New-York tribune., 1903-06-07

large collection another Guarnerius. which Ko-
clan liked even better than the one he had had-
and, placing it tenderly in the players hands
told him It was his. Kocian drew the splendid
bow, which a part of the gift, across the
strings and the old Cremona sang one Of the
national airs of Bohemia sweetly that Mr.
Clopton almost regretted he had parted with the
prize. Kocian was entranced. He played on
until the parlor of the Hotel Empire was full
Of the gratitude his music expressed then he
laid the gift in its case much as a mother places
her sleeping babe in its cradle. grasped both or
Mt Clopton's hands and peered. into the col
lector's face a full minute without uttering
word. He raised to his lips the hand from which
he had received the gift and kissed gratefully
There there Kocian.' said Mr.. Clopton.
strol1ing the young mans faxen locks, lit is
yours. and my heart goes with it, The young
Bohemian. his uncle and Joseph Kovanik, his
New-York friend. took a happy leave Of Mr..
Clopton-
Those who were at Madison Square Garden
wednesday evening heard Kocian playing his
own VIOLIN full brother to that he had car
ried across the ocean through mistake, and
had brought back. though reluctantly and with
many tears. when told OF his error. That is the
sequel to the story Of Mr.. Cloptons wandering
Guarnerius told in The Tribune week ago.
Tribune reporter last Tuesday asked
Mr. Clopton the history of some of his wonder
ful vfolins History" he exclaimed. a Gre
violin has history except its birth. If
Il was made by Anati, Stradivari Guarnieri
and has been decently treated 1t speaks for it
self You might well ask for the history Of
one Of Shakespeares plays or of one of Wag-
ner's operas When you listen to the dialogue
Of Julius Caesar 10 the strains Of Lohen-
grin you know the author. 1t is the same with
A-nau violin, which has the quality of a
church organ, or with Stradivarius in which
the tone takes on the resonance of a bell or
with Guarnerius. in which you hear the quail
ity Of horn History? Pages-aye, volumes
could add nothing to the story which every gen
uine Crernona violin tells in its own rich Ian
guager'
~Are there violins Of later production
which closely approach the same qualities of
toner" the reporter asked.
There have been some great copyists' Mr.
C1opton replied, but the violins have their
language, also. You cannot copy great age.
Place violinist on the stage of any great con-
cert hall in the dark and give him genuine
Cremona TO play. and you cannot tell where
the music comes from It seems 10 fill the place
to come from everywhere Now give him a
violin that lacks the age or that is without the
inherent merit of the work of one Of the famous
OreE1ona ulaheTS lou cOulu walk TO the player
and place your hand upon him guided by moth
ing but the sound
How about your Amati which it is said
Thomas Jefferson formerly played?"
Jefferson may have played it-probably did
but IT is richer, no more perfect and no more
valuable for that He left no impress upon il
OF which il sings. Amati. its maker. still
lives in it, If Kocian were here he could charm
it into d song OF Amati, but hand on earth
make il sing OF Jefferson. Jefferson himself
could only make it yield the tones for which
Anati created it. He could make it sing the
songs he loved but it sang them in the tones
rs maker gave 10 it, BY the way that Anat
WAS made in 1913 century before Jefferson
played ST. and has since been nleowed by
and quarter centuries more" In reply
question to how he became a collector of
vi0lins Mr Clopton said:
Il was reared on Virginia plantation You
know what the fiddle. guitar and banjo 10
plantation life Every Southerner loves these
instruments more than all others he ever Heard.
] never fiddler. but from my infancy
loved the music Of violin as my ancestors had
loved IL before in the old Virginia home. There
We're several Instruments about the place and
some were rare old yiolins, indeed. Fiddlers
who came there with instruments they
could afford used TO try and go into rapt-
ures over them I could hear the difference be-
tween the fine old violins and the cheap instru-
rnents end learned early 10 bring out one of