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New Zealand Tablet, 15 March 1917, Page 15

Dr. Richter, a famous German musical director, who died recently, could not acquire an easy use of English. The Manchester Guardian recalls: When he first came to England he had to conduct has rehearsals with the aid of an interpreter, who always toned down his very original epithets, and the doctor never mastered our tongue properly. A member of his orchestra inquired as to the progress made by his wife, who was ill, and received the astonishing reply that ‘ She is no better. If she does not lie she swindles’—‘Schwindle’ in German meaning giddiness or faintness. It was decided that she should go away to the seaside, and the doctor accompanied her to New Brighton with the intention of returning the same day for a concert. A friend overheard him say to the booking clerk, ‘ Two tickets please, one for me to come back and one for my wife not to come back.’