Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-11-11
The Violin Maker Of Cremona.


entering humble little shop on one of
the quietest STREETS of Cremona.
Not until | reach the perfection at
which | AIM" replied the young man
addressed, glancing up from the block
ne was polishing.
Then, as perfection is never attain
ed, your task will be life one" re-
turned GaSpara. "Why waste your
time for reward that will never be
yours ?"
Il build my violins for the centur>
les to come-not for the mere span of
lifetime" responded the keyed
youth. Generations hence, wish
musicians TO find no flaw in my work.
My ambition is TO have them know that
Stradivarius loved his violin too well
TO put even the least bit of slovenly
work into it,"
should perfer taking my reward
while | am alive to enjoy it," answered
Gaspara.
And |, too" said Andrews Cafarelli,
a handsome young fellow, who had fol-
lowed his friend into the violin makers
shop. 81 shall not waste nv life
dreaming, | assure YOU" he continued
I'm bound TO win wealth, and being
too inpatient to toll for il under ltal-
ian skies, shall cross the great seas
to the land beyond, where on the banks
OF mountain streams nuggets of gold
may be had for the gathering"
You are welcome to the gold, if
can have the glory, the pomp and ap-
plauSc due the victorious warrior" re-
turned GaSpara. My greatest amb-
ton is to be great soldier, and by brave
deeds write my name Hero in golden
letters in the book of fame"
And what would you have. Anunius,
for your lifc-work and reward ?" asked
Andrews, looking into the dark face of
the young toilcr. what would YOU
choose if released from this wcarisomc
~sh of violin ma.'nc2"
81 would choose to 60 back TO my
violin making" said Antonius. would
be great discovcrcr, too, Andrews, for
| would not rest until learned why the
tones of the violin are not always clear
and musical"
And would you honestly choose viz
lin making, here in old Cremona, with
poverty and obscurity, in preference to
the wide, wide world, with its gold and
silver, its hero garlands and the cheers
and songs of grateful people ?" ques-
toned Gaspara.
81 care not for the worlds praises"
insisted Antonius. 81 only know that
earth and air and sky are full Of music
so divine that no instrument yet in
vented by man is true enough, perfect
enough, to give it voice. 1t is in my
thoughts day by day and dreams by
night, and | shall never rest nor be at
peace until have given to the world
better interpreter Of its music than it
yet possesses"
The trio Of friends separated. The
years passed on, with Gaspara winning
laurels in the victorious army of Louis
the Fourteeth, and Andrews gathering
gold in ships OF his own in far away
lands, and in islands of the sea. But
at his lessons under
great masters-toiled on at his daily
vocation, his every waking thought Of
a more perfect violin, his dreams at
night Of the heavenly music with which
the perfect instrument filled the earth.
Twenty Of these hard working years
came and went. Gaspara, the hero,
home from his latest triumphs in battle,
and Andrews, the gold king, back again
from a successful exploring expedition,
came together to the little old shop,
where their old schpol-felow still toiled
and dreamed as Of old.
"And you call this living, Antonious,
this sitting a whole lifetime tinkering
away at bit Of wood and glue and
wire ?" exclaimed Andrews. "While you
have been fooling your time away here
doing nothing have sailed the world
over and gathered its richest treasures
in every cline under the sun, own
houses and lands, hocks and herds, gold
and silver, while you have nothing but
a little old workshop and few tools
nothing whatever to show for your
twenty years Of polishing and testing
box-drawing."
"You have seen many new sights,
have gathered immense treasures and
your ears have heard strange sounds,
you tell me-" answered Antonious with
a quiet smile. 81, too, have been on
an exploring expedition, and my eyes
have booked upon the treasure dug out