Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/98

86 , and the late Queen Anne's music master began to fear for his royal pension. Händel dare not appear personally at the court and ask that he be continued in the good graces of his former patron whom he had so discourteously deserted, for fear of the king's displeasure. But he had a friend at court who told him that on a certain day the king was to take a ride on the river Thames; so Händel set about to compose a series of pieces and had them played by a band of musicians on a boat which followed the royal barge.

Pleased at this attention, the king inquired who the author of the plan was; and learning that Händel was the composer of the music, he received the repentant musician at court. Händel was soon appointed the instructor of the princesses in the royal household and was granted a pension of £200 a year.

This was a piece of good fortune quite unexpected by the composer. The possession of the royal favor was of inestimable value to him, for as went the king so went the court and all the aristocracy, and the time came when Händel was in need of the support of all his aristocratic friends.  

That huge basso of stentorian voice, Lablache, was "a fellow of infinite jest" as well as occasionally one of poor memory. This was once shown in a laughable way, the occasion being his reception by the King of Naples. As Lablache was seated in the reception room awaiting his turn to pass into the king's presence, he noticed a draught from the open doors and begged to be allowed to keep his hat on to ward off any evil effects.

A few moments later his turn came for admittance, and as the usher beckoned him he hastily caught up a hat that was lying close by, and, forgetting that his own hat was on his head, carried the borrowed one with him into the king's presence. His Majesty greeted him with a