The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-01-29
rAwNBRokER's RULE.
. Him Fiddle Is a Fiddle, and He
VIII Loan Not More Than 81 on It.

40 Him a Fiddle Is Fiddle, and He
VIII Loan Not More Than 81 on 1t.
''On violin l will loan 81; no MORE"
declared little old pawnbroker Of the
local Latin quarter, replying to the ques-
ton of casual curio hunter who was
looking over the strange medley of odds
and ends that Uttered the dusty counters
''Yes?" said the visitor politely. But
you refer, l suppose, to the general run
of violins. When an instrument Is Of
real value, you make an exception, OF
| course" "Of course do not" retorted
the pawnbroker sharply. ITO me vio-
lin is a violin, and 81 is what l lend.
Oh, to be sure, they protest-often some
times they shed tears. They assure me
it is old, rare, worth don't know what.
Very WE'LL l reply; then take it to
musician. Me, am a pawnbroker, and
lend 81 on fddles, provided they are in
good order
NO. did not always have this rule"
admitted the old man. smiling grimly.
'I thought once that knew something
about violins myself. My father was
musician and played for 20 years in the
orchestra at the French Opera House.
was brought up, as you might say,
among fddles. But pshaw, let me tell
you what they did One day man
came here with dirty old case under
his arm. He took me back in the pas
sage to open it and said, 'Sh-s-s, it Is
Stradp Well, to tell you the truth, it
was a very fine looking instrument. ey-
amined it carefully, and it had all the
marks. 1t was signed "A. s. As for
the man, he told the usual story-poverty
and so on-but he told it well. / was
more than half convinced, still l took
him to my friend Edgardo, who had
repair shop. on the next corner and was
known connoisseur. When Edgardo
saw the fiddle, his eyes stuck out. An
tonic Stradivariusp he whispered in my
ear. l led him into the hall. Are you
sure it is genuine? l asked I stake my
life,' said he. Well, lent the man $500
and promised to keep the fiddle fer him
six months.
"In a week or so another musician in
distress showed up-a friend of the first
man. He had Maggini burnt amber
varnish, seventeenth century. l took him
also to Edgardo, who was enchanted.
You are in luck he said privately. There
Is colony of these fellows, just from Eu-
rope. They are very poor and have mag
ni6cent adde's. You will get them ALL
| lent $3.50 on the Maggini. In a month
l had three mora Guarnerius and two
GagIianos. Altogether 1 advanced $575
on them. Then one day the orchestra
leader from the French opera came into
the shop. He was distinguished man
and wore the red rosette Of the Legion In
his buttonhole. We got to talking about
violins, and, to surprise him, l brought
out the Strad. give you my word that
l thought the man would never get
through laughing. But was already on
my way to Edgardo's, and what do you
think? His shop was closed, cleaneS out
for remit | never saw him again, nor the
five worthy musicians. The fiddles sold
for So apiece. 1t seems there Is facto-
ry in Brussels where they make them by
the gross. Since then have established
my rule-a violin is violin, and as col
lateral it is worth 81, if in good repair.
When they protest, say: Go to mu-
stefan. | am not musician. | am
pawnbroker.' New Orleans Times
Democrat,