226.—PAGANINI IN COURT DRESS.
Musicians are like the rest of mankind. Some are sensible, others foolish; some liberal, others stingy; some foppish, others careless; some have much general education, others have none; some are broad in their views, others narrow; some are egotistical, others modest; some regular in habit, others unreliable; some just, others unjust; some prompt in meeting obligations, others never meet them if they can help it; some are respected, others forfeit respect; some pay attention to the conventionalities of life, others by their capricious actions make themselves ridiculous.
However great the musician, back of the musical skill there is but frail humanity, so why should the world expect from the musician as a man, aught save the actions, ideas, and peculiarities of the average man?
Among the great musicians who succeeded in making themselves ridiculous, not many were so successful as Paganini, the king of violinists. Several instances of his caprice might be cited, but one will suffice. The grand duchess, Marie Louise, once gave a grand fête at Paruna, and Paganini offered his services. They were accepted. Later he wished to withdraw from the programme, but was not permitted to do so. On the evening of the concert the artist was late in arriving, and when he did come, one authority tells us he wore the following costume:—
"A French coat of sky blue velvet with orange colored buttons: a long, flowery waistcoat which was longer than was fashionable, hiding the slenderness of his body; a pair of white satin knee breeches (hired, as was all the rest, from some second-hand shop) showing the bony state of his legs; his white silk stockings made hundreds of creases on his scraggy legs; and his enormous shoes ornamented with immense silver buckles, contrasted with such thin shanks.
"This ridiculous personage created great hilarity, which doubled when the strange ornaments covering his breast were observed. There was quite a variety. Decorations conferred by sovereigns, presents given by others, crosses of every description, emblems of all sorts, rings, pins, buckles, pendants, birds, fish, violins, lyres, hoops, miniature bows, all in gold, silver, and platinum. All these objects tinkled at every movement and the public continually laughed. As soon as possible silence was established and the supreme artist preluded a little and then played divinely."