Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1908-04-02
ECCENTRIC GENIUSES.
Several Anecdotes Concerning Thei
Queer Behavior and Ideas.

Several Anecdotes Concerning Their
Queer Behavior and Ideas.
Some of the stories of musicians
| which have come down to us for gen
erations are strangely lacking in humor
as well as in point Of any sort, and are
responsible, as much as anything else,
for the sort of holy horror in which
musical geniuses are held by plain
everyday people of this day and age.
| Here are a few anecdotes, however,
| which are really interesting and said
| by the best authority to be true:
Hans Won Bulow, the famous leader
| and composer, was one OF the most
eccentric members of this profession
wherein eccentricity is common. 1t is
related that one day while walking the
| streets of Vienna Bulow came upon a
| regimental band on its way to the
| castle. Immediately he ran to the mid
| die of the street and joined the small
| boys about the drummer. Following
the band, he kept bowling to the sur
prised drummer, applauding him at al
most every beat.
That's rhythm. Excellent! That's
the way l like to hear it, he con-
tinued to calculate, to the surprise of
all, and to the great delight of the
small boys.
| Persons in the street began TO recog-
nize the famous pianist and joined the
| procession, so that the band had one of
| the largest audiences to which it had
ever played.
Bulow listened attentively to the end
| of the last piece, and then made deep
bow before the drummer and his in
| strument.
Thank YOU" he said. That was re-
freshing! Thatpu my nerves in good
condition again.
1t is said that when the drummer
learned who his strange admirer was
he was the proudest man in the regi-
ment.
A celebrated Italian tenor of the
name Of Mantini once became involved,
politically speaking, with Car Mich
olas l. of Russia. The story, as told by
chronicler of the times, possesses
certain grim comicality.
1t appears that Nicholas was accus-
toned to walk the streets Of st. Peters
burg alone, wrapped in a large gray
| cloak. 1t was forbidden to speak to his
majesty; but the Car sometimes for
got that a subject could not obey the
prohibition, if the Emperor addressed
him. Once in park the Gar met the
tenor, then a popular favOrite of the
Russian capital, and exchanged a few
words with him. The moment the En-
peror was out of sight the police ar
rested the tenor. That evening the
Gar attended the opera, where, after
Il long delay, the manager came for
ward with the announcement that
'Mantini could not be found. Nicholas,
Immediately surmising the reason, sent
an aide-de-camp to release the unfor-
tunate singer.
Shortly thereafter the ruler and the
singer again met; whereupon the for
mer began to apologize-when the Ital-
ian burst out with:
May l implore your majesty not to
speak to me! Your majesty will COM
promise me with the police. ~
The GOODNESS with which Adeina
Patti always demanded the largest
possible price was staggering to those
who had occasion to negotiate for her
services. In this connection a retort
by her has become historic.
When she was told that even the
President of the United States did not
receive nearly so much for his services
as she demanded for hers, she an
swered: Very we'll; get the President
of the United States TO sing for you"