The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-07-24
ANECDOTES OF REYER
The Famous French Composer
Was Blunt Of Speech.
HE HAD A cAUsTIc TONGUE.
His Biting Wit Was Lavishly Be-
slowed Upon Those Who Annoyed or
Displeased Him-As an Officeholder
He Was the Limit Of Indifference.

Disclosed Him-As an Cfhcehoider
He Was tho Limit Of Indifference.
Ernest Reyer. the famous French
composer. had biting wit and caus-
tic tongue. Fortune frowned on him
at the beginning OF his musical career.
and his first opera. "Erostrate,' was
played only twice This did not worry
Reyer much. although. as he said to
the manager. Il had hoped to see 1t
played three times at least" Fro
strate" was rather meanly staged. In
the first act the temple Of Ephesus
was supposed to fall and did not. Il
suppose" said Reyer. that they
thought that If the play dropped hard
enough the audience would excuse the
temple!''
At that time the manager of the
opera was Il man named HalanZier.
who was no musician and whom Reyer
disliked. HalanZier had a way OF pat
roniZing the composer which made him
furious. and he took his revenge one
evening in Brussels "Sigurd." after
having had some success in Paris. was
Brussels ard achieved a triumph. Aft
er the first performance Reyer gave
supper. to which he invited ualanZier.
who was delighted when the composer.
after IL speech in his honor, lifted his
glass and said. And now l wish to
drink 20 IIalanzier," HalanZier bowed
and smiled. and Reyer. without NOV
ing muscle. went On calmly and i'm
perturba bly-"tO HaianZier. the one
manager to whom | owe nothing"
Eeyer was playing one Of his compo-
sitions at Il friends house when little
girl-he hated children-commenced to
cry and would not be comforted. For
PHYS sake" cried Reyer furiously.
put that child on a chair and sit on
her face. one of you!" The crying child
became some fifteen years later Nine
Rose Caron. the singer who helped
Reyer to the pinnacle OF fame.
1t was Ernest Reyer who was the
original perpetraror OF the joke with
reference to twins which has been
ascribed to so many people. A friend
of his had just become the father of two
boys and had them brought in to the
Reyer nervously-"charmin children"
gloved hand delightful children real
~. Which one are you going to keep"
When lie was appointed librarian to
the Paris Opera he took his duties
very easily and as a matter OF fact
scarcely ever went TO the opera
house. He was fond of telling the
story OF his first visit to his Office. He
went to it one evening at dusk six
years after he had been appointed.
He lost his way and wandered about
up and down narrow passages and
dark corridors until he ran up against
doorkeeper whom he had passed two
or three times already. The man, dis
trusting the stranger. stopped him and
said. Who are you. ard where are you
going?" Reyer looked him UP and
down. Il am the librarian" he said
haughtily. land l am looking for the
library
One day young musician called on
him with a warm letter of Introduction
from Il mutual friend. Reyer received
him and, wineing. asked him to play
the two pieces which his friend had
recommended. After the first one had
been performed the pianist turned ex.
pectantiy to the composer. What do
you think Of that:" he asked. Il pre-
fer the other one" said Reyer. and
the young man left without playing it.
When he was on the stairs the old
composer leaned over the banisters
and called to him. Your future is as
sured. young man." be said. You
have nearly learned when to stop. But
II you had let me off the first piece
too And. chuckliIg, he went Into
his fat again.
Once a young lady sang him the
grand air from ''Sigurd" and sang i,
rather badly. Il was so frightened
cher maitre. she said: mot nearly as
frightened as was" was the old
mans answer.
On another occasion lady said tc
him: ''Oh. NJ. Reyer. when l hear the
air Of Doves in 'Salammbo' can posi-
! lively see you writing it! l can see
you In your beautiful home in Pro
vence. between the mountain and the
sea. drawing inspiration from the sun
shine Of the south and"- Reyer inter
rupted her. There is something the
matter with your eyesight. madame.
| he growled. when l composed thai
air was sitting on the top OF an ON
nibus, smoking pipe. and it was rain
| ing in torrents"'
One more example. A lady VIII,
lodged opposite him in the Rue de Il
| Tour d'Auvergne was an ex-pupn o,
| the conservatory. and this. 1t seemet
! to her, was the chance Of a lifetime
| The master could not help hearing hel
sing. and II he heard her he would bs
| captivated and her future would be as
sured. So she opened her window and
| daily sang numbers from his ''Salamm
| bo." In due course messenger knock
| ed at her door. M. Reyer has heart
| you" he began. and the singer be
| lieved that all her dreams were com
| ing true M. Reyer has heard you.
| the messenger continued. and b,
sends his compliments and would es
TEEN it favor II you would clos,
your windows when you are practic
ing"
| yau hod ho<<np xva<nh IN tho yy,epk a