The Washington herald., 1910-07-08

If you were a boy fifteen years old
with but one ambition in the world, and
that TO be greatest master" Of the violin,
and just as you were about to begin the
long journey across the ocean 10 begin
your training and later the conquest of
the musical world, a detective should tap
you on the shoulder and tell you that you
must go back home, what would you do?
George Moskey cried, and was not
ashamed of il.
1t is a tangled story of love for music.
love for the old German who had taught
him all he knew. love for the tlme-aged
violin that could nestle under his chin
and pour forth oceans Of harmony-this
story of the Washington boy who is not
10 be allowed 10 realize his ambition. I
Started for Gotham.
On Friday last George packed a few
things in a travelling bag. wrapped the
violin-a genuine Cremona. by the way
put it in its case, and started by freight
for New York. There he hurried TO the
docks OF the great transatlantic liners
at Hoboken and arranged to work his
passage across.
At the end OF the long voyage he saw
himself al last abba 10 go to the great
masters, 10 play for them, and find
some means of obtaining their instruc-
tion.
But the dream was not to come true.
for a few hours before the boat sailed
a detective from the Hoboken Central
once arrested him and took him TO po-
lice headquarters. They had received
a telegram from the police OF Washing
ton TO detain him, and last night his
father, Thomas Moskey. started for the
metropolis to bring his son back.
The boy is hearthroken but the father
insists that ne shall wait a few more
years before going so far from home.
Meanwhile. in the little frame house at
6S5 I street northwest. Mary, the boys
sister awaits their return. Last night
she told the story to The Washington
Herald or how her brother had studied
shls favorite instrument.
When he was but little boy he would
go 10 the corner where his father kept
his violin and, taking 1t from the case.
pick out little melodies on the strings.
When he grew a little older an old Ger
man. Anil Christiani a lifelong friend
of the family, who Hved just around the
corner, took the boy under his tutelage
and taught him all that he knew.
His Aptitude Remarkable.
The boy showed a remarkable aptitude
for the instrument, and made great
progress But finally he began to wish
there was some one else with whom he
could study and Washington did not
seem to be able 10 furnish any one who
could tell the boy more than he already
knew
Then the idea of going across the
water entered the boys mind. and. de-
spite the warnings and pleadings of his
father and sister, it could not be driven
from his mind The moment that the
father realized that his son was gone,
he knew that there was but one place-a
seaport.
He went to central headquarters, gave
a description, and Immediately all the
police officials at the various Atlantic
ports were instructed to keep a lookout
for the boy. The men at Hoboken found
him, and so he returns to Washington.
his ambition not yet realized.
story of the Magic Violin.
Here is the story of the magic violin:
There reposed in the penal prison al
Cremona. Italy, in the good year 100 a
prisoner who was undergoing a life SEN
tence. His name was Andres Jesalverto,
alias Santo Vallerino In his solitude,
shut out from all communication with
the world. and refused the privilege of
speech with his fellows. the life convict
constructed the wonderful violin.
Sixteen years of patient. artistic effort
went into the task. When. in I7ls. the
violin was finished, it was given bv the
convict 10 a friend. and it came by de.
grees TO the possession Of the professor
The professor. when he had given all OF
his talents to his protege. and found him
worthy, bestowed the priceless fiddle as
mark of love and appreciation.