R. H. Haweis tells the following of a celebrated violinist:
Leghorn received him with open arms, altho his appearance
was marked by an amusing contretemps. He came on to the
stage limping, having run a nail into his heel. At all times
odd-looking, he, no doubt, looked all the more peculiar
under these circumstances, and there was some tittering among
the audience. Just as he began, the candles fell out of his
desk--more laughter. He went on playing; the first string
broke--more laughter. He played the rest of the concerto through
on three strings, but the laughter now changed to vociferous
applause at this feat. The beggarly elements seemed of little
consequence to this magician. One or more strings, it was all
the same to him; indeed, it is recorded that he seldom paused to
mend his strings when they broke, which they not infrequently
did.
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