The Portland daily press., 1900-01-26
BY J. n. Wisely.


Rossini was happy-happy as a child
on Christmas eve. His national hymn for
the Italian people had been accepted gra-
ciously by the king. who showed his ap-
probation by presenting to the composer
a magnificent watch. Rossini never tired
Of showing II to his friends. and they
were enthusiastic In admiration Of its
costly workmanship and the number Of
unrivaled diamonds set In the case.
"A royal diamond for every note, ST.
gnors," the master Is recorded as saying
to q gathering of friends, "and BY press
ing a spring 1t plays the prayer In my
composition Moses"
Six years passed.
One day a. the great italian composer
was sitting In a cafe he was asked to
show his timspiece. Rossini touched the
device, and while his friends listened and
marveled the watch played in exquisite
harmony the prayer of the ancient proph-
ct.
A stranger who was seated in a corner
of the cafe rose and said. "Signor. you
have a fine watch, but I'll wager a large
aum Of money that you do not know all
of its various capacities"
"Signor," said Rossini In surprise. "for
siX years l have carried this watch In
honor of my king, and in that time II
never has lost or gained a minute. II
chimes the hours and the quarters, Its
dial denotes the minutes and the date Of
the month, and II plays, as you have
heard, the prayer In Moses"
The stranger smiled and shrugged bis
shoulders. Nevertheless, l maintain my
claim. III wager a. much a. 10000
francs against your watch that you do
not know fully its mechanical abilities"
The strangers confident assertion baf-
ned Rossini. For a moment he seemed
to ponder the full meaning Of the offered
wager.
"well, IL you have 10000 francs to risk
I am willing to call It a bet in the pres
encs Of these gentlemen. Go on and
prove your claim II you can"
Nothing 10 easier for me-" responded
the stranger calmly. The watch plays
more than one Of your compositions, mas
ter. 1t also contains your postscript. and
within II 10 engraved an inscription which
IL worth q hundred times the value Of the
entire watch"
In Amusement Rossini watched the
stranger as he took the timepiece and
touched several blind springs which open
ed the outer case and showed an inner
casing with the composers portrait in
miniature, while the mechanism played q
selection from the opera ''Tancrsdi."
"Deo aun diavolo" exclaimed Rossini.
'you have won the bet. and IL am q
ruined man. I've offended the king and
lost my watch. You must be 4 magician.
How do you know the secrets Of the
watch?"
The stranger laughed heartily. Don't
take the matter to heart, signor. I am
Michel Plivee. the maker Of this watch,
and only know its secrets. Take II
back. l do not want II. wagsred In
Jest. but l am glad that you appreciate
my workmanship, great master"
Plivse explained to Rossini the intricate
mechanism, but when the composer in
quirsd about the inscription on the por-
trait casing to which Plivee had alluded
the latter requested him not to urge him
for an answer.
But the curiosity Of the wizard Of
Pesaro" was reused. and he insisted on
being shown the inscription.
Plivee was silent for q moment, but
finally he took the watch and pointed out
the inscription.
There It 10. Look close and you win
verse of the plate. That Is all can tell
you"
what" calculated the master. els
4 hundred times more than the watchf 1t
can't be right. What do you mean"
at il a secret ! dare not betray yet"
- L. o.. S-kx
But Rossini insisted now more than be-
fore on Its being interpreted to him. He
wished to know II he should choose the
figures for lottery numbers, and he asked
IL there was something about II that
might be figured out BY the employment
Of arithmetic.
But Plives remained imperturbable and
would not disclose the secret.
"Then when win you tell me the mean
Ing Of those mysterious figures" asked
Rossini impatiently.
when time is," was the melancholy
answer.
The secrecy Of the meaning Of the fig
urss left . deep impression on the natu-
rally supsrstltieus temperament Of the
omposer, and his Intellectual attempts TO
discover II caused him many sleepless
hours. He continued to be friendly with
the matchmaker. but whenever he ap-
proach the latter for enlightenment re-
Earding the Inscription he was informed
hat the time had not arrived. !
The 10th day Of November. 1880, was
/ dull. rainy day. Rossini was sitting asl
usual In his study dusins The early neser
ins hours. He had been Yoskins M 9