The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-05

! In this connection a good story is told
OF the late Victor Masse He was inform
ed one day that a rival composer took
every opportunity of declaring that his
| (Masse's) music was execrab BILE "He
maintains l have no talent" said Masse:
Il always declare he has plenty. We
both know we lie" But perhaps better
!, than this was the opinion of Wagner ex-
pressed by Offenbach Wagner had lust
published his "Rienzi" and off went a
copy to Onenbach, with a request that
he would say what he thought of IT, Now
Onenbach mad previously read some Of
Wagners poems, and had made fun of
them, circumstance well known to Wag-
ner. After some three weeks the score
OF "RienzI was returned to its composer
with slip on which was written: Dear
Wagner, your music is trash; stick to
poetry" This, of course, enraged Wagner
greatly, and some months later he was
out with one of his celebrated brochures
denouncing the Jews. 1t was a fine op-
portunity for revenge-Onenbach being an
Israelite-and the brochure was In the
hands of Onenbach in no time. Two days
elapsed, and Wagner had the pamphlet
back. When he opened 1t this is what he
found written on the front page: Dear
Wagner, your brochure is rot; stick to
music"
Haydn was a great admirer of the fair
sex, and some of his prettiest things were
said about women. One specimen must
suffice. The celebrated Mrs. Ellington
was great friend of his, and Sir Joshua
Reynolds had painted her portrait. Haydn
went to see the picture when Il was nn-
ished. Yes" he said 10 the artist 1T
is very good. But you have made one
mistake; you have painted Mrs Billing
ton listening to the angels, whereas the
angels should be listening TO her"
Berlioz. the eminent French composer.
had a caustic wit He could not endure
Bach, and he used 10 call Handel "a big
hog" musician of the stomach For
this he was paid out by Mendelssohn
who declared that after touching a score
Of Berloz soap and hot water were ne
cessary Berioz. however. had his musical
hero. and that hero was Beethoven. Touch
Beethoven irreyerenuy, and his ire was
kndled. There is a certain passage for
the double BASES In one Of the masters
scores which was a one time believed 10
be almost impossible Of execution Now
Habeneck conducted performance Of
this work In Paris, and gave the passage
In question TO the celos. Berlioz. who
was present met Habeneck soon after.
and ascked him when he meant to give the
passage as Beethoven intended IL 20 be
given. Never az long as 7 live" said
Habenock "Woll, wen wait" replied
Borloz; don't let Il be long"
speaking or btttnofeui mat masters
humor was rather OF the grim kind re-
scmbling more the satire OF Carlyle than
anything else. Swift himself never made
worse puns with more pleasure, or devils
ed queerer spellngs. or more miserable
rhymes, OF bestowed more nicknames on
his friends. In one letter he remarks on
his publisher that he can write nothing
that Is not obllgato. having come into the
world himself with an obligato accompan-
iment; and he can even descend to the
Joke Of asking his friend Zmcskal not 10
discard him because he had called with
out card OF Invitation. And there Is a
better card story than this-a real Carlyle
specimen. The composers brother had a
little property OF his own. and was very
proud Of e.. one day he called on Beeth-
oven. and left a card, inscribed. johann
the back: Il. van Beethoven. brain pro-
prictor."