AN EARLY FOURTH OF JULY GIFT

       The following story is taken from the life of Arturo Toscanini, classical music conductor and conductor of the NBC Symphony Orchestra and New York's Metropolitan Opera during the first half of the 20th Century.
      
     Arriving at a town on July 3, during a South American tour with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, Toscanini told the disgruntled players that he wished them to assemble at the theater the following morning.  The players who had be traveling for some time, were looking forward to a couple of days free from rehearsals.  They obeyed will an ill grace.  When they were assembled, Toscanini asked them to rise, and led them through "The Star Spangled Banner."  "Today is the Fourth of July, " he announced at the end, and dismissed them.

(The preceding anecdote was taken from 'The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes' by Clifton Fadiman-General Editor)