Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-01-09
HuMoRs OLA MUSICAL GENIUS.

Viyier. the celebrated horn-plsyer, is
one of those men of whom anecdotes are
told-an eccentric insister on having his
own yay. and his own way being whim-
sically peculiar
In England he made great sensation
with his first concert, and invitations to
play at private parties we're necessary
seouent. On the. day after. accordingly,
noble lord called upon the artist, and
giving pull to his cravat in the English
fashion Of salute, he said, with his hat
on, in bad French: ~
q You must come tomorrow evening
and play for the Duchess of Sutherland"
Vivier looked steadily at the noble
man. and said With significant gesture 7:
Take off your hat f.
WHAT asked the visitor.
Take off your hatT
"Ah-in England we have the custom
of keeping our hats on.
Take of your hat"
Yielding to the pertinaciiy Of these
four words. which the artist would have
gene on repeating thirty times if it ba6
been necessary, the nobleman took OIL
his hat, aud said once more:
"You must come tomorrow evening,
and play for the Duchess of Sutherland r
You speak French very badly" re-
marked the artist Instead OF that i'm
polite phrase you should have said-'The
duchess Of Sutherland wishes very
much to hear you play, and she has re.
duested me to inquire whether you viii
do her the pleasure OF coming to the
party which she proposes to give to-mor-
row evening
"Ah but in England we express it the
other way"
Every possibly-but unless you ex-
press il the better way, which have
described to you, / shall take no notice
of the invitation.
The Englishman, evidently very angry.
repeated the invitation as directed.
81 am happy to accept the invitation
ofthe duchess" said the artist
"They will give ten pounds, added
the nobleman.
There, again, is an ill-bred manner Of
treating delicate subject" said Vivier.
II should have made no bargain in adj
vance, and should have left it to the dis.
erection of the duchess; but, since you
have so uncereman;eusly overstepped
the barrier, permit me to say that ten
pounds is not enough.
"Ah, but in England we only give ten
pounds to an instrument To singers
like Grisi or Mario, we give fifteen"
Il shall not play for any price less
than twenty pounds sterling" w
"Do you know" said the Englishman
knitting his brow, twenty-five pounds
are six hundred and thirty-fve frames oil
your money"
my price, Notwithstanding
"Well, you shall have it, But do you
best, and be pnnctuaL
II shall be ready when the duchess
carriage calls for me" said Vivier.
"Eh.2 do you expect carriage to b
sent for your 1t is not the custom i
England" -.
81 am very sorry-but do not rid
in hackney coaches, and if Madam, Ia
Duchess, does not choose to send he
own carriage for me. ] shall not go
VERY WE'LL, said the Englishmar
looking perfectly amazed, but submit
ting, spite Of himself, to the tone of al
thority and dignified Haansrs which til
artist assumed; the carriage shall b
sent for you" rr.Ff
At nine next evening. punctuail
drove up the Duchess chariot, With il
footmaa in livery, and Vivier was =,
ceived with very unusual politeness-
result, evidently, Of the description {
his manners given by Her Graces envo,
From that time the vogue Of the eccel
4rie hOrn-Dlaver became friumDhant