The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-04-11
EALM OF xus1o1Am.

AaAAsa 0Avsn T. Ecoentrio Raees-
The sangexss Sere Threat.
Handel was much given to flying into
eccenHic RACES, though he was not q
wholly mkfnd man. He knew his now.
e, says a biogrspAer, 10 every genius
Knows III power, and Il IL MT suspetv.
ing that he was thought to b over
proud and egotistical. He would deal
out torrents Of abuse when "t'ings vos
Mixed" to understand which one r.
quired an intimate acquaintance with
at least four languages-Enalis
French, German and Italian. Yet these
RACES, it has been said, were the
healthy outbursts Of a 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
% only from fear lest he should give
elect to his threat to throw her out Of
the window.
Again, no administered a thorough
rating to q 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 chorister. "V'at do you
mean by delling me dot you could sing
ct sight?'
$50 I can, SIR" stammered Jansen,
completely unnerved; "but not at first
sight, sir"
In 1853, in the Lenten season, a
minor canon from the cathedral Of
Gloucester offered his services to Han
dd. 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 80
little to the satisfaction of the audi
ence that, to his great modification, he
was violently Kissed.
When the performance was over,
Handel, who for once was not in a
Sage, came to the unfortunate and said.
Il am very, very sorry for you, my dear
sir, but 60 back to your church in dc
country. God will forgif you for your
bad singing; desc wicked peoples in
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 a 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.
"Fraulein," said the officer, 1.-THE king
inquiries after your health"
1.-THE king IL very good" said
Frausch, with pout; ''but have 1
sore throat"
"His Majesty is aware OF the fact,
and has charged me to take you to the
military hospital to be cured"
Fraulein, turning very pale, suggest
ed that they were TESTING; but was told
that Prussian officers never INDUCED
in persifage. Soon she found herself
In a coach with four men.
II am 4 little better now" Frausch
faltered, land 1 will try to sing"
Back to the theater!" said the ON.
Ger to the coachman.
The Fraulein began to think she had
yielded too easily. II shall not be able
to sing my BEST" she interposed.
Pardon, Fraulein," responded the
officer, "but think you WILL"
"And whyT'
Because two dragons in attendance
behind the scenes have orders to carry
you of to the military hospital at the
least cough"
Fraulein 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 Z
pianist. On one occasion he gave 4
practical illustration Of his strength,
which, while it did not display his dir
position in the most amiable light, un-
doubtedly afforded him much satisfac.
ton.
He was, In concert, playing on q
piano that was built on a new model,
one Of the peculiaraties Of which Wa
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 4
no,rsNoro hln hniuhf drrinu tho y,orforr,