The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1881-07-07

spring should come.
eff I must submit, 1 must, replied
the musician.
During the winter Paganini grew
stronger and a comparative degree OF
health was attained. Being no longer
able to stroll about the gardens, he be-
gan gradually to frequent the drawing
room, where, throwing himself on sofa,
he would pass half an hour or SO tnrning
over book of engravings, or slipping
glass of eau sucree. The old ladies OF
the house still gossiped about him and
his peculiar ways, but if he heard he GER
tainly did not heed them.
Christmas eve approached. There is a
Christmas custom in France that takes
the place of our stocking hanging, or
that is equally dear to its juvenile iuhab-
itants. The little wooden shoes are
ranged in order around the hearth, and
a benefcent fairy is supposed to come
down the chimney laden with various
presents and dainties with which he fills
them. It has been calculated that one
wear with another the Christmas wooden
shoe enriches the trade of Paris with two
million francs.
On the morning before Christmas sew
eral of Paganinls female critics were In
secret consultation together:
Before they separated one remarked:
"It will be for this evening then?"
eyes. for this evening; that's settled"
replied another.
Just after Paganini had ensconsced
himself on his customary sofa, that
evening, and was quietly discussing his
sugar water favored with a dash OF
orange-fower, Nannette entered and an
ncunced that porter had arrived with
case directed to Senior Paganini.
"There must be mistake, " said he, II
expect no case.
pardon, Monsieur" replied Nannette,
"there is no mistake, for saw the name
myself on the lid in great letters, CONNIE
ca" measuring with her hands.
'Then," said Paganini, "he'd better
bring it in"
Accordingly the stout porter was intro
duced, and brought into the room
large sized deadlock, on which, besides
the address, were the words Fragile
with care" Paganini looked it over with
some curiosity, and calling for ham
mer proceeded to open the lid. His
skilled and muscular hands soon accom-
plished the task, and the company,
whose curiosity caused them to trans
gress the bounds of good manners,
crowded around in order to see the con-
tents of the box.
After burrowing through quantity OF
straw and shavings, the musician drew
out a large packet, enveloped in strong
wrapping paper, and sealed with several
seals. Having opened this, third, and
finally fourth envelope appeared, all
sealed in like manner, and at length the
curious eyes of the company were re-
called with gigantic wooden shoe carved
Bursts of laughter greeted the discovery
"Ah!" said Paganini, with a long
drawn exclamation, "a sabot, and can
guess, without indiscretion, who sent it.
Some of these estimable ladies wish to
compare me to child who always ex-
poets presents, yet never gives any.
Atoms doncr We will try and make
the wooden shoe worth its weight in
gold"
So saying, and absorbed in his own
idea, Paganini withdrew to his own
apartment without saluting the company
carrying with him the case and its con.
tents.
For more than four days he did not
reappear in the drawing-room. Nan
cite, when questioned, informed the
company that he worked from morning
to night with carpenters tools, and, in
fact, the musician, whose hands were
wonderously flexible and dexterous in
all things, had fashioned a perfect and
sonorous instrument out of the wooden
shoe. Having stretched one silver
string across it his work was complete.
A public notice appeared stating that
on New Years, he (Paganini) would
give a concert in the large hall of the
Villa Lutetiana. The great master an
nounced that he would play ten pieces,
half on the violin, half on wooden shoe.
The tickets were limited to 100, at twenty
francs each. There was, of course, a
great rush to secure places, and it is
needless to state that the elite of the
beaumonde, who, during several months
had been deprived of the pleasure of
hearing Paganini, attended in large
force on the evening in question. The
faubourg Poissonniers was crowded with
elegant equipages, the concert hall was
furnished with comfortable chairs and
brilliantly lighted for the occasion, and
expectation was on tip-toe to fathom the
announcement concerning the wooden
shoe.
At length Paganini appeared, smil-
ing, with every appearance of sound