FRITZ KREISLER.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1901, 8 November 1913, Page 4

FRITZ KREISLER.

STEALS EEIS OWN VIOLIN. liiymaiij violin® look about as much aliko as peas in a pod, but by the expert, the really famous instruments aro oftoii better known than are their owners—perhaps because the instruments themselves survive the generations, whereas the owners do not. Ope of the best instances of this occurred only recently. It concerns Fritz Kreisler, and was' "told by Kreisler himself during a. dinnor given at his homo in Merlin. Mr. Kreislor, on his way to Ixmdoii TVJiero iio. Jiad. ..&■ recital' GngageffiGiit.' found himself in Antwerp with a- oouple of hours to snare. It was a rainy afternoon, and tho great violinist bundle# up in a rainooat .and soft hat, wandered through tho streets .somewhat bed' raggled in iappear'ans% with Ida favour* ito violm .uiddled up in the hollow of his arm. lit tho . window of a curio shop ho saw a violin which interested him, and stepped" into tho store and niado somo inquiries 'concerning it. £ moment's examination satisfied him there was nothing noteworthy about tie instrument. "I see you have tt violin yourself," ■said the shop-keeper by way of making conversation. Mr. Kreisler,. welcoming anything to relievo him of. the enmii of waiting for the boat, replied: "Yes, I have a pretty good- fiddle liorej would you like to see it?" and opening tho case, showed the shopkeeper his famous Stradivarius, without? comment of any kind. Tho man looked at it with evident admiration and threw a somewhat astonished glanco at h.i'a. unknown customer. Kreisler, scenting a joke, said: "Would you like to buy it P" "Oh, no, said tho man, "I haven't tho money to buy such a violin." "Make 'an offer for it," urged Kreisler. "Impossible." tho man replied, "I couldn't possibly buy such a violin, and I (Wouldn't even make you an offer for it—hut, hy the way. I havo in my homo a very good Klotz, which I should, be glad to sell you at seven hundred iiiarks.," . . Mr. Kreisler, prompted by curiosity, continued to urf.e tlio shopkeeper for a hid., but the more lie urged tho more tlif» shopkeeper urged the value of 1m Klotz. Finally, knowing that Seveit hundred marks was ft very modest price for a violin of that make., Mr.Kreisler asked if it was m good condition, and if ho might see it. Tin? slimkccpcrkeeper assured him that tlio violin wa,S -in excellent 'conditign, and, that his errand btiy So'tild get it in -ten minutes. Mr. Kreisler agreed to Wait. Tho boy was promptly dispatched, ana after a short interval returned, not will! the violin, but with a policeman, i - "Ancst that man, 1 shouted tlio bliojv ' keeper, pointing to his unknown custoiiior, "Tii has Frite Kroisler's violin, _ Mr. Krcisicr, somewhat start-led:,, bus . appreciating the humour of tho situation, replied, "Weli—hut—you sco I am lio, you're net," said tlio shopkeeper, whereupon tho policeman took n hanu, saying tho chargo was 'serious and asking if tho sliopkeenbr was positive of his statement, at tlio same timo moving to. within easy grappling dm-. tan<« of tho virtuoso. . "I am absolutely certain, was tlie reply, "that this is ICroisler's violin. This man brought it hero and tried to get mo to l-uy it., liirn deny it if ho eaii. He did his best to dispose of that violiib Now ho s'ay.s that ..lie is Kreisler —trying to sell .life own famous Strodivnrius ior anything ho can got.. Arrest him, I say, or I'll hold, tou respon< sihio." . ..... ......

TI,o situation was becoming Rcriouß. Mr. Kroislor, roaiisint; that his timo was slwrt, ofl'ei'cd to play fei' tlicriv an<i so prove h.'is identity. liis offer was r<v jectcd, Then ho asked that tliey accompany liiin to the feat whero his por-> Bcnat baggage would establish hia identity. U'liis, too, was refused, but finally mi idea occurred to tho shopUccljor, Slid addressing Mr* Ivicialorj ho eiiid: ~ " ! l!horo is just ono way m winch you pan [novo to ino that you nro Kreißler, I have in my home a Victor t&Ucillg infteliiiio and a,"record of 'Gajuico Vwnnois (Krcisler's own composition), « 3'oU hear iiiut record just outc and then play it for mo correctly, itoto by nolo, 1 will accept that as .proof." In spito of t!io protestations. Mr. Kreistar was mnrched through tho streets of Antwerp* with 'tlie shopkeeper oii 0110 side and tlio policeman on the othniv to tho fornief's house, W'liero tlie proposed test was made. ' jir. Kfoisior lost iiis boat, but aino:ng his souvenirs ho now lias nit jiiiti.quo fcunoo ring wlueii Was given liin.t by a. sadly hunuikd old man Who i.eeps a curio aWi> in Antwerp