213.—NOT AT FIRST SIGHT.
There are different ways of singing at sight. So Händel found out one time, on a visit to Ireland. He was detained at a certain point for several days, and wishing to prove some copied parts of the "Messiah," he arranged to have several choristers of the town where he was, meet him and study the music with him. But one fellow failed so completely that Händel turned on him in wrath and cried:
"You schountrel! Did you nod dell me dat you could sing at sight?"
"Yis, sorr, Oi did. And Oi can; but not at first soight!"
Very many readers at first sight seem to be blessed with the gift only of "second sight."