The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-18
Wl@LlW MNE4lNG
AS A SCIENCE
Seattle nAke W. w. Cakes, Issues Rad0 and valuable
Book % The Profession Of Which He Has
Become hasser.
Become a nAsier.

u n CSICIANS win probably be as
!" loath 10 believe that a revolu-
1XA ton in withdrawing could come
out OF Seattle as the ancient
Jerusa.em.es were to believe that any
thing good could come out OF Nazareth.
Nevertheless. w. W. Cakes. Seattie's vio-
lin-maker, has just published volume on
the making Of this Incompatible OF inssra-
ments that might arouse stir in the
musical world ard probably viii do so
after il has been in circulation long enough
10 make some indent upon the musical
pre5udices
Mr.. Cakes entities his book "A Review
OF Ancient and Modern Violin Making"
and publishes IL through the Metropolitan
Printing and Binding Company OF this
city. IL II very aggressive little volume.
pugnacious toward some old traditions OF
violin manufacture. and contentious as 10
the authors conviction that the making OF
great violins Is neither iost art nor a
secret which the Crenona school of maxi
ers are entitled 10 hold always within
their eatacamb But Il Is. withal. modest
and therefore convincing. Says Mr.. Cakes
In his foreword: u may not succeed IN
convincing my readers tina. the position I
have taken is .npregnabie. or even in ere
asing . douot concerning the superiority
OF Cremona violins, with their host of at
tending theories. but here 20 Sc, my
az
right line Of thought, then IL viii be thu
first step toward the revolution"
II is always the man who merely expects
20 set his readers tn mixing rather than 10
oyerwheim them forthwith by his repre-
sensations that has something 30 say that
is worth hearing. And 50 with Mr.. Cakes.
He acknowledges the greatness Of the old
yiolins-as who would not-saying: The
violin as IL has stood for three hundred
years, possesses all the possibilities I, will
ever have. 50 far as its general fern and
proportions arc concerned" Bgs be gees
at the real heart 81 the mystery Of the
failure OF the successors az Straalvari1s
and his Kind &c equal the work Of The grea.
masters by asking: 'Wasle the violin "a
a whole is all that IL ever was or can be. Is
there net something in its construction ne.
frIly understood Has there not been an
element @: uncertainty. 81 failare. a..
down It's History 80
Making victims. as May other instru-
ments are made~-ihs piano. for examine
With q previous knowledge and assurance
~ the quality that Will be stssineA, has
always appeared TO ee impossible MIR
oakse seeks to discover why lis il not a
fact with All makers. frorn the earliest his
,sry TO the present. ,hat the really good
ysosias are the exceptions. and the poor
ones tie rulee THIS would not be rse case
e the proper method Of construction aad
ever seen determined.
Even Straasvar.ns is presume. by Mr.
Cakes. with much psaussbsi.ty 20 have
turned sat many Instruments toe poor TO
survive 70 the present time. They have
received rough treatment" he suggests,
and have Icing since disappeared. very
likely In fragments. while The good ones
kavs ansy ae@rs another illustration az IN.
survival cs the ett@st . That even the
ancient peers IN tire business dt& nos cen
ssser themselves masters he cantrnds -
esissaes4 by the fresa-sz. changes Trey
r1s1e in the FERNS ot TIRE Instruments.
hosn ina tssrn ana the inner proportion
ofSeE being radically altered
The sartolss elements entering in.o the
ccnstrlzctsoa OF vse@ta are considered By
Mr.. oaAe< Historically ard critically. Es
tssp~nsss the Dcsfan THAT q peculiar ksgt
Sc wood WAS used By the Crensona scheas
or snas chemical processes ~e-e employees
II p1ecar.ng Use wcct: &c also dasslpxses
TIA Tradition ts&s a xperszi And an1apssea-
eis-xaSplsa HAx - tie SaaSs s.-sas pre-