Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-06-14
Often bach's Early Days.

have this AnecdOte from Offenbach's
own lips. He tells it admirably. Money
had become more than rare with him, and
one fine morning he woke up and could
not find one cent in his pocket A man
may on pinch 60 without breakfast, but
to have no dinner on the same day is
hard fate, especially when one has the APP
petite OF the sixteenth year. 1t need not
be said that he thought Of home, of his
parents, of his brothers and sisters he had
left at Cologne. Jacques Offenbach,
however, did not indulge in many lamen
tations he knew the future belongs to
men Of energy, and that where there, is a
will there is way. He buried his head
in his hands, he thought. and presently he
said: Why, today is Thursday. Mons.
a, who lives in Rue Montmartre,
made me promise to come to dine with
him this afternoon. l shall take very
good care not to be so impolite as to for
get his invitation" He walked until
i've o'clock p. m, every step he took
sharpening his appetite. AT five O'Clock
p IL. he returned home to dress little
and to take his famous violoncello, to
which Che did not attempt to disguise it,
he owed the majority of his invitations.
The cool, balmy air. the unbroken fast,
the active exercise, had given him an APP
petite-such an appetite. As the clock
was striking SIX Offenbach was ringing
| the door-bell at Mons. KS, after hav-
ing previously left his violoncello at the
janitor's lodge. The chambermaid an
swered the bell: Both master and mis-
tresss are out" Otfenbach shocked as
II pistol-shot had been fred close to his
ear, exclaimed. "Nonsense Mons
inns
dine with him to-day, Thursday" These
words were scarcely out of Otfenbach's
mouth when Mons. " appeared, and
holding out both hands to Otfenbach, said
Yes, my dear friend, you are
right What an excellent memory YOU
have! This is indeed Thursday" Often
bach exclaimed in a triumphant tone, be-
ginning to pull off his gloves as he spoke:
THAT is just what | was telling your
| servant Mons. u rejoined: But
we don't stand upon ceremony with an
old friend like you'll must tell you the
| truth We don't dine here to-day. l have
| promised my wife to take her TO the coun-
| try 10 dinner" Offenbach turned little
| pale, but he did not show much embar-
rassment as he stammered That's an
| excellent suggestionr' Mons " add
ed: And you'll return next Thursday
| to dine with us-won't you its agreed,
| M" Offenbach gasped: "Why, yes, to
| be sure-to be sure-that suits me to a T
| just the thing-iust the thing" Mons.
| u did not wa for Ofienbach to end
| his phrase, but in, 'rrupted him with,
| "Good-by; Thursday IS the day; don't
forget" Offenbach put his gloves into
| shape, and As he bowed, said Yes,
Thursday is tie day" Hitherto poor
young Offentach had-may be not break
tasted every day--at least never gone
without dinner-and now he VAS menaced
with seeing dinners become as rare rs
breakfasts. The most terrible of all was
that, being entirely without credit, had he
allowed the people high in position,
whose intercourse he had sought, to sus-
4 pect that he had fallen to these depths Of
| poverty, he would forever have been
ruined man. Engrossed by these refiec
tons, goaded by an appetite each minute
/ sharper, Otfenbach recovered conscious
ness only when he reached Boulevard DIES
ltaliens. He never knew how he
| got there. The restaurants were filled
with customers jacques Ottenbach, with
melancholy envy, looked through the
windows ut those lucky ones of earth
| whose chief care was to ascertain whether
their partridge was done brown, and
whether their roast beef was thor
oughly cooked and yet deliciously raw.
| Otienbach, for the first time since he
reached Paris, felt his eyes trimming
with anger and Indignation. He had, up
to that very hour, believed in his good
lrck, in his star, and he was reduced to
die OF hunger. Would ii not be Just as
well to jump off Pont Neut and into the
river, and there the end OF all: While
mentally making fate these reproaches
Otenbach had walked rapidly and had
reached the passage de l'Opera Sudden
ly passer tapped him on the shoulder
and asked: Il beg pardon, bu, have |
not the honor to address NJ Offenbach 2"
The hungry pedestrian answered "Yes,
sir, What do you want of mes" Here
are four dollars" -Four dollars For
whom For what?' ~ owe your
brother four dollars. and | should be ex-
enough 10 give them to him. The
passer made low bow and disappeared
Otlenbach smiled and said to himself: Il
know this is all dream, but do hope
shan't wake before have dined" Ten
minutes aiferward he was seated in Cafe
Anglais hobnobbng with partridge The
| too (aud bottle of ST. Julien wine As
he quilted the restaurant with q toothpick
in his mouth he said to himself: II
knew perfectly well | had good star !"
Then he added; And now II the dream
pass away and | wake don't care, for
I'm no longer hungry, "-Cor. Boston
[ tyyrsfts