Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1908-04-17
TALES OF 11UsIcIANs.
Handel Gi,en 70 Eeeenirio Rnse.-

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eccentric RACES, though he was not a
wholly unkind man. lie knew his pow
er, says a biographer, as every genius
knows his power, and it Is not surpris-
ing that he was thought to be over.
proud and egotistical. He would deal
out torrents of abuse when filings vos
Mixed" to understand which one re-
CURED an Intimate Acquaintance with
at least four languages-English,
French, German and Italian. Yet these
RACES, 1t has been said, were the
healthy outbnrsts of 4 great mind, not
morbid, Jealous feelings.
Such fits of wrath led to amusing
scenes. Handel Numbered and roared
at Cuzzoni when she refused to sing an
air be 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 chorister. .V'at do you
mean by delling me dot you could sing
at sight?"
$50 l can, SIR stammered Jansen,
completely unneryed 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.
del. His offer was accepted, and he
was employed in the choruses. Not
satisfied with this department.. the
anon requested leave to sing q solo,
that his voice might appear to more
advantage. This request was also
granted but he executed his solo so
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
rage, came to the unfortunate and said,
II am very, very sorry for VOC, my dear
Sir, but go back to your church in de
country. God will forgif you for your
bad singing desc wicked peoples in
London, dey will not forgif you"
There Is a good story told of a prima
donna named Marie Frausch, who
lived in the time of Frederick the
Great. Whenever anything or anybody
d~ispleased the haughty Frauscli, 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
Nnable to appear.
The people were preparing to leave
the house; but his Majesty rose and
commanded them to keep their seats.
= few moments safterward an officer
and four dragons entered the capri
nous singers room.
"Fraulein, nFsaid the officer, .fthe king
inquiries after your health"
"The king is very good" said
-Frausch, with a pout but I have a
sore throat"
Ills 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.
" am a little better now" Frausch
faltered, ''and I will try to sing,''
Back to the theater!" said the Off
Ger to the coachman.
The Fraulein began to think she had
yielded too easily. 81 shall not be able
to sing my best,' she interposeX.
pardon, Frauleln,. responded the
eAlcer, "but I think you will"
"And why?"
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 m physical strength, al.
most as much as for his brilliance as a
pianist. On one occasion he gave a
practical Illustration of his strength,
which, whfle-it did not display his dis
position In the most amiable light, un-
doubtedly afforded him much satisfac-
ton.
He was, in concert, playing on a
piano that was built On a new model,
one of the peculiarities Of which was
that the lip of the keyboard cover pro-
)ected 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 I'M
used to this new form of keyboard, con-
hit his knuekles against the
projecting lip.
This repeated rapping of his knuckles
ut last began to have an Irritating eff
feet on him, as the audience could
see Suddenly, after n particu
larly hard rap, he stopped short in the
middle of his selection, wrencbed the
offending cover out of the instrument
by main force, and hurled 1t across the
platform with great violence. Then,
with a smile of the greatest sa~tisfac-
hon, he reseated himself at the piano
ind continued his playing.
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