Scan 317
The violin: its famous makers and their imitators, 1875
4 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 255. See the scan on archive.org.
1give birth to this conjecture. Upon removing the lid of the first cardboard case, my eyes rested on a charming Stradiuarius of the Amati period, a gem of its kind. Gently laying it on the table that I might examine it later, I opened the next case. Here rested a magnificent Joseph Guarnerius, the instrument now owned by Lord Dunmore, date 1732. Pursuing my delightful occupation, I opened another case, the contents of which put the rest completely in the shade—here rested the Stradiuarius, date 1715, the gem of the collection. Unable to sustain my curiosity, I rapidly opened sixteen cases in all, from which I took out six Stradiuarius, two Guarnerius, one Bergonzi, two Amatis, and five Violins of a high class.
3It was observed at the time of the sale of this remarkable collection, that "Every well-ordered display of fireworks should have its climax of luminous and detonating splendour, throwing into the shade all the preliminary squibs, crackers, and rockets, the Catherine wheels, the Roman candles, and the golden rain. The French, with modern propriety, term this consummation a bouquet." I cannot find anything more applicable than this word to the scene I have attempted to describe. It only remains for me to say, in reference to this array of Fiddles, that I passed a week in their company, and a more enjoyable one I have never had during my professional career.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.