Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/46

34 of Song," and from the accounts that have come down to us of her flights of vocalization the title must have been well bestowed. Going on to the stage at the age of sixteen, this musically gifted person was ignorant in all matters but her art; and besides this she was of an excitable temperament, vivacious and talkative.

Her ignorance of people and things often led her into making amusing blunders. One writer relates a ludicrous scene which took place between her and the great poet Goethe.

They were at Weimar; and at a court dinner she was seated next to Goethe, who was the most distinguished guest. Goethe and his works were utterly unknown to her; but seeing that he seemed to be a man of consequence and that much attention was paid to him, she inquired of the gentleman on the other side of her who this personage was. Thereupon the following conversation took place:

"He is the celebrated Goethe, madam."

"Oh, he is! And on what instrument does he play?"

"He is not a musician, madam; he is the celebrated author of 'Werter.

"Oh, yes, I remember." Then turning to the venerable poet she declared:

"Ah, sir, what an admirer I am of 'Werter! The poet bowed low in acknowledgment of the compliment.

"I never," continued she, "read anything half so laughable in all my life. What a farce it is to be sure!"

Goethe looked aghast at this remark, but managed to exclaim:

"The 'Sorrows of Werter' a farce, madam?"

"Oh, yes; there never was anything so exquisitely ridiculous," declared the talkative lady, laughing heartily at the remembrance.

It was found out afterwards that she had once seen in Paris a parody on Goethe's "Werter," which had ridiculed the original most unmercifully. But parody and original were all the same to her.