Note 11 — Chapter VII · THE SWEDISH NIGHTINGALE IN THE AMERICAN WOODS

In Samuel Butler, A Memoir, by Henry Festing Jones, p. 126, Vol. II, there is a characteristic anecdote of Otto Goldschmidt. It concerns Goldschmidt and W. R. Rockstro, who taught Samuel Butler and Henry Festing Jones harmony and counterpoint, and who was one of the authors of Memoir of Madame Jenny Lind-Goldschmidt. Jones writes:

“During the time we knew him [Rockstro], but I forget precisely when, he fell from the top of an omnibus near South Kensington Station. Otto Goldschmidt ... came to see him in the hospital, and Rockstro told Goldschmidt all about the accident. Goldschmidt would not believe him and said:

“‘You don’t mean to tell me you fell off from the top of the bus down to the ground?’

“‘Yes, I do,’ said Rockstro, ‘right off from the top down to the ground, and they took me into the pastrycook’s before bringing me here.’

“Next day Goldschmidt went to see Rockstro again and said:

“‘I find you are quite right. I have been to the pastrycook’s and you actually did fall from the top of the bus to the road.’

“Butler was amused when he heard this, and made the wicked comment that as Otto Goldschmidt had known Rockstro nearly all his life he ought to have been able to form a correct idea of his truthfulness without calling at the pastrycook’s for confirmation.”