The North-Carolina standard., 1845-10-15

keys-but still, like sorcerer with his wand,
stood the king Of Fiddlers, with his uplihed bow
At length, faint smile stole over his rigid and
marbIe-hke features and every heart beat quickly,
as his long arm descended, so gradually, that YOU
could scarcely see it move; and bringing the low
er end of the stick upon the strings Of the instu-
mont. To the disappointment of many however,
it rose again. and remained an inch or two from
the bridge, whilst the exceedingly long fingers Of
his left hand struck few notes. which were heard
sharply and distinctly above the warbling of the
flutes, and the grumbling of the trombones Once
more his arm asccnds, and now il comes down so
deiicately on the smallest string, that something
like the shadow of an exquisite sound is heard
" so soft, so sweet so delcately clear" that it is
heard as distinctly as silver rvutt is seen wind
ing its snuous course through vernol wood
1t is unlike anything one ever before heard pro-
duced from the instrument, rather it seems as
if the sense Of hearing had been sharpcned And
now succeeds food Of delicious melody, which
laps the audience in elysium. It is not, cannot
be fiddling and see, the leader of the band has
forgotten himself, and sits in widemouthed won
der listening to the astonishing effects Of Pagani-
mis- genius. The Maestro, as his inspiration be-
comes more profound, partakes in the enthusiasm
which he has created, and his snakey eyes dash
almost supernatural fire. He smiles ghasty
smile, as he
'Pours forth the notes like enchanted wine,
Loosens the chords in silver shower"
BY a change in the composition, he now pro-
duccs the most discordant notes, and then Surprs-
les ALL by alternating them with snacheS Of almost
celestial harmony. Now he moves to tears, and
anon convulses with laughter. His violin for
few seconds almost roars; and then, as he slowly
draws the bow across the "quiYering strings" he
elicits sound
ss-ao 6ne that nothing lives
'TwiXt it and silepce"
At length the spell ceases-the finale is PLAYED
and with outspread arms, the bow in one hand.
and the fiddle in the other, he bows himself off
the stage, smiling horribly, as when he entered
from the wing.
Not the least interesting portion Of the proceed
ings were the astonished looks of the musicians;
especially of the fdders-and when they com
menced playing in the interval between the first
and second appearance Of Paganini, could not
help thinking of the couplet, addressed by some
one to very Indifferent musician
&C when orpheus played so WE'LL he moved Old MEX,
But thou moves nothing but thy fddestick."
Not that the leader of that evening was a sec
ond rate artist By no means he was one Of the
first in his line; but what excellence could stand,
when compared with Paganini2 Like Cavanagh,
the celebrated racket player, 10 whom HaZlitt re-
fers in his Table Talk-thc Italian had not only
no equal, but no one stood seer n ! to him.
The only musician who has been thought to III
val Pagunin is OLE Bull, whom most Of my
readers have doubtless heard. Few, however,
who have heard both, will be disposed TO admit
that the latter is worthy to be named with the
former Paganimi possessed gemius-OLE BULL
sedulolIsly cultivated talent alone. Paganini hope
lessly distanced all competitors. OLE BULL has
been excclled by VIEUx TEMPS, ARToT, and
DE BERIoT. The former rcsembIed, in his
moods Of inspiration, the rushing cataract; tho
latter would be more appropriately symbolized by
the placid, rolling river. Energy, force, passion,
boundless enthusiasm belonged to the one Grace,
tenderness, mildness, and sweetness TO the other.
Paganini demanded and received the homage due
to exalted genius. OLE BULL wins applause by
the very power Of his gentleness. In short, the
Italian attained, scarcely with an effort to heights
which the Norwegian never can reach, though
he devote lifetime to the pursuit. do net wish
10 depreciate the talents of Ole Bull he is adj
mirable, but he has not, nor has any one else,
caught the falling mantle Of the wonderful Pa
GANINI
The celebrated violinist happened to be staying
at the same hotel as myself and the next morning
as | was standing by the window, observed
crowd in the street below On asking the waiter
what caused it, learned that Paganini's chaise
at the door, and that the people had collected
to catch glimpse of him, as he got into it. {" One
fool, they say, makes many" and so Joined them.
had not waited long before | saw him coming
down the stairs. He had on blue cloth cap,
from which hung what appeared to be bull
lion tassel, and he was so mufflrd up in the
folds of a most voluminous fur-infd cloak that
L could see nothing of him but his pale, hawk
like nose, and his two dark awful looking eyes,
which seemed to have no occupation, but in
anxiously looking after a little boy, who, muE
fed up like himself was taken to the chaise in
the arms of attendant his own servant. This
was his son, the only living thing, it is said,
towards whom he exhibited any marks OF at
tachment. The landlord told me that happen
ing, one day, TO enter his guests room unan-
nounced, he found Paganini lying on the floor,
hugging and kissing the child, with the utmost
earnestness. The great Fiddler, however, was
much enragcd at the intrusion, and immediate
ly on the mans retiring, locked the door,
precautlon he failed not to take during the re-
mainder Of his stay.
Affection of Elephants. have seen many
ron o. instances of the IF hrufes IN mar