Doyle, Arthur Conan, 1859-1930 -- Parodies, imitations, etc.; Fantasy fiction; Holmes, Sherlock (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
Owing to the very great, constantly growing, and at times vexatious
demands upon his time socially,
HERR WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
takes this method of announcing to his friends that on and after
January 1, 1897, his terms for functions will be as follows:
Marks
Dinners with conversation on the Theory of Music 500
Dinners with conversation on the Theory of Music, 750
illustrated
Dinners without any conversation 300
Receptions, public, with music 1000
,, ,, private, ,, ,,, 750
Encores (single) 100
Three encores for 150
Autographs 10
Positively no Invitations for Five-o’Clock Teas or Morning Musicales
considered.
* * * * *
“Well, I declare!” tittered Elizabeth, as she read. “Isn’t that
extraordinary? He’s got the three-name craze, too!”
“It’s perfectly ridiculous,” said Cleopatra. “But it’s fairer than
Artemus Ward’s plan. Mozart gives notice of his intentions to charge
you; but with Ward it’s different. He comes, and afterwards sends a bill
for his fun. Why, only last week I got a ‘quarterly statement’ from him
showing a charge against me of thirty-eight dollars for humorous remarks
made to my guests at a little chafing-dish party I gave in honor of
Balzac, and, worst of all, he had marked it ‘Please remit.’ Even Antony,
when he wrote a sonnet to my eyebrow, wouldn’t let me have it until he
had heard whether or not Boswell wanted it for publication in the
_Gossip_. With Rubens giving chalk-talks for pay, Phidias doing
‘Five-minute Masterpieces in Putty’ for suburban lyceums, and all the
illustrious in other lines turning their genius to account through the
entertainment bureaus, it’s impossible to have a salon now.”
“You are indeed right,” said Madame Récamier, sadly. “Those were palmy
days when genius was satisfied with chicken salad and lemonade. I shall
never forget those nights when the wit and wisdom of all time
were—ah—were on tap at my house, if I may so speak, at a cost to me of
lights and supper. Now the only people who will come for nothing are
those we used to think of paying to stay away. Boswell is always ready,
but you can’t run a salon on Boswell.”
“Well,” said Portia, “I sincerely hope that you won’t give up the
functions altogether, because I have always found them most delightful.
It is still possible to have lights and supper.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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