The herald., 1897-01-10
FOUND HIS BELOVED vIOLINs
The Diamond in the Bow Was Undis-
tubed-The Professors Ecstasy

Professor Edward Molenhauer will
never again leave his beloved violns un-
guarded. He has just come to the end
of an adventure that cost him many
sleepless nights and days of anxiety.
during which he feared that he would
never see those instruments again.
Professor Mollenhauer conducts the
International College of Music. He gave
lesson to a pupil in the rear room Oc-
tober 2sth. He left lying on an open
piano in the front room a case contain
ing two violins. One was by Bennett,
q famous italian maker, and the other
bore the signature: Joseph Guarnerius,
fecit, Cremonae, 1881. I. Fl. S.
The violins were inclosed in silken
wraps. and upon them lay handsome
bow of dark red Brazilian wood, tipped
with gold and with large diamond set
in the butt. The bow was made by TOurt
of Brussels. and was gift to Professor
Mollenhauer ten years ago from the Bel
gian king. The violin case was large
fiat, oblong one more like commercial
travellers box of samples than a recep-
tacle for musical instruments. A sneak
thief tiptoed along the hallway, found
the front door unlatched and walked in.
seized the case and ran. There was a
silver card case and other valuable
stuff in the room, but the thief did not
wait to get them.
When Professor Mollenhauer entered
the room he noticed at once the absence
of his vlolins. He looked for them up
stairs in his living apartments, then re-
nenlbered with certainty that he had
left them on the piano. He was almost
frantic. He slept none that night. His
son, who is also master of the violin,
was quite as much upset by grief.
The theft was reported to the police
and two detectives were assigned to the
case. They found that no Guarnerius
or Bennett! violin had been offered for
sale to any dealer but could not find any
trace of the missing instruments.
Detective Sergeant Wade became In
terested In the case week ago through
a friend. He took young Mr. Mollenhauer
on Tuesday to q pawnshop and told the
pawnbroker to "show those fddles. "
The pawnbroker, not suspecting that he
was the custodian of rare violins, hand
ed up an old black leather case. In it
lay the Guarnerius, the Bennett and
the dark red bow.
They're mine!' cried the young man.
He cheerfully paid the pawnbroker 81,
the amount he had loaned on the prop
erty. AS Mr.. Mollenhauer was joyfully
examining his lost violins he remarked: !:
"Why the thief didn't even take the
diamond out of the bow"
as that G real diamond?" gasped the
pawnbroker.
From the king of the Belgians." an
swered Wade.
When the lost violins returned to thei:'
home they received greeting as warm
as that which met the prodigal SON.
Professor Mollenhauer could not put them
down. First one then the other sang a
joyful song of captivity and deliverance
Professor Mollenhauer has gray hair
and mustache, but his figure is of youth
full slightness and he is as quick and
graceful as a fencing master His eyes
are large and dark. They danced and
glistened like the eyes of a schoolboy
when he again examined for the hun
dredth time his rescued vioiirs. He
locked the doors of the conservatory and
walked to and fro, playing improvisa-
tions of gratitude and happiness His
pupils called for their usual lessons
mo, mol" he exclaimed. Lessons
must wait. l must beg you to excuse
me. I am entertaining old friends. "
Then to each he told the story of the
wonderful finding of the stolen treas
ures.
Hereafter" he said, as he reverently
lifted the Guarnerius from its silken
resting place, these violins shall never
leave my hands except when they are
under lock and key. Could | have re-
placed them? Not in this world, my
friend. To lose them was like losing a
limb. I have had them ever since /
went to Europe twenty years ago with
$500 in my pocket to spend on one violin
l managed to get both of them. They are
part of me- Did you ever hear such a
tone as ths?''
The professor raised the Guarnerius 1t
sang obedient to his touch; it's rich mel
low tones filed the room. throbbing
with delight.--New York Journal