n was at once adopted, all the guests, with
the exception of Haydn himself, standing up and cheering lustily. Haydn
heard his name repeated, but not understanding what was going on, stared
at the company in blank bewilderment. When the matter was explained to
him he appeared quite overcome with diffidence, putting his hands
before his face and not recovering his equanimity for some minutes. [See
Records of My Life, by John Taylor: London, 1832.]

His Humour

Of hobbies or recreations he appears to have had none, though, to
relieve the dull monotony of life at Eisenstadt or Esterhaz, he
occasionally indulged in hunting and fishing and mountain rambles. A
leading trait in his character was his humour and love of fun. As he
remarked to Dies: "A mischievous fit comes over me sometimes that is
perfectly beyond control." The incident of the removal of the fellow
chorister's pig-tail will at once recur to the memory. The "Surprise"
Symphony is another illustration, to say nothing of the "Toy" Symphony
and "Jacob's Dream."

His Generosity

Of his generosity and his kindness to fellow artists there are many
proofs. In 1800 he speaks of himself as having "willingly endeavoured
all my life to assist everyone," and the words were no empty boast. No
man was, in fact, more ready to perform a good deed. He had many needy
relations always looking to him for aid, and their claims were seldom
refused. A brother artist in distress was sure of help, and talented
young men found in him a valuable friend, equally ready to give his
advice or his gold, as the case might require. That he was sometimes
imposed upon goes without saying. He has been charged with avarice, but
the charge is wholly unfounded. He was simply careful in money matters,
and that, to a large extent, because of the demands that were constantly
being made upon him. In commercial concerns he was certainly sharp
and shrewd, and attempts to take advantage of him always roused his
indignation. "By heavens!" he writes to Artaria, "you have wronged me to
the extent of fifty ducats.... This step must cause the cessation of all
transactions between us." The same firm, having neglected to answer some
business proposition, were pulled up in this fashion: "I have been much
provoked by the delay, inasmuch as I could have got forty ducats
from another publisher for these five pieces, and you make too many
difficulties about a matter by which, in such short compositions, you
have at