Mendelssohn felt the inference was that he could not write the overture without much time for consideration, and owned to being "rather nettled" by their remarks. But in two days he had completed the overture; and they were not two days of uninterrupted work on it, either, for in that time he had rehearsals to attend and a concert to give. But with all this he declared that the composition of this overture gave him more fun than anything he ever did.
77.—THE RIGHT KIND OF A PATRON.
Piccinni, that composer who came so near taking the palm from Gluck in the race the two ran for the favor of musical Paris, at the end of the last century, had a happy experience when, as a young man, he essayed to enter the arena of composition. He had presented his first opera to a manager just after he graduated from the Naples Conservatoire. Like many another first attempt, it was refused. Prince Vintimilla, learning this, called upon the manager and asked, "How much would you lose if you presented Piccinni's opera and it turned out a failure?"
"Fifteen hundred dollars," was the reply.
"Here it is. If the opera fails you may keep the money; if not, you can return it to me."
The opera was brought out and proved a great success. This brought Piccinni to the notice of the musical world and gave him a reputation which remained bright until he met his Waterloo in the competition with Gluck at Paris.
78.—AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST.
Carl von Weber, after passing through many trials and hardships during his youthful years of theatrical wandering with his ill-tempered old father, finally settled down as private secretary to the brother of the king,
