Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1893 — A German Fiddler Who Wan Do terrained to See the Great Napoleon. [ARTICLE]

A German Fiddler Who Wan Do terrained to See the Great Napoleon.

Wonderful as arc the parts which a modern reporter will play, in order that newspaper readers may gratify their curiosity, be never, according to Household, did anything bolder than the part a German violinist played to gratify his personal curiosity. In 1808 Napoleon held, at Erfurt, the congress of princes. In the evenings tho emperor amused his guests with music and a drama played by a French troupe brought from Paris. Spohi, the violinist, was intensely curious to see this assemblage of royalties, and betook himself to Erfurt, thinking he might wriggle himself into some corner of the house. He discovered, however, that the public were excluded', blue blood alone being allowed to enter. The fact that the whole house was reserved for sovereigns and their suites would have discouraged a less determined man. But Spohi was persistent. Having a friend who was second horn player in the orchestra lie persuaded him to feign illness and to ask the bandmaster to allow his friend, the violinist, to take his place. The request was granted, and Spohi set himself to work to acquire his friend’s part. On taking up the horn he discovered that he had set himself a difficult task. It took him a day and a half to produce the simple notes. On the evening of the performance the muscles of his face were strained and stiff, his lips swollen and back, and he could hardly get through his part, which fortunately was not very elaborate, One thought cheered Spohi as he took his seat in the orchestra, he would enjoy a fine view of the princes, and especially of Napoleon, who was to sit in the center stall of the first row. But to his dismay he learned that the emperor had issued a formal order directing the musicians to play with I their backs to the audience, and j under no circumstances to turn their heads. The violinist was equal to the emergency. Pulling out a pocketmirror, he placed it before him in a proper position, and thus, obtained an excellent view of the audience of sovereigns.