Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/258

246  and Lea, together with a 'cellist named Zeffrini, to serenade his lady-love. They consented. Before beginning to play Paganini quietly tied an open penknife to his right arm. Then they commenced. Soon the "E" string snapped.

"That is owing to the damp air," said the violinist, and kept on playing on the other three strings.

A few moments later the "A" broke and Paganini exclaimed, "Just see what the dampness is doing this evening!" But he went on playing. Finally the "D" snapped, and the love-sick swain began to be fearful for the success of his serenade. For what could Paganini do with only one string on his violin. But Paganini simply smiled and went on with the music with the same facility and strength of tone that he had previously used on all four cords.

The penknife was more to blame than the dampness of the air.  

A notable achievement of Franz Liszt was his raising of the funds for the completion of the Beethoven monument at Bonn. The enterprise had come to a standstill when Liszt became interested in it and declared he would complete it single handed. In a short time he had, by means of concert giving, raised the required amount, and the commission for the statue was in the sculptor's hands.

A great Beethoven festival was arranged for the dedication of the monument. After meeting with all kinds of difficulties and overcoming them, it was discovered there was no hall in Bonn large enough for the huge audience that would be gathered there at that time. The committee of that city were afraid to build one, fearing they would be put to some expense. Liszt settled the matter by himself guaranteeing the necessary amount,