Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1906 edition. Excerpt: ...miracle. Commercial miracles do happen, no doubt, but never in the fiddle world--at least not now-a-days. The days when a Vuillaume could by sound business methods, and a somewhat less sound moral methods, amass a rapid fortune, belonged to the earlier decades of the century that is past. When Mr. Mayson made known his intentions, he was seriously advised not to embark on any venture of the kind. But he was a man of many dreams, who loved to give his imagination the reins, and to indulge in wingless flights into the regions of the unknown. Genius is ever erratic: there is no calculating upon what it may or may not do tomorrow. Vincenzo Panormo opened in Paris yesterday, he is in London to-day, he may go to Ireland tomorrow, but who would be bold enough to predict where he will set up on the day after? Of Mayson it may be said, as it was said of Panormo: "He was of a restless temperament, which showed itself in continual self-imposed changes. He would not, or could not, permit his reputation to grow steadily, by residing long in one place, but as soon as fame was within his grasp, he sacrificed the work of years by removing to an entirely new field of labour." It must be admitted, however, that the migrations of Mayson were often due to circumstances over which he had no control. The stay in London lasted only three months and proved a calamitous failure, inasmuch as, in addition to causing a great business disappointment, it completely undermined a constitution already weakened by worries. Its story had better be told in Mayson's own words. "It was about the end of July, 1899, that I took a room on the second floor of No. 256 High Holborn, on the south side of the street, where I could secure a strong, steady north light....
