The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-03-08
THE STORY OF MY VIOLIN.
Continued from page nine.)

Clema, and the old confidence between
them gradually disappeared. 1t was
not long before their relations were
broken.
Two years went by, in which Ber-
gonZi made several instruments. and
his skill almost matched that of his
teacher. One day he received let
ter from elena, beseeching him to
come to her, as she had something to
tell him. Bergonzi left his work and
followed the messenger, who led him
to poor habitation in the outskirts
of the city and up creaking stair
way to the top floor.
Here he found his old sweetheart,
pale, ill and in utmost poverty. To
him she confessed that she had stolen
the violin but was so fearful that she
had not dared to play on it or even
to put on strings. but had concealed
1t from all eyes. She could not her
self make n sounding post and bridge
and she dare not ask a dealer, as the
violin would have been instantly rec
ognized. For a year she had thus kept
the instrument, until one day, while
admiring 1t. she had fallen from a
chair on which she was standing and
broken her wrist.
AS 1t was thru her playing that she
was able to gain a livelihood, she was
soon In distress. Now she prayed that
Bergonzi would forgive her and take
the instrument back to Stradivarius.
Bergonzi, who now had some means,
gave her aid, and brought the instru-
ment to Stradivarius on the same day.
His old master was delighted beyond
measure and he retained it until the
last. After his masters death all the
estate, including the rare violin, went
to his two older sons. Francesca and
Omobono. who later sold the violin to
Luigi Tarisio, we'll known collector,
who in his day wandering thru Italy
and bought old violins. He sold the rare
Stradivarius to the owner of the mu-
scum in Spain, where the instrument
descended from father to son for many
generations.
This is the story of the VIOLIN con-
cluded my host, land there you see it
before your eyes. love it, altho it is
not mine and never can become mine,
but the story interests me, and the
violin calls forth my admiration"
thanked my friend and took my
10, ,trr
to become its owner.
The first thing | did after reaching
the hotel was to write a long letter
to my father, telling him all about the
violin and asking his permission to
inquire at the Spanish museum if the
instrument was for sale.
My friend had said that the owner
lacked means for rebuilding his mu-
prove fortunate one for me. The
reply was that there could be no OBJ
lection to asking the price. could
go to solicitor in Old Bond street,
who was recommended by my fathers
attorney, and who would take charge
of the matter for me.
My fathers advice was followed
without delay and called on the
solicitor. He suggested as one OF the
conditions that | should be permitted
to have the violin on trial, SO to speak,
for two months, in order to submit it
to experts in Paris and Berlin. In
due time | received letter from the
solicitor, announcing that he had re-
ceived letter from Madrid. hur-
ried to his Office and was informed
that the violin was for sale. The
price was $4,000 and that could
have it for two months by advancing
$3.50. 1t must, however, be returned
in absolutely the same condition. for
if there was a scratch or mark | was
to obligate myself to retain the instru-
ment
/ reported the conditions to my fa-
ther and asked his advice He declined
to give any counsel. as later | might
regret whether | bough the violin or
not. All he would say was the money
was ready at any time, and that |
should show the instrument to experts
in Paris and Berlin.
My mind was quickly made up There
was some delay in taking possession,
as the old dealer would not give it
UP until he had received express or
ders from Madrid This caused de
lay of more than week, But one day
/ crossed the English channel with