brother wait below while he went to Beethoven's room.
After greeting Beethoven he said, "Will you permit me to introduce my brother to you?"
"Where is he," he suddenly replied.
"Below."
"What! down stairs?" and Beethoven rushed off and siezed hold of the brother's arm, saying:—
"Am I such a savage that you are afraid to come near me?"
And Moscheles relates that after that Beethoven was kindness itself both to him and the visiting brother.
238.—VIOTTI'S INDEPENDENCE.
There was an incident in the career of Viotti, the great violinist of a hundred years ago, that parallels the little scene that took place in Cardinal Ottoboni's palace when Corelli rebuked the Cardinal for conversing during a musical performance. Viotti was, up to his time, the most polished player of his instrument that had appeared before the public. He was also a man of great independence and originality.
Marie Antoinette had commanded him to play at the royal palace at Versailles. He was in the midst of one of his finest compositions when the Count d'Artois was announced with great noise and bustle. When that haughty scion of royalty had entered, he paid no attention to the player, but disturbed the audience by his loud talking and rude behavior. Viotti's independent spirit could stand this no longer; so he took up his music, placed his violin in its case, and unceremoniously withdrew. This display of justifiable pride drew on him the displeasure of the court. This and his open expression of his democratic opinions made advisable his departure from France, and he shortly afterward appeared in London, where he gained great renown.
But here again his eccentric and independent nature
