Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/191

Rh glanced carelessly at the slight figure that stood before him and said:—

"Is this, then, the composer of the music I heard last night?—a Moor, I should judge, by his complexion." The composer blushed in embarrassment. "And you write such music? You do not look it. Haydn—Haydn—I recollect the name; and I believe I was told that you were not well paid for your labors?"

"I have not been fortunate, your Highness, I "

"Well, you shall have no reason to complain in my service. My secretary shall fix your appointments; and name whatever else you desire. Understand me, for all of your profession find me liberal. Now then, Sir Moor, you may go; and let it be your first care to provide yourself with a new coat, a wig and buckles, and heels to your shoes. I will have you respectable in appearance as well as in talents; so let me have no more shabby professors. And do your best, my little dusky, to recruit in flesh—'twill add to the stature; and to relieve your olive with a shade of the ruddy. Such spindle masters would be a walking discredit to our larder, which is truly a spendthrift one."

So saying he laughingly dismissed the humble musician. But to-day who knows aught of that proud prince as compared with the fame of that same Joseph Haydn.  

Here is a story that has been told of more than one prima donna, but at present is related of Sigrid Arnoldson. If it is true, this lady has proved the statement that a great intellectual gift proves an easy passport to anything.

When she was in Rome, she went one day to the poste restante to call for a registered letter. She was asked for her passport to establish her identity, but she had left it at her hotel. Her reiterated assurance that she was indeed Sigrid Arnoldson failed to satisfy the 