The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-09-22
A BIG WOODEN SHOE.
fhE USE PAGANiNi MADE OF AN ODD
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

The Sorrows of n Pretty wastress-Tho
Great Maestro's Unique New Years
Eve Concert-An Inspiration of Genius
The Marriage Bells.
In the autumn of 1882 Paganinf was re-
siding at villa 20 near Paris He was an
'nvalil, and took little notice OF any other
occupant of the villa The only other o.
dupont ior whom he appeared To care much
was Nicette, young and pretty waitegs
who attended him
One morning Nicette, tray in hand, EN-
tered the apartment of the fa,uons maestro,
who sat at table carving hanals for .
knife out Of piece of ivory, Instead Of
her usual merry lcok she was sal ard DO
e ted. and her blue eyes shovel sigas of
weeping. fasanini, who hal taken an
honest liking for tue poor girl was hot bong
in learning the CaISe of her grief. The
conscrption had just been drawn, a had
number had fallen TO tho lot o. her lover,
and, said she Poor Adolphc must go OF
for II soldier and l shall never see him
again"
but why don't You find him sub
stitute" asked PaganiGi Monsieur is
joking" was the sobbing reply. "TAey say
there IS TO be a war, aud 500 francs is the
lowest price for substitute" Fifteen hun
dred francs wero not much to Paganini, hut
no man ever loved money more than he
did, and TO give such a suln away never en-
tered his mind. so be said nothing, but
made memorandum in bis hook, SEQ
what | eau do for Nicotte'
4 fnyy =.
at hand. In France it is tho custom to
place wooden shoe on tho hearth Just as
we hang up a stocking Late i'll the after
Goon Of the day before Christmas Nicctte
entered the saloon where tho musician was
seated, the center Of large group She
said that huge parcel had just been re-
ceived for Sig. fagauimi. He said he could
not imagine W3 It was, but ordered it up
Wrapper after wrapper was opened before
the curious spectators, AMI finally there ap-
peared a hugo wooden shoe almost largo
enough for an infants cradle.
Tho bystauders laughed Some limited
that it was sout 10y SOMEONE who meant TO
usnuato that the great violiaist was moro
fond of receiving presents than of making
them. This was probably tho case, and
more than possible there were those in the
room who knew Il good deal moro than they
pretended about the sending of the shoe
OF VALUE 10 SOMEBODY.
IaGnniui suspected as much, and sud
len idea seemed to strike him. Well, well,
my friends We SHALL see if this shoe does not
prove OF value TO somebody For three
lays Ettlo was seen of him, AMI il was re-
ported that he was busy in his little work
shop, INTO which none were permitted to
enter. Then it was announced that on
New Years Eve the great maestro would
give unique concert, in tho course OF which
he would execute five pieces on violin and
live on wooden shoa The price of admis.
sion was to lo % frauys. and but 100 tickets
wcre 10 be sold Of course they were dis
posed of at once
When tho evening came Paganini made
bis appearance in unusual spirits The violin
came iirst on the programme, and everyone
declared tine great maestro fairly exceled
himself, ami there WAS no oni of hravo&
tie retired Tor a moment AMI then appeared
with the verItable wooden shoe under his
arm But in his three days of secluson ho
had cut ard carved it into a rude imitation of
"A violin, to which no had deftiy fitted three
strings Upon this curious instrument he
fantasies which many say were the highest
Inspirations Of this wonderful genius Ii
need no words to tell that the theme was
the ifU of o conscript aud soldier There
was the suspense of drawing lots for the con.
scripts, the rejoicing OF those whose friends
hai got clear, thc waiting of thosa not So for
tunute, the departure of the conscripsts. the
noise and hustle OF camp, tue war and
tumult OF battle, the shouts of victory, the
return oi the couScriFtS, now heroes, to
their homes, all closin; with the glad peal
ings OF marriage bells
Poor Nicette, whose lover was 10 b.
marched oil in few DAYS, stood Iehnd the
scenes weeping. scarcely had tho tumuitu-
Gus applause ceased when Iagauini babe
her approach Here" said he, "aro the
3,0U francs whici til, old shoe has brought
That is moro by 100 francs than is needed
to buy Adolphe CT. Keep the rest to begin
with, Here, too, is the old
wooden shoc. Mayha Somebo1y will give
you a few francs Tor it,
There was great composition us to vino
should have .hc wonderful shoe violin. 1t
WAS put up at auction ami sold to a rich
Engiis!,Can for r.nJt francs NIophr and
his faithful Nic"t;s wern married, and, |
trust, h. rdc her good hGsblnd. -Phila.
ielphia News