Music Hath Charms.

Manawatu Standard, Volume X, Issue 2, 9 May 1885, Page 3

Music Hath Charms.

Some yearo ago Paganini Redivivus performed at a concert m Armagh. Amongst those present was the doctor, who directed the local «• United Counties * Lunatic Asylum. He invited Paganini Redivivus to give a violin recital on the following evening for the delectation of the inmates. The violinist arrived at the appointed time and found the large hall of the establishment illuminated, and an audience of four hundred patients assembled, the women being m the front seats, and the men behind. The doctor desired Paganini Redivivus .to commence with something very sweet and plaintive, so he chose the lovely Andante from Mendelssahn's Violin. Concerto, which he played m his most pathetic fashion. After the first sixteen bars or so the hearers began to titter, and the feeling of hilarity developing itself, they began to make an uproar of laughing as though they were all m hysterics. Paganini Redivivus was natuarlly disconcerted ; bu- the doctor, who was sitting at the side of the stage, assured him that he had so far a great success, inasmuch as madness beiug reason reversed they found comic what a sane audience would find melancholy, and vice versa. He then desired Paganini Revivivus to play a selection of igs m his liveliest manner. This solo was listened to m the midst of • a most painful silence, the hearers sitting perfectly motionless during its performance. A t the termination of the recital, which lasted about an hour, several of the lunatics expressed a wish to speak with Paganini Redivivus, so he was brought amongst them. In the course of other observations, the doctor playfully said, *• I think, as he has pleased you so much, I could not do better than keep him with you." Thereupon one of the men, who was disguised as Pontius Pilate, got into a most excited state, and said, * 4 Doctor if you keep that fellow here 1 won't stop another minute m ; the place, he is as mad as ever :he can be.'' Another left the hall m great dudgeon, closely followed by two keepers, to pack up his things and go. When Paganini Redivivus took his departure, several of the female patients nodded m a friendly way to him. at the same time touching their foreheads with their middle finger, while many of the men shook him by the hand m « most sympathising manner.