212.—VON BÜLOW'S PECULIARITIES.
Von Bülow was more Gallic than Teutonic in his bright sayings and caustic wit. He was a curious fellow and fascinating despite his peculiarities. With his passage from the stage the musical art of our day lost one of its most representative men.
He was so bothered by admiring ladies who requested his signature that he had his secretary write them, and was greatly bored if this useful personage was absent and he had to pen his name himself. But he recompensed himself by writing as abominably as possible.
At one concert where he played only Beethoven sonatas, he seemed to be very happy over the fact that the audience applauded him most in that sonata, which, as he said, "I played like a pig."
He took a peculiar course toward a conductor who came to his assistance at the last moment, in a certain concert, the musician who should have conducted being intoxicated and unable to appear. At the end of the concert von Bülow went to the one who had volunteered so kindly, and was very effusive to him before the audience, and even embraced him. He was extravagant in testifying his satisfaction, and there was much applause at the scene. Von Bülow, after the concert, said, "Did you see my little scene with the conductor?" When asked why he was so desperately demonstrative, and why he made such a scene, he replied: "Ah! you ask that? I expected you would." But why not? It did me no harm, and it may do him good. Besides, I was so grateful that the conducting was no worse, that I could not restrain myself." After having been recalled three or four times at one concert by deafening cheers, he was prevailed upon, almost by force, to sit down again before the piano and play another piece. Satan knows what deviltry possessed him, but in mad defiance of the public he began the "Marseillaise" and went through it
