The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-22
Call at the Business Office of the
News, 7 Weybosset St.,
For Your Policy.
Where the Fiddler Reigns.

Down I'm Georgia there Is a loyal love
for the fiddle. not exceeded by the
Georgia crackers devotion TO the melon
and the 'possum. Indeed, watermelon
feasts. possum hunts and the fiddle go
tosether. 80 great Is the rural Georgian :
dononsss Tor the hddle that there 10 an
organization known as the Southeastern
fiddlers' convention. IL is said that
most OF its members saw by ear, and that
thls apparatus Is also insured. Anyhow.
the nddiers convention recently as
sembled at Moore's Opera house I'm Car
roiton for an afternoon and night exer-
else. and AT O'Clock in the day an open
AIR concert was given by twelve fiddlers
ana actually received on the balcony OF
the power house In the public square At
go o'clock the afternoon session OF the
convention opened. and for two hours
breakdown airs resounded and echoed In
manner that recalled primitive life in
thaf vicinity.
IL is reported that some OF the notes
were shy, Others fiat as a glass OF beer
taxing an hours vacation, still others off
color as circus show bill. while not a
rev walked around the block, came back
and joined the others and gave three
cheers al the finish. There were no ef-
forts at andante. larghetto or allegretto
enects These were ignored by the per-
formers. who were not well yersed in
their possibilities. The tremolo power
which is peculiarly effective when prop
wailins notes on the king OF instruments
was distncuyely absent. IL had taken to
the woods. The phrasing was not based
upon any regulated musical principle and
the technique was original spontaneous,
chaotic
one thing was there. II was crescendo
IN STURDY. perpetual. continuous per-
tormance- Another feature was in evil
dence--sound. There were In fact. sew
erai species OF sound from e to howls.
Inc opening piece was a wonder II
demonstrated beyond all question that
some OF the performers. I'm the language
OF bystander with a diagonal suspender
attached by nail were capable OF
number all the fiddlers took part. each
playing a different tune. The combina-
ton was immense. There was not a
not enter into the disturbance OF the
peace. All the old familiar airs had a
place In II. and the general effect remind
ed one of a swarm OF blsckbirds on a
peanut stack or sensational turn on the
New York stock exchange.
In this production all the performers
were busy, They spoke not a word 90
any one, but kept straieht ahead and
sawed gut The effect was marvellous.
All the hound dogs I'm the neighborhood
are said to have settled themselves on
howled pltiful accompaniment.
Then came a second number. which for
variety and volume has never been
anes Of PATTI Te In ts feature 'g tweTe aPeesd d
dlers sawed away on Dixie and Ar
kansaw Traveller" six more entered the
HEnA Nlin KUN. Negro hlns IOuf gave
an imitation of fellow playing Ladies
on the Lake and three sneaked In with
billy In the Low Grounds" This was
not all Two cautiously took up their
positions with Fox Chase and Devils
Dream The latter was something OF
nightmare. too. Ril Harper. of Heard
county. who Is said to keep plenty OF
resin on hts bow chose Bona parties Re-
treat with ~hich TO whoop things up,
and seven nddlers undertook TO grind out
Coin Long Down 20 Town
Three others warmed up matters with
Fire IN the Mountain" and suggestion
or Leather Breeches' from four more
fddlers OF the rural Georgia type was
not altogether lost I'm the shuttle Sugar
In the Gourd' got a fair show at the
ha nds OF three dcVOtces - the gut but
there wasn't much sweetness In H. while
half a dozen old timers who had worn
the "Plea So don t-shoot the fiddle" pla-
card down IN Blossoms Hollow. added
what they knew OF "Peteh Went a-Fish-
Ia 90 and 'Saliie goOdcn.' a few Chimed
IN with "John Browns Body but the
body did not rise up al the sound par
TALLY drowned by the eight musicians
alongside. who wound up az the finish
with that familiar little classic number
known as Johnny Get Your Hair Cut"
W was great program. worthy the
FtddlerS convention.
Strange things take place in Georgia
Richmond Times.