The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-20
"REMINISCENCES OF AUBER.
His Personal PecuIiaritics.

The death of Auber has created great regret
IN musical circles. A personal friend of the
late composer furnishes the N Y. Post with
some interesting "reminiscences of the man and
OF his mode of life. The writer SAYS
less sleep than Napoleon 1. He retired at one in
insthe winter. He then went through the important
operation of dressing, which he performed entirely
without the aid OF valet, anc with the creates
care; for he very particular about his linen and
the general appearance OF his person. He dressed
about him touch OF the past beau. His toilet ac
complshed,h he would sit down TO his piano and com
pose until Blk or seven O'Clock at which hours his
VINO asked admittance to his presence
Then for couple Of hoursor so he went through
the very tedious and fatigung task OF listening to
the applications OF parents desiring to obtain the ad
mittance Of their children TO the Conservatoire OF
complaints OF pupils as to the mode OF singing they
were forced TO adopt by their Professors; again
Classes; or listening to the SINGING of those Who
wanted to obtain his opinion andhis advice In the
latter case he often accompanied the applicant on
the piano himself seeming rather pleased il the
pieces chosen were from his own operas.
In summer, on fine afternoons, It the fashionable
sees, seated in a "Duc"-a kind OF light carriage
driving pair Of spirited, highsteppihg, black Eng
nsn horfes, TWO beautiful animals with swan-lke
necks and limbs as fine as those OF antelopes. His
English groom was on the box behind him, with mis-
arms folded and as stin as English troOms usually
On the seat to his left sat little black and tan
Terrier, very small, but great pet d his master.
luis TURNOUT ldu Stylish DuG Qul6 and Qelteel
appearance which denoted the renne( taste OF its
owner
AT half-past he took his only mea of the aav
his dinner He neither breakfasted nDr luncheG
but SIMPLY partook OF one repast, and tat a Very
light and simple one. After his dnnei he would
turned at O'Clock in the morning alone and quite
unprotected. He always very much patIpnized the
ballet corps assisted In its selection, and was
great fayortte with the ladies who composed it.
Auberwas, in the full sense OF the word, anished
gentleman. His manners were affable, and his po-
karftp rlV He
would Often, when visited by some grand LAZY. ac-
company her down TO her carriage, descending
night OF about thirty steps easily and gracefully
as any young man, ana reascending them at a
quick pace, Incredible In one of his advanced years.
he was very Ignd OF female society. Often in oOk-
ing through The panes OF some well known Mill
ners ndgdzan, on the Boulevard des Capuciles
AuDer cOulu bep0ticed choosing and giving to Aa
LADY friends ms Npinion on some pretty bonnet. He
nad also gIeaI pVe Tor horses, and devoted great
deal OF attentlonNnd time TO his stable.
He was, moreover, a great amateur OF pictures
He had caDlnet Where he kept rare collection OF
pictures ana naples Until the very day or his
death Auber was lever seen to wear glasses; his
eyesight was Keen and his hearing exceedingly
acute, as lndeed, thq must have BEEN for he pre-
sided at all the yearI OF the Conseryatore
The great composer enjoyed an income of a hun
dred and fifty tnous,nd francs He was hum ane
and generous, and aways ready to oblge The
numerous applicationstOr help which were made I'd
him were always listened to and granted. An MI
attendants were old People who had waited upOu
him, some for about tirty years, others twenty OF
twenty-five. The porte OF the lodge was at leasi
seventy TO seventy-fve years old. Auber mad in
habited the same house In the Rue St George fol
He never left Paris which he loved, even once
during the last twenty ears Of his existence, no
even In the summer