll on
the annual round up, and at every OPP
portunity, when the days work was
done, he rosined his bow. Throughout
the winter months, when work was
light and evenings long, he had prac-
ticed faithfully, if not intelligently, in
the clubhouse until banished by a
plebiscite to nearby dugout, where
he found sacks of onions and bins Of
potatoes more patient sufferers than the
general sitting room afforded. In some
former year the outfit had boasted
man who could .'play any instrument,
and jerks, seeing how easy it was. de-
cided to become equally accomplished.
The violin was not his first choice, but
his first opportunity, and, having &C.
cepted it, his code of ethics bound him
to break the critter or break the oinch
On the 29th of February there was
leap year dance at Richmond's This
place was ON hill in the borderland
between the open range and the settle
ments and, however much cowboys
might despise farmers and farmers de-
test cowboys, the social amenities were
rarely disturbed and the country dance
was popular institution. My friend
Rice voiced the general sentiment thus,
II like 'em because every body is a-le'p-
ing and a-skipping, and if anybody falls
down he gifts up again" The plain in
ference from Mr.. Rice's statement is
that at any other than country dance
if one falls down he stays down-which
might embarrass and endanger his bet
ters. When called Rice's attention to
this, he explained that he meant Gin
your mind. It's like getting on to a
bucking horse any morning after break
fast and being dumped, said he. "You
don't mind it much, but just tighten
your cinch another hole and climb ON
again. But suppose you are doing some
fancy riding or roping at the county
fair and your saddle gets emptied, why,
you feel SO low down you don't get over
it for week. -
Our boys all went over to the dance
at Richmond's, and some one evidently
told the committee that Mr.. jerks was
competent fiddler, for soon after his
arrival he was approached by a bright
eyed young woman, who asked if he
had brought his violin
mo, did not, " replied the startled
jerks, nervously lingering large piece
of rosin which he produced from
pocket, 'but if you want to use it I'll
be very glad to go back to the ranch
and fetch it. 1t is only about 20 miles. .
II was told, said the girl, Just
slightly showing several white teeth,
THAT you carry your violin with you
wherever you go, and I'm sorry to find
that it's not true. Our music has disap-
pointed US. The house is full of people
and nobody here to play for them but
cello and mouth organ. But l think
we can get violin within less than 30
miles, and"-here she showed him the
full set-''will you kindly play for us
until Mr.. Smith arrives?"
''Miss, should be delighted" said
jerks
"Oh, thank you, SO muchp' inter
posed the girl.
eff / knew how" he continued,
"but don't. You see I'm only learn
ing. can just start few.
ooh, am sure you will do it we'll, "
she replied, land will go right out
and send for an instrument. /" And she
hurried away.
Mr.. jerks was astonished and per.
picked. OF course he had hoped to play
in public at some time, but this was SO
sudden. He was not in hurry Some
other leap year would be soon enough.
Should he bolt or face his own mu-
sic? "What very pretty girl when she
laughs, thought he. "I'll stay. Wish
had practiced more. Wonder if I'll
break up the party"
In what seemed to him an incredibly
short time in which to summon a fiddle
from the subjacent valley the girl reap
peared with one in her hand and es-
corted the reluctant and protesting
jerks TO the head of the room, intro
ducing him to the cello. the mouth Or
gan and the floor manager.
Nov, boys" said he, when the
committee had turned away, leaving
him with his fellow musicians, who re-
garded him doubtfully, "let's have an
understanding l amt in this like you,
for a dollar head and free drinks, but
Pm doing it to oblige lady. expect
to make some pretty bad breaks, and
the first one of you that smokers will
eat his instrument right here. Are you
ready?"
jerks is not afraid Of any individual
man, perhaps not very much afraid of
any woman, but when he stood up on
that platform with the fiddle in his
neck and faced the crowd he was badly
ratified.
"Play waltz first," said the floor
manager, land play slowly" With a
sigh of relief and the thought "What'll
do when they demand fast music2"
Mr.. jerks began that classical strain
which fits the words Where, oh, where
is my little dog gomez" the cello and
mouth organ struck in, the girls chose
the best walters, the floor filed up,
feet shufied, boards oreaked, and the
ball was opened.
Accomplished speakers have recorded
the difficulty experienced in learning to
think upon their feet, but jerks, facing
an audience for the first time and saw
ing away desperately at the first bars
and repeat of slow waltz, had no such
trouble. He told me afterward that his
thoughts chunk themselves and came
a-running," and that he was conscious
of three distinct trains Of thought run
ming on parallel tracks The first con-
cerned Mr.. Smith, the delinquent mu-
stefan; the second subject was what a
very pretty girl when she laughs, - and