FIAT JUSTITIA.

Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume I, Issue 33, 22 August 1863, Page 5

FIAT JUSTITIA.

To the Editor of the Lake Wakatip Mail. Sib, —As the following lines are partly written in self-vindication, I trust you will grant them a space in your columns. It will be well known* to you, and indeed to everybody who understands anything about the piano, that if the player has not the full sweep of his arms it will virtually incapacitate him from playing. Last night, for the benefit of the Hospital, I was trying, as far as I was able, to introduce a little better style of music than usual, commencing with an overture, &c. To do this is, as you are aware, rather difficult, with no other instrument to help me. Immediately behind the piano, was placed the first form of the reserved seats, which my chair was touching. During the middle of the overture a person came in who pressed himself down so near to the piano that I was in constant danger of hitting my elbow against him, and thus of course ruin the piece I was playing. I begged him to get up, if only until I done playing,—begged, prayed, and threatened —but all to no purpose: he would not stir; and as there were so many ladies present, I did not wish to appeal to the audience. The re-

suit of this was, that it was only with the greatest difficulty that I could finish the piece actually on the bill, and that I at last got so nervous that I dared not play any more. I may add both that the name of the person in question is well known to me, likewise that a couple of gentlemen, sitting on the other side of the form, kindly offered to expostulate with him, but that, seeing how he answered me, I desired them not to do so, as it of course would only have produced more unpleasantness. Apologising for the intrusion on your valuable space, I am, Sir, yours, &c, Alex. Livingston.