Old Virginia Fiddlers.
AT the corner of Main and Second
streets, East, where the
old postoffice stood, lived the
celebrated colored family of
"Old Virginia fiddlers," "The Scotts."
This family had some Indian blood in
[ILLUSTRATION]
Site of Home of William Clark (of Lewis and Clark Expedition) near Charlottesville.
The gentleman seen is Mr. E. A. Perry.
them. The house was built one hundred
and twenty three years ago by Colonel
Bell, an officer in the Revolution
and was demolished about 1895 by
General Thomas L. Rosser, in order
to make room for the former postoffice
building. "Old Jessie" was the father,
and the three boys were Tom, Bob and
Jim. Tom was valet to the Hon. Wm.
C. Rivers, United States Minister to
Paris. He married a French woman
and remained in France. The family
was greatly beloved by the old citizens
of the town and county. They were
called upon to play at the wedding of
nearly every couple in the county.
Even after the war, often in the afternoon
of courtdays, the old fellows
would assemble at Bob Scott's house to
hear the boys play the old tunes they
had danced to in their young days.
Jim was the best player, but Bob
would put on a smoking cap with
Indian bead work on it at all dances
and call out the "figures." Six feet
four inches high, he was a striking
figure indeed. When the dance was
"well on," Bob would give the
"Laughing Cotillion." Instead of
singing it he laughed it to violin accompaniment
and the entire company,
ladies and gentlemen, would join in the
laugh. The effect was indescribable.
I have heard Ole Bull, Vauxtemps
and Remenye, and, while their playing
was masterful and scientific, I
had rather hear Jim Scott play "Come
Share My Cottage Gentle Maiden,"
than any of them. Bob was the last
of the "boys" to pass away. He
dropped dead on Ridge street only a
few years ago in his ninety-fourth
year. Bob has three daughters now
living in the city—Elizabeth, Mary and
Charlotte, and one son, "Buck," died
only a few months ago. "Naldy"
Cox, the bill poster, is a grandson of
Bob. Those happy old days of the
Virginia fiddler have gone, and so
have nearly all of the old generation
who could "cut the pigeon wing,' "
"back steps," and many other "steps"
when "Ladies to the right" was called
out by the fiddlers.
