The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
THE ASYLUM VIOLIN MAKER
Rare Instruments Once Produced
at st. Elizabeth's.
The Unusual Occupation of nm In
mate Aided by Machinist EN-
pioyed at the Institution-The EN-
perience of 81 Noted Musician

Many story has been told of the old
violin makers and the secret they pos
sessed in giving their instruments such
matchless quality of tone. For the past
two hundred years Cremona violins have
comma nded fabulous prices, and the pos
session of them has been eagerly sought
by the most distinguished players. IL Is
strange, but nevertheless true, that pa
tient at St Elizabeth's Asylum, aided by
an employe Of that institution for those
suffering from the saddest of all affiic-
tions, produced violns which have been
pronounced by competent judges to be
equal in tone to the famous instruments
Of olden days.
A very eminent violinist. when in Wash
ington some years ago. CHANGED to visit
the Government Hospital for the Insane.
1t is scarcely necessary to say that his
mind was saddened and depressed by the
gloomy spectacle presented by those to
whom the beauty of the world appealed
in vain, and the harmony of whose minds
was changed to miserable and chaotic
confusion. Suddenly a strain fell on his
ear which caused kim to stop and listen,
equally delighted ard amazed. 1t was the
sound of a violin. and. as the mournful
cadences throbbed with the most beauti-
full and passionate expression, it became
evident that the player was master.
Moreover, the practiced ear of the lis
tener detected that the tone of the instru-
ment was of exceptional quality.
Turning to the attendant who accom-
panied him, the visitor enquired the name
of the invisible player He was told that
he was a patient. and the attendant. open
ing the door of one of the rooms, bade
he ,,Ia In, fpet Iu
stopped in his performance and. cycling
the intruders with distrustfuI air. walk
ed TO the window. taking no further no
tce of them. The celebrated vioiinist
picked up the instrument which the pa
tient had laid upon his bed, and examined
it closely. 1t was evidently of recent
manufacture. and certainly not one of the
established makes with which he was
familiar.
Drawing the bow across the strings as
a prelude. he commenced one of Beeth-
ovens sonatas. and. it is needless to say,
played it in the most exquisite and mas
terly manner. From the moment the
first note was produced. a noticeable
change came over the demeanor of the
occupant of the room. He turned to-
ward the player and regarded him stead
lastly: then approaching him he sudden
ly snatched the instrument from his
hands and smashed it in pieces against
the iron cot. The attendant had much
ado to quiet him. but he at length sue
ceeded. and when the door was shut upon
the miserable man he had relapsed into
his customary sullen and motionless at
titude.
The visitor made some enquiries re-
garding the mad musician who had treat
ed him in so extraordinary manner. The
attendant knew little, however-the pa
tient had wealthy relatives or friends
who provided him with every available
luxury he might desire, but there vas,
apparently. no lifting the heavy gloom
of the affiiction that had broken his life
even as he had broken the frail instru-
rent that appeared his only link with the
faculties he once possessed
And where did he get that violin?"
asked the visitor.
THE violin-ohi That was made in the
asylum by old Colonel b was the ans
ver. IF you would like to see the colo
mel 1 can show him 10 you: continued
the attendant. His form of insanity is
very mild indeed and / can promise you
a better reception from him than we eX-
perienced from our friend, the player"
So saying he led the way to another part
of the building, and entering the machine
shop took the visitor to the farther end OF
that spacious apartment. Two elderly men
were working here at a table, their en-
ployment being evidently different from
maj al which the other occupants of the
shop were engaged. On the table were
strewn little strips Of wood, bent into
delicate curves. apparently portions OF Nio-
Inns, and these one OF the two workmen
was piecing together with great nicely,
while the other held in his hand thin
piece OF maple wood shaped like the back
OF a violin, which he tapped curlously
over a sheet of white paper.
One of the old men was introduced to
the famous violinist as Colonel b, an
amateur maker of instruments. The colo
&c At he "a o.
covered from the affiiction which made
him a patient for number of years at
st. Elizabeths. His assistant was then
machinist, employed IN the asylum HIS
name Is John Mclean, and he is now liv-
ing retired life. being an esteemed citizen
OF Anacostia. He occasionally lent his ser
vices TO the colonel in his violin making:
services rendered the more valuable from
the fact that. in addition to his profess
sion of machinist. he was, and is, one OF
those indivuals with veritable mschani-
cal genius in all directions.
Indeed. the fact Is that this unpreten-
tious old gentleman discovered, or, at all
events, successfully practiced. process
which enabled the colonel to give his IN
struments their wonderful tone quality.
This valuable process. about which Mr..
Mclean makes no secret consists in boil
ing the wood so as to extract therefrom
the resinous matter. This substance clogs
the pores OF the wood as IL Were. and In
terferes seriously with the vibration. and
consequently the tone Of the instrument.
Lean explained, for the excellence Of old
violins independent Of any secret process
whatever. has been the effect produced by
the wood in the course OF time by which
the resinous matter becomes dry and
hard, finally disintegratng into a fine
powder which Is shaken out Of the pores
by constant use. This natural process is,
however, a long one, and requires ages
for its projecting. The method OF the old
machinist rapidly accomplishes the same
result. In subJecting the wood 30 boil
Hr.gWa HF.a
extracting a large amount of resin. and
the drying of the wood, with the conse-
quent expansion Of the pores, enabled
him to shake out the greater part of
what remained which had become dry
and powdery.
Mr. Mclean is always eager to render
full tribute to the truly wonderful perse-
verance and ingenuity which enabled Col.
b TO acquire. while patient at theasy-
luin, the art Of violin making with which
he had previously been totally unfamiliar,
The manner In which the colonel was in
cited to his extraordinary and successful
efforts waSseas follows: II appears that
a patient IN the same ward with himself
constructed very rude violin which. not
outstanding its outre appearance, never
theless produced, in the hands of its max
er. a very tolerable tune Colonel b
was much Impressed with the mans inge-
nuity. and perhaps a little piqued at his
manifest pride in his performance. He
thereupon purchased number of stand
ard works upon the subject of violin max
ing, and also procured a quantity OF the
requisite material for his novel labOrs, In
the entire undertaking he had the able
support Of the machlnist, and on this aid
he doubtless to a large extent relied.
Nevertheless. he possessed a great
amount or original ability. and he. at
length. produced violin which he knew
was far ahead Of the crude attempt made
by his fellow in afiiiction.
The colonel persevered, and. aided by
the knowledge Of the secret communicated
"a he gI fgf h.. t1,