Anecdotes of Great Musicians/Anecdote 122
122.—HOW PAGANINI SECURED HIS FAVORITE FIDDLE.
When Paganini had only reached his seventeenth year, he had already tasted the enjoyments of flattery and applause. Having thrown off the restraints of his father's control, he plunged into all kinds of dissipation, especially into gambling, a vice that was universal in Europe at that time. Many a night did this youthful gambler lose all the proceeds of more than one concert in the gambling room; and he was at one time even obliged to raise money on his violin as security to pay his gambling debts.
On one occasion, when the youthful violinist was announced for a concert at Leghorn, he had pawned his violin, and had to make some arrangement to borrow one for use at the concert. Hearing that a certain French merchant of the place possessed a very fine "Guarnerius," he applied to him for the loan of it. This gentleman generously granted his request and placed this valuable instrument in his hands.
After the concert, when Paganini returned the borrowed violin, its owner, who himself was no mean violinist, and who had heard Paganini's performance, exclaimed:—
"I will never profane the strings which your fingers have touched. The instrument is yours!"
Paganini's delight may be imagined, for there was hardly to be found in the world an instrument superior to this one. He used it throughout his wonderful career and at his death left it to his native city of Genoa, where it rests in its glass case, having been played by but one since his death, by his pupil, Sivori, who died in 1894.