PAGANINI AND THE CADMAN.

North Otago Times, 22 May 1909, Page 1 (Supplement)

PAGANINI AND THE CADMAN.

♦ —— Among the great maeslro's papers was found the following story : "One day," Paginini begins, "I was wandering about the streets of Vienna, when all of a sudden a thandcrstorm came up. The rain came down in torrents, and seemed to increase every minute. For once I was alone, which happened very rarely, as my valet generally accompanied me. I was very far from my lodgings and already so wet, that I was beginning to fear for my health. So I looked about for n cab. Three passed me, as the drivers did not understand Italian, and I did not speak German. The fourth stopped at my call, the driver was a countryman of mine. "Before entering I asked his price.

1 Five gulden, the price of a ticket to Paginini's concert," he said. " 'You rascal,' I cried indignantly, 'to ask' five gulden for such a short ride! Faganini plays on ono string of his violin; you could hardly run your .cab on one wheel.' " 'Oh, it isn't so difficult as people think, to play on one string. I am musical too, and I doubled tho price of my fares to-day, in order to hear the great violinist they call Paganini ' "I said nothing more, entered the cab, and in ten minatcs was at my hotel, I gave the man the five gulden and also a ticket to my concert. ! The next day just before the concert began, a great crowd was at the door of tho concert hall when I arrived, and one of the ushers called to me—' There is a dirty, uncouth-look-ing man at the door, who insists on being admitted.' "It was my driver of the day before, whom I permitted to enter in spite of his appearance, hoping that he would lose himself in tiie crowd. But when, at the beginning of the concert, I stepped on the platform, there ho was as close to me as he could get, among the elegantly-dress-ed women of the first row. The applause was enthusiastic ; my driver knew no bounds. Several time he; had to bo severely reproved for dis-! turbing the rest of the audience. I, never had a more appreciative lis- j tener, I "Early the next morning he came ; to ray rooms. 'Sir,' he said, in the most respectful tone, 'you can do me a great favour. I have a family, am poor, and your countryman; you are wealthy and famous. You hold my fortune in your hand.' j " What do yau mean by that ?' " 'Permit me to put at the back; of my cab the two words-'Taga- [

nini's cabriolet,"' " 'Very well,' said I laughingly, ' you may put it on whatever you like.' "That, man was smarter than I thought. In a few months he was better known at Vienna than myself; his Paganini cab created a sensation. He had great good luck with it, for everybody wanted in it, and he charged pood prices. "When I returned to Vienna, two years later, my driver was the 'owner of the hotel at which I stayed, and an Englishman had bought the cabriolet for one thousand pounds."