Alaska sentinel., 1908-06-11
TALES OF MUSICIANS.
Handel Given to Eccentric Rasess
 The Singers Sore Throat.

ing that he was thought to be over proud and egotlstical. He would deal out torrents of abuse when ''t'ings vos mixed" to understand which one re- Quired an intimate acquaintance with at least four anguages-English, French, German and Italian. Yet these rages, 1t has been said, were the healthy outbursts of great mind, not morbid, jealous feelings.
 Such fits of wrath led to amusing scenes Handel thundered and roared at Cuzzoni when she refused to sing an air he had written for her, and she did So only from fear lest he should give effect to his threat to throw her out of the window.
 Again, he administered a thorough rating to a chorister named Jansen, who had assured Handel that he could sing at sight.
 You schoundrel yelled Handel. shaking his fist underneath the nose of the frightened chorster. "V'at do you mean by delllng me dot you could sing at slght?"
 So I can, sir" stammered Jansen, completely unneryed; but not at first sight, sir"
 In 1753, in the Lenten season, a minor canon from the cathedral of Gloucester offered his services to Han del. His offer was accepted, and he was employed In the choruses. Not satisfied with this department, the canon requested leave to sing a solo, that his voice might appear to more advantage. This request was also granted but he executed his solo 90 little to the satisfaction of the audi ence that, to his great modification, he was violently hlssed.
 When the performance was over, Handel, who for once was not in a Yage, came to the unfortunate and said, II am very, very sorry for you, my dear sir, but go back to your church in dc country. God will forglf you for your bad singing; desc wicked peoples h London, dey will not forgif you"
 There is good story told of prima donna named Marie Frausch, who lived in the time of Frederick the Great Whenever anything or anybody diSpleased the naughty Frausch, she, after the manner of prima donnas in general would suddenly become too hoarse to sing. One evening there was to be sung an opera in her repertoire, and 1t was expected that the kinG would attend.
 At the appointed hour the manager came forward, and announced that owing to sore throat Fraulein was unable to appear.
 The people were preparing to leave the house; but his Majesty rose and commanded them to keep their seats. A few moments afterward an officer and four dragons entered the capri cious singers room.
 .'Frauleln," said the officer, "the king fnQuires after your health."
 '"The king is very good" said Frausch, with pout; but have . sore throat"
 His Majesty Is aware of the fact, and has charged me to take you to the military hospital to be cured"
 Frauleln, turning very pale, suggest ed that they were testing; but was told that Prussian officers never lndulged In persihage. Soon she found herself in a coach with four men.
 'I am a little better now," Frausch faltered, "and will try to sing"
 Back to the theater" said the ofi- cer to the coachman.
 The Fraulein began to think she had yielded too easily. q shall not be able to sing my best" she interposed.
 Pardon, Frauleln" responded the officer, but think you will"
 And whyw
 Because two dragons In attendancs behind the scenes have orders to carry you of to the military hospital at the least cough"
 Frauleln Frausch never sang better than she did that night.
 Gottschalk, the pianist, was noted for his enormous physical strength, al- most as much as for his brilliance as . pianist. On one occasion he gave . practical illustration of his strength, which, while 1t did not display his dis position In the most amlable light, un- doubtedly afforded him much satisfac- ton.
 He was, In concert, playing on . piano that was built on a new model, one of the peculiaritles of which was that the lip of the keyboard cover pro- jected farther over the keys than in most pianos, when the instrument was open for playing. Gottschalk who was accustomed to throw up his hand to a considerable height during the perform ance of brilliant passages, and was un- used to this new form of keyboard, con- stantly hit his knuckles against the projecting lip.
 This repeated rapping of his knuckles et last be1an to have an irritating ef-