The violin was in a window at a pawn shop. I have always wondered about this violin...where it has been with it's owner. Did it play Papa John Creach's version of "Over the Rainbow" in a dimly lit venue in Greenwich Village? Did it try to reproduce Itzach Perlman in a brightly lit concert hall with perfect acoustics? Was it a guest of Charlie Daniels in Nashville? I feel certain that the owner fell on hard times and probably hated to give it up. The stains on the old case reveals late nights and spilled drinks so I tend to think it's owner tried his or her best to make a go at it but just didn't get the break they needed. Hopefully it was still there when they got back on their feet and could go back, get it out of hock and hit the road again. I wish this person better luck next time out.

If you pass by late at night and hear the strings of a solo violin, no matter what the style, stop in listen for a while and leave a dollar in the cup.