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54 he had been struck by the musician, and to strike a marshal of the Russian empire was worthy of dire punishment. The Empress laughed at his complaint, saying, "Sir, you forgot your dignity in striking an unoffending man and a great artist; and as to rank, it is in my power to make fifty marshals, but not one Paesiello."  

At the time of the intense Gluck-Piccini rivalry in Paris, there came to that gay city from Belgium an awkward youth who had determined to gain a musical education at whatever hazard, although he had no money to speak of and no immediate prospect of obtaining any.

The rivalry between the two great composers, Gluck and Piccini, was every day growing more intense, and all artistic Paris was taking sides for or against the imported Italian composer, who was finally to be defeated by his more earnest and able rival, Gluck. Our young musician was an ardent disciple of Gluck, and was determined to see the representation of his opera "Iphigenie en Tauride," which was soon to occur.

By the assistance of a friend he managed to gain admittance into the theater where the final rehearsal was held. So enchanted was he by the beauty and nobility of the music that he resolved to hear the public performance as well; but alas! the wherewithal was not forthcoming; he had no money to purchase a ticket. As he sat listening to the rehearsal a happy thought occurred to him; he would hide in one of the boxes and remain there till the performance.

Unfortunately for his plan, he was discovered at the close of the rehearsal by the employees of the house, who proceeded to summarily eject him. But the young man's spirit was aroused and he resisted. Gluck, who had not left the house, heard the disturbance, and coming to investigate it, was told that a young man from the