Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1908-04-24
PRINCE OF INSTRUMENTS ~
1t has Its Admirers Whether "Strad" n,
a"Cornstalk."


small fortune locked up in a fiddl,
case. Such folk are to be found in al
most every city or village. WHY. her,
In Olympia we have a few such indi
vduals.
Ihe somebody does not know much
about viOlins, but has heard or reaf
that an old violin is very yaluabl.
thing. and because grandfather hap
pened to leave violin, to assume
duties which would enable him to eat
and buy a new suit of clothes once in
while. somebody Immediately be-
ilvees that grandfather's violin is a
treasure.
AS a matter of fact, ninety-nine
times out of hundred, grandpa In.
vested in a $40 fiddle and played
'Suwanee River" and Turkey in the
Straw. When he bought it the violin
was worth $40, but since then it has
been depreciating in value at the rate
or about five cents year. From the
| mere fact that most of the varnish is
scratched of and there are several
cracks in the instrument it does not
follow that it is an "old one."
II a violin is good to start with it will
improve with age and good care. but
on the other hand, a poor fiddle is not
benefited to any extent If 1t survives
century or two. Don't judge violin
by the label inside Of it. ANYBODY
can copy an old name and date and
paste 1t in. If all the violins bearing
a StradivariuS label were his. moor old
Antonius would be working yet, at
the somewhat advanced age of more
than two hundred. More than half
Of the cheap. worthless violins. bear
copies of his or some other masters
label, and even some real old and good
instruments have been passed of as
the work of Amait, Guarnei, Magini,
and other famous makers. Anyone
having a violin with the label of
comparatively unknown marker is
likely to be the owner of a more valu.
able instrument than the person whose
fiddle is marked "Antonius Stradi.
varius." There is only one way to
find out whether or not a violin is
living up to its name, and that is to
get the judgment of a good dealer.
II he tells You that your violin is no
good but still offers to buy it, you may
be quite certain that you have a good
fiddle. But don't sell it. Take it to
some other authority and see what he
says. but don't make bargain. You
will hear from him if your violin is
genuine. for the supply of valuable
ones Is small, and great rivalry exists
among dealers TO secure masterpieces.
A great many people have the idea
that all the very good Instruments are
the output of half dozen geniuses,
while the truth is that there are scores
of old, as well as quite modern. makers
whose work brings very high prices.
But of all musical instruments the
violin is the most enduring. Pianos
wear out. wind instruments get bat.
tered and old-fashioned. the pipes Of
organs become scattered. and the or
iginal construction Is lost sight Of.
All kinds of novelties are introduced
into flutes, but the sturdy violin stands
on its own merits. II, as have men,
toned in the forgeing. you have a
genuine old violin, 1t is valuable. and
age and use only improve it. 1t is the
violins of the few Italian makers of
the last three centuries that command
fabulous prices
But even IL a violin is a cheap one,
but old. it Is impossible to handle it
without feeling Of veneration, when
one reflects on the number of people
who have probably played on it. the
weary hours it has beguiled, the
source Of enjoyment it has been. and
how we'll it has been loved. And by
the way. do you know that the Ever
green State had a Governor once who
loved to play the violin, and was the
happy possessor OF a valuable instru-
ment as well? Well. it was Charles
Laughton. who played the violin for
his friends and self edification. He
was a splendid player. too.
In n1acipr I ytx kxov
by Will Visscher. versatile news
paperman, who was widely known on
Puget Sound years ago, and which was
inspired after listening to Laughton
entertaining a few friends with his
fiddle Here is the poem:
CHARLEY LAUGHToNs FIDDLE.
Mid the silken. perfumed elegance
Within a stately house
I've heard it's rich tones ringing
Thro' the wilderings of Strauss.
And I've heard the sigh of gentle ones,
Who listened while 1t bore
To charmed hearts the sweetness
or the touching 'TrOvatore."
I've heard it in the evening.
In a peaceful, quiet home.
Sing "Suwanee River" till the bees
Came. humming round the comb.
With the phases of the wassail
And the joy of festal cheer.
I've heard it change from gay to grave.
From lively to severe"
In tender tones of pleading,
In sighs Of spent delight,
In greetings of the morning,
And in good-byes to the night.
In storms upon the ocean.
And in the songs of birds.
I've heard its voice, like living thing,
In sweetest human words.
I've heard 1t give. stentorian,
Command in battles blare,
And heard it whisper. soft and low,
Like angels in the air
'MOng brawny men, in mining camps, |
I've seen it hush brawl,
Till clenched hands are open palms.
That in each other fall.
y