A great violinist being announced to play on his $5,000
instrument, the building was taxed to its utmost capacity to
hold the eager throng. As he began to play they cheered his
efforts and listened as if spellbound while he drew forth the
rich strains of melody. Suddenly the character of the music
changed and it was apparent to the people that something was
wrong with the violin. The artist frowned, raised it high in air
and in a tragic manner brought it down against a stand with such
force that the instrument was shivered and flew in a thousand
pieces.
The people were horrified that the man should, in a moment of
ill temper, thus destroy a $5,000 instrument. As the manager
gathered up the fragments, the musician exclaimed, “Friends,
this instrument was a $2 violin I purchased on my way here and
played on that you might know that it is not the price of the
instrument which determines the value of the music. That depends
on the player’s touch. I will now play on my $5,000 violin.”
So everywhere it is “the man behind the gun” that counts in the final
results. (Text.)
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