The times., 1901-04-21
THE ASYLUM VIOLIN MAKER
Rare Instruments Once Produced
at st. Elizabeth's.
The Unusual Occupation of an In
matc Aided by Mnchinist En-
pIOyed at the Institution-The EN-
Rericncc of n Noted Musician.

Many story has been told of the old
violin makers and the secret they pos
sessed in giving their instruments such
natchless quality of tone. For the past
two hundred years Cremona violins have
commanded fabulous prices, and the pos
session of them has been eagerly sought
by the most distinguished players. 1t IS
strange. but nevertheless true, that pa
tient at St. EIzabeth's Asylum, aided by
an employe Of that institution for those
Suffering from the saddest of all affiic-
tions, produced violins 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. chanced 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 mis-
ear which caused him to stop and listen.
equally delighted and amazed. 1t was the
sound of a violin. and. as the mournful
Cadences throbbed with the most beauti-
ful 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 4 patient. and the attendant, open
ing the door of one of the rooms. bade
him enter The player within instantly
stopped in his performance and, oyeing
the intruders with distrustfuI air. walk
ed to the window. taking no further no
tice of them. The celebrated violinst
picked up the instrument which the pa
tient had laid upon his bed. and examined
it closely It 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. ii 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
fastly: 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-
ment that appeared his only link with the
faculties he once possessed.
And whore did ne get that violn?'
asked the visitor
ASYLUM by old Colonel b was the ans
weT IF you would like to see the colo
mel can show him 10 you; continued
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 20 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 table, their en-
pl0yment being evidently different from
that at 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 NlO-
Inns, and these one Of the two wOrlSmen
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 curiously
over q sheet Of white paper
one Of the old men was introduced 10
the famous viOlinist as Colonel b. an
amateur maker Of instruments. The colo
mel IS not now At the asylum, having re-
covered from the aftiicuon which made
him a patient Tor a number OF years at
St. Elizabeth's. 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 machintst, he was, and IS. one OF
those indivuals with veritable mechani- |
cal genius IN all directions.
Indeed the fact is that this unpreten-
tiOus old gentleman discovered, or, at all /
events, successfully practiced. a 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 theFefTOm j
the reslnOus matter. This substance clogs /
the pores Of the wood, as IL We're. and in
terferes seriously with the vibration, and I
consequently the tone Of the instrument. |
One Of the chief reasons. as Mr.. Nc |
Lean explained, for the excellence Of old |
Nl0GluS, 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 1
hard. finally disintegrating into a fine /
powder which is shaken ont 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 subtecting the wood TO a boil /
ing process. he explains. he succeeded iu 4
extracting q large amount Of resin. and 1
the drying Of the wood. with the conse- /
Quent expansion Of the pores. enabled /
him 10 shake out the greater part OF /
what remained which had become dry 1
and pOwdery.
Mr Mclean IS always eager to render !
full tribute 10 the truly wonderful perse- /
verance and ingenuity which enabled Col. ]
b 10 acquire. while patient at the asy- (
ium, the art Of violin making with which /
he had previously been totally unfamiliar, !
The manner in which the colonel was in !
cited 10 his extraordinary and successful |
Efforts waSsas follows. IL appears that !
a patient IN the same ward with himself /
constructed a very rude violin which. not
wtthstanding its Outre appearance. never
theless produced. i'm the hands Of its max !
er. a very toIerabie 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 a number Of stand I
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 machinist. and on this aid
h. doubtless to large extent relied.
Nevertheless he possessed great |
amount or original ability and he at |
length. produced q violin which he knew
was far ahead Of he crude ATTEMPT made !
by his fellow in affictlou.
The colonel persevered. and, aided by
4 HtsaL Hs1Ts L. ~ n Htns.s !