The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-02-06
Old Time Fiddlers.
They Met and Held Carnival
of Music at t he Grand The
atre Tuesday Night-One of
the Best Entertainments a
Henderson Audience Has
Enjoyed in a Long Time.

Enjoyed in a Long Time.
The Old Time Fiddlers' convention
Tuesday night was up to expecta-
ton in the entertainment provided
There was Il good number of partici-
pants and while the majority of
them were Young or middle aged men
they made old time music. There
was not Il violinist among them
they were oil fiddlers. And the way
they fiddled was e. sight. There was
no straining after effect-ao regard
for method, or technique, or phras-
ing-none of your modern style of
music or playing-but placing the
fiddle half way between the chin and
elbow, and grasping the bow six or
eight inches from the end they went
right down after it in the good old
style OF playing as our daddies used
to do. The correct position of course
WAS to stretch one leg out in advance
OF the other, with the head thrown
back at an angle of As degrees, and
pat the nigh foot as sort OF accom-
paniment. There was something Of
main strength and awkYardnessp per-
haps as compared with your fastid-
ious viOlinist, but the music was all
right-it had life and vitality about
1.-THE power to stir and enthuse and
make one feel young and loose iointed
again. The audience could not keep
still. There was almost q riot of
noise, foot patting and moving of
bodies even among the most digni-
fled and orderly persons in the
audience
The performance was greatly ell
loyed no little amusement being af-
forded along with the music. Mr.. j.
Nj. Smith, fiddler, and Mr.. NJ. ID.
Hester, dancer, were the comedians
OF the convention and they afforded
no end Of fun by their work. Mr..
Smith stands in Il class by himself as
fiddler. He has no equal-nor can
any one initiate him. Mind you we
do not say he is the best. but he is all
right-in his way.
The convention was held under the
auspices of Messrs. Whitaker &
Rotan, who are at the head of the
enterprise in this State, Prof. c. z.
Whitaker being here to conduct the
convention in person. He was as
sisted by Messrs. W. M. Knott, NJ. 6.
Hill and &. c. Hill, members OF the
staff and to them those who were
present Tuesday night are indebted
for an evening of real fun and enjoy
ment
The program was as follows:
Eugene ThOrne of Henderson, who
played Pretty Polly, Soldiers JOY,
Danish Waltz.
Joseph H. Finch, Henderson, Hop
Light, Ladies, Mississippi Sawyer,
Richmond Polka.
Hester Boys, Route No 5, Hender-
son, G. R., fiddle, NJ. d., mandolin, E.
D., guitar, w. r., autoharp, Hop
Light, Ladies', Come Out Tonight,
Richmond Polka.
$. p. Knott, Oxford, N, G. Buchan-
an, guitar, Little Brown jug, Home,
Sweet Home. Bill Baily.
j. W. Meredith. East Durham,
banjo, Spanish Fandango, Schot-
tische, Minor Clog, Arkansaw Trav-
eler, georgia Buck.
Capt. Charles Il. Lewis. Oxford,
piano accompaniment by Mrs. Rosa
Bryan, Home Cotillion, Schottische,
Lewis Waltz. (original.
J. NJ. Smith, Henderson, Home,
Sweet Home, Be My Gal or Be No
Galat All, Put My Feet Down
J. r. Hester, Route No. 5, Hender-
son, Arkansaw Traveller, Dixie, In
the Sweet Bye andBye.
r. J. Newton. EPSON, j. w. Mitch
ell, 2nd fiddle, H. f. Newton, guitar,
John Wilson, guitar, w. II. Mitchell,
piano, Italian Waltz, Green Noun
tain Polka, Yellow Gal.
Dancers, w. W. Henry, Stovall, NJ.
d. Hester, Dabney.
While the Judges were making up
their decision Mr.. W. c. Hill, of
Rutherford College, who accompa-
MES Messrs Whitaker 4 Rotan on
their tours, entertained the audience
with n few selections as follows:
Waltz, Kiss Me Again for
1 Like 1t. Sweet Violets. Twinkle,
Twinkle, Little Star, etc. He was ac-
companied by Prof. c. q. Whitaker.
2nd fiddle, and &. c. Hill, guitar.
They played very sweetly and when
Prof. Whitaker took the lead just %
"show 'em few" the audience broke
out in thunderous applause.
The Judges. j, w. White, John T.
Thomas, G. W. Harris rendered the
following decision:
Best fiddle, $500, r. J.Newton.
Second best, $500, S. p. Knott.
Third best, $3.50, Joe Finch.
BOBBY, 81 90. J. NJ. Smith.
Best banjo, g. so, J. W. Meredith.
Second best, S1.00, y. G. Buchan-
an.