WACHTEL THE PERFORMER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 307, 18 April 1877, Page 4

WACHTEL THE PERFORMER.

The &*h Francinev jYeira.'elf.er tells the following :—" A pathetic story lias been going the rounds of the pipers as to the manner in which Wjichtel, the great tenor, first became known and funotis. This narrates how he was originally a poor cab driver in Dresden, and that one wintry night, as he was sinking to himself upon hia box, the audience of the Grand Opera began to disperse; how the entranced multitude gathered around the unconscious cabby ; how he finished his solo amidst a stortu of applause ; and how, the very mxt day, a large purss wa3 subscribed to 9 •»»! hint to the conservatory at Paris. Mr. Schengler, who lives over on Rtucnn ILU. and who is also German, was much »Uf ct«d by t:>is mid a* he, two, has a vote, he determined to be 3--nt to. Paris at once. So, on Tutirs lay eveni ig he watted until the California!! Theatre b ga« to Jet out, an t, m »n:itin£ the box of a had* in front of i, !ir lift,-1 up his vwttta atiJ 3;t:i 3 '. T e tutiittlcnou-t crowd was instantly bus »ed, an I stopped transfix -d, as», wit t closed e.,.*cs, t -e absorbed singer s;»r, hi* Wtiole inspired socil fl >ating out in gl.d trcunip tant noise. Tie selection by Mr. Schengler was '* Tommy M:tke I*f»o»i for your I7uele," on; of the best of is kind, but at the end of th« third vera j a brickbat struck Mr. S>»:heiigler immediately beneath the right ear, knocking hint ovt-r the dtshhoard, follovuu; wtticu he was walked over and his neck stepped upon by the thoughtless t'lrong. Mr. S'c'.iemler is c >:ivcnejd there is a fraud about t.iis Wachlel story souicwuero."