Scan 18
A Review Of Ancient And Modern Violin Making, 1899
6 lines. Read by computer on 18 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1While it is a fact that the old makers produced violins that have since been so improved as to make them hard to surpass, it is as clearly evident that they made many more that were comparatively worthless, though the conditions of time, place, climate and material were the same.
3Not long since, a gentleman of considerable violin experience took me to task for saying that Stradivarius had ever made a poor violin. "Why," said he, "I never saw a poor 'Strad' in my life. Where are they?" In reply I said they had gone the way of all failures—they had found their level by falling into the hands of equally poor players. They had received rough treatment, and had long since disappeared, very likely in fragments, while the good ones had been only another illustration of the "survival of the fittest." They had fallen into the hands of those who could appreciate their rare value, and took steps for their preservation.
5This not only applies to Stradivarius, but to all the old makers. When I say that the true principles of construction have never been reached I include all makers of all ages. If the poor violins were the exceptions, there
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