The record-union., 1893-01-12

about it. I was a boy then. and to my
terrified Imagination there was a devil
inside his violin, and the demon
was alternately menaclng, lmprecatIng,
entreating. and again weeping to Sc
cure his liberty from the gaunt apparl-
ton whose skeieton-like fingers clutched
the tiend-possessed fiddle neck. 1t was
at my fathers house in England that
he played on this occasion, and the
grewsoine spectacle ne presented, as well
as his tremendous music, appalled, me so
that l began to cry in terror. Just at that
moment one of the fiddle-strings broke
with sharp ping Paganini stopped,
tore OFF the string savagely, and threw IL
to me, saying: You have re soul OF
music, boy"
One often wonders when reading the
philanthropic promises of various COM
panles with agencies for advertising
whether all their guarantees are worth
anything, and if fellow can really get
[ his money back if his rheumatism or
dyspepsia isn't stopped q three-months
trlal OF the panacea in question. In Eng
land 1t seems as if the law expected a
guarantee to guarantee. The Court OF
Appeals in London has confirmed the
Judgment rendered some time ago by
Justice Lindley against an anti-catarrh
and cold medicine company. The de-
| 1enQantS inserted an advertisement IN the
newspapers offering &l00 to any person
! who contracts the increasing epidemic,
influenza, colds, or any disease caused by
taking cold, after having used the medi-
| cine three times daily Tor two weeks, ac-
cording to the printed directions sup
pied" The plaintiff bought it and carried
out the instructions. Three times a day
tor two weeks did she use it, but she
caught the influenza, nevertheless, and
thereupon sued the company for $500.
The company fought the case on various
pleas, such as the absence of a regular
contract, and so forth, but the judge held
that q published promise of the kind in
the advertisement was pledge, and de-
cided that it must pay. An appeal was
taken, but the higher court has now come
to the same conclusion as the lower one,
and the company will have to surrender
the money.
Frau Cosima Wagner, widow of the
great composer, and one of the most &C.
centric of women, has oflate deveveloped
a number of very decided idlosyncracies.
Each season her rule at Bayreuth be-
comes more and more autocratic, and she
| positively permits no resistance OF
| her will. Even now, some of the
minor points she insists upon
| put to no slight Inconvenience
lovers of her husbands music. These
| peculiarities are emphasized at rehears-
] oAo9 IlC4C3 ci4lCAS OlllC1 bll1ll5o oAAO SOAAA
mands that neither performers nor audi
ence shall enter the building carrying
wraps, purses, parasols, or, in fact,
any small belongings. Some submit,
| others rebel, but in The end all are forced
to yield or retire. a most painful Incl
dent, the result of an infringed bylaw,
was the withdrawal of famous prima
! donna from the East last season. 1t APP
pears the celebrated singer had friend
at Bayreuth who used to sit and
listen to rehearsals. This lady came
one day in a long ulster, and re-
mOnstrated so earnestly when re-
quested to remove it that she was allowed
to enter wearing the cloak. When the
performance was over, the friend very
imprudentIy pulled her coat to one side
and showed in boastful way a tiny dog
curled up in the folds of her wrap. She
laughed over her invasion of the rules,
but said she had no one with whom
to leave her pet and was abso-
lutely forced to bring him. Unluckily,
a busybOdy standing near, who witnessed
the whole transaction, repeated it, with
due elaboration, to Frau Wagner. \
stormy scene ehsued, and the prima donna
was held accountable for her friends i'll
advised action. In vain did she protest
| her innocence and, indeed. ignorance OF
| the transgression. Frau Wagner refused
ali explanations or apology, requested an
| instant resignation, whereupon the can
! tatrice retired in tears.