Composers

Monday, February 16th., London.

Schmitt for lunch. Arrived half an hour late. Drank a lot of stout, and thoroughly enjoyed eating and drinking. Clearly a man of appetite. Upstairs in sitting room he objected to having a small table by his side for coffee, as it morally prevented him from getting up and walking about at will. I fancy this was an affectation, but composers can be rather odd characters.

Hertford House, The Wallace Collection

We took him and Rickards, who also came for lunch, to the Wallace Collection. I noted a fine "Music Lesson" of Steen, and a small picture of Leopold Robert. We left Schmitt and his Baedeker in the street to find his  way to Russell Square alone. Then all of us to South Place Institute for concert. Quartet of Ravel and Quintet of Schmitt.