St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-07-17
BUY1NGoFF ALOvER.
How Paganini Made Girl Happy
With a Zig wooden Shoe

| with a Bbl@ ~ 0OdeM Shoe.
| In the autumn of 1889. says the Phila-
! delphia News, Paganini was residing at a
villa near Paris. He was an invalid and
took little notice of any other occupant OF
the villa. The only other occupant for
whom he appeared to care much was Nj
cette, young and pretty waitress who at
tended him.
One morning Nicette, tray in hand. en-
tered the apartment of the famous maestro,
who sat at table carving handle for a
knife out OF piece of ivory. Instead of
her usual merry look, she was sad and
detected, and her blue eyes showed signs of
weeping. PaganiDi. who had taken an
honest liking for the poor girl. was not
long in learning the cause of her grief.
The CONSUMPTION had just been drawn; a
bad number had fallen to the lot of her
lover. and, said she: Poor Adolphe must
go off for a soldier, and I shall never see
him again"
But why don't you find him substi-
tute?" asked Pagenini. Monsieur is jok-
ing" was the sobbing reply. ''They say
there is to be war, and 1,500 francs is the
lowest price for substitute" Fifteen
hundred francs were not much to Paganini,
but no man ever loved money more than he
did, and to give such sum away never
entered his mind. So he said nothing, but
made memorandum in his book 'See
what can do for Nicette''
a Few weeks passed and Christmas was
at hand. In France it is the custom to
place wooden shoe OH the hearth Just as
we hang up stocking. Late in the after
noon of the day before Christmas Nicette
entered the saloon where the musician was
seated, the center of a large group. She
SAID that huge parcel had just been re-
celved for Signor Paganini. He said he
could not imagine what it was. but ordered
1t up. Wrapper after wrapper was opened
before the curious spectators, and finally
there appeared huge wooden shoe, almost
large enough for all infants cradle.
The bystanderS laughed. Some limited
that 1t was sent by some one who meant to
lnslnuate that the great violiniSt was more
1ohd OF receiving presents than of making
them. Ibis was probably the case, and
more imam possible there were those in the
room who knew a good deal more than
tney pretended about the sending of the
shoe. Paganlni suspected as much, and
suoden idea seemed to strike him. We'll,
well, my friends, we shall see if this shoe
does not prove of value to somebody"
For three days little was seen of him. and
1t was reported that he was busy in his
little workshop. into which none was per-
mltted to enter. Then it was announced
that on New ears eve the great maestro
Would give unique concert, in the course
OF which he would execute five pieces on
VlolLn and five on wooden shoe. The
price OF admission was to be 20 francs, and
OUT IoO tickets were to be sold. Of course
they We're disposed of at once.
when the evening came Paganini made
MS appearance in unusual spirits. The
violin came first on the program, and every
one declared the great maestro fairly ex-
celled himself, and there was no end of
bravoS He retired for a moment and then
appeared with the veritable wooden shoes
under his arm. But in his three days of Sc
clusiOn he had cut and carved it into a rude
imitation of a violin, to which he had deftly
fitted three strings. Upon this curious in
strument he began to improvse one of those
strange fantasies, which many say were
the highest inspirations of his wonderful
genius. 1t needed no words to tell that the
theme was the life of a conscript and a
| soldier. There was the suspense of draw
ing lots for the CONSUMPTION, the rejoicing
| OF those whose friends had got clear, the
Walllng OF those not so fortunate, the de-
| parture OF the cOnscripts, the noise and
hustle of the camp, the war and tumult of
battle. the shouts of victory. the return of
| the conscripts, now heroes, to their homes,
all closing with the glad pealings of mar
riage bells.
Poor Ncette, whose lover was to be
marched off in few days. stood behind the
scenes weeping. Scarcely had the tumul-
| tuOus applause ceased when Paganini babe
| her approach. Here" said he, ARE the
1900 francs which the old shoe has
brought. That is more by 500 francs than
is needed to buy Adolphe off. Keep the
rest to begin housekeeping with. Here, too.
is the old wooden shoe. May be somebody
will give you a few francs for it,
There was great competition as to who
should have the wonderful shoe violin. 1t
| was put up at auction and sold to a rich
| Englishman for 5000 francs. Adolphe
and his faithful Nicette were married, and
| trust he made her good husband.