Scan 297
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
2 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 237. See the scan on archive.org.
1the accessories. It was indeed the case of Aladdin's Lamp, and as potent were these Fiddles as the wonderful lamp or ring itself. In the possession of Louis Tarisio they drew forth from the purses of the wealthy, gold that would have enabled the humble villagers to have ceased labour. It is an axiom, however, that everything on this earth is of value providing it is in its proper place, and these rare old instruments in the keeping of the poor peasants could scarcely be considered to be in their proper element; their ignorant possessors were alike unable to appreciate their sterling worth as works of art or their powers of sound. In thus putting it I have no wish to be accused of lax morality. Louis Tarisio, after gathering together a number of old rarities, made for his home, and busied himself in examining the qualities of his stock, selecting the best works, which he laid aside. With the residuum of those instruments he would again set out, using them as his capital wherewith to form the basis of future transactions among the peasantry and others. He visited the numerous monasteries throughout Italy that he might see the valuable specimens belonging to the chapel orchestras. He found them often in a condition ill becoming their value, and tendered his service to regulate and put them into decent order; services gladly accepted, and faithfully performed by the ardent connoisseur. By the handling of these buried treasures, his knowledge and experience were greatly extended. Makers hitherto
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