Scan 144
The Violin: Its Famous Makers and their Imitators, 1875
2 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 96. See the scan on archive.org.
1with contempt. The half-informed turn it over and over, puzzled, and replace it in its case, disconsolate. The thoroughly ignorant look inside, "Joseph Guarnerius Cremonensis faciebat 1724" in old type stares him in the face; he puts the bow on the strings and demands the maker's name—his thoughts are echoed back in gentle sounds, "Joseph Guarnerius." He returns it to its case, shuts the lid, exultingly sallies forth, congratulating himself again and again upon his good fortune in having at last the opportunity of securing the real thing at the price of "a mere song," it being the fixed, fond belief with these individuals that they alone recognise the merits of the thing, a merit they are at liberty to take to themselves. The time of sale arrives. The beauties of the instrument are dwelt upon by the auctioneer; he begs to be permitted to say two hundred guineas to commence with. Silence around. "Well, gentlemen, shall I say one hundred and fifty guineas?" Dogged silence. "Come, come, gentlemen, this is mere trifling. A 'Joseph Guarnerius' for one hundred and fifty guineas! Shall I say one hundred guineas?" The customary witty frequenter of sale-rooms, unable to restrain himself longer, cries out, "I'll give yer a pound." The auctioneer sees the whole thing; it is a copy that he is selling, and not the original. The pound bid is capped by another from our friend, who fondly fancies himself behind the scenes. The subtle copyist, seeing his eagerness, bids on his bid, and the 'Joseph Guar-
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.