Old Violins

It vas about the beginning of the present century that the craze for the possespion oí the works of the old Itallan nasters set in, and England and Franca vied in the ardor of the struggle to obtain them, says Household Words. At that time many of tho famous Cremonese instruments, and thosc Itlonging to other talian schools, had passed into neglect and oblivlon, numbers of them being scattered about among Italian villages, in the hands of ignorant people, unconsoious of their beauty and worth and incapable of adequately appreciating them. It was Louis Tarisio who aoted as pioneer in this matter. Born of humble parents, wholly unconnected with the art of music, he adopted the trade of earpenter, and in hls leisure time learned to play a violin. He possessed no particular musical talent, but became interested in the construction of his instrument, so that the playing of it became at length quite a secomdary matter with him. A passion for the collecting of violins was aroused in him, and giving up his former employment, he traveled far and wide in search of lost Cremonas. Wanderlng about from village to village throughout Italy in the guise of a peddler, exchanglng new fiddles for old, be became possessed of treasures of the greatest value. He then made his way to Paris, and sold them to the best-known dealers in violins of that city. His whole life afterward was spent in this fashion, and he amassed considerable wealth. He came to lovc his violins, however, for their own salie, apart from the riches they brought him, and was ofteri loath to part with them. He was eccentric and solitary in his habits, and at last died alone in wretohed lodgings in Milan, surrounded by numerous and priceless specimens of the instruments he had loved and lived for. Through his enthusiasm and that of others who followed in his wake, England and France, during the present century, have become possessed of some of the finest masterpieces of the old Italian schools.