The Portland daily press., 1867-01-19
Miscellany.


Vivier, the celebrated horn-player, is one of
those men of whom anecdotes are told-an ec-
centric nsister upon having bis own way, be
ing whimsicaly peculiar.
In England he made great sensation with
his first concert, and invitations to play at pri-
waite concerts were necessary sequence. On
the day after accordingly, a noble lord called
upon the artist, and, giving a pull to his cravat
in the English fashion OF salute, with his
hat ON, he said, in bad French:
"You must come tomorrow evening and
play for the Duchess OF Sutherland"
Yivier looked steadily at the nobleman, and
said with significant gesture: EA
"Take off, your hatm
What asked the visitor
"Take offyour hat!'
-a"Ahl-in England we have the custom OF
keeping our hats on"
Take OFF your hat!' 7 rse.
Yielding to the pertlnacity of these four
words, which the artist would have gone on
repeating thirty times if necessary, the noble
man took off his hat, and said once more:
You must come tomorrow evening, and
play for the Duchess OF Sutherlandp
You speak Fren oh very badly" replied the
artist. "lnstead of that impolite phrase, YOU
should have sdid-'The Duchess of Sutherland
wishes very much to hear you play, and she
has requested me to inquire whether you will
do her the pleasure of coming to the party
which she proposes to give to morrow even
ing"
All but in England we express it the 9TH
err way"
"Very possibly-but unless you express it
in the better way have described to you,
shall take no notice of the invitation"
The Englishman, evidently very angry, re-
peated the invitation as directed.
Il am happy to accept the invitation of the
Duchess" said the artist.
''They will give ten pounds" added the
nobleman. '9i-
ss"rhere again, is an ill-bred manner of treat
ing delicate subject" said Vivier; 81 should
have left it to the discretion of the Duchess /:
but, sill ce you have SO very unceremoniously
over0epped the barrier, permit me to say that
'ten-pounds' is not enough"
"Ah! but in England we only give ten
pounds to an instrumental. To singers, like
Grisi or Mario, we give fifteen.~ -
81 shall not play for any price less than
twenty-five pounds sterling"
do you know said the Englishman, knit
ting his brow, twenty-five pounds are six
hundred and thirty-fve francs OF your mon
ey?"
MY price, Notwithstanding"
well, you shan have it. But do your best,
and be punctual.' t+
Il shall be ready when the Duchess car
riage calls for me-" said Viver
Ell. do you expect carriage to be sent
for you? II is not The custom in England
am very sorry-but do not ride in hack
ney coaches, and it Madam, the Duchess, does
not choose to send her own carriage for me,
shall not come y
Very well" said the Englishman, looking
perfectly amazed, but submitting, spite OF him.
self, to the tone of authority and digniied
manner which the artist assumed The car-
riage shall be sent for you"
At nine the next evening, Principally drove
up the Duchess chariot, with its footman in
livery, and Vivier was received with very I'M
usual politeness-a result, evidently, of the de-
scription OF his manners given by her Grace's
envoy. From that time the eccentric horn
player became triumphant.