There was one thing Ferdinand disliked immensely and that was to have to powder his wig every morning and put it on. (He lived in the seventeenth century). The whole wig thing took a substantial chunk out of his daily morning programme. It was far easier simply to sleep with his wig still on and then pat it flat upon rising.
But then Ferdinand’s pate began to get itchy. His wife looked and there was a nest of nits in his hair having a wonderful time. And of course there were the inevitable family of earwigs setting up home in the wig itself.
Ferdinand was rather partial to that wig. It was like shoes; a wig had to be “broken in”. This wig fitted perfectly. Ferdinand gave the wig a good shake hoping to expel the bugs. It did not work.
Ferdinand’s wife, Maria Constanze Cäcilia Josepha Johanna Aloysia Fischer, bought him a brand new wig and gave it to Ferdinand for Christmas. He was most grateful, although for a start on alternate days he wore his old wig for the sake of comfort.
The nits and earwigs loved their new home.
I’ve always thought how disgusting those wigs must have been to wear. And to smell😬
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I suspect you’re right about the smell! I have always remembers a quotation from a Mozart letter to his father: “My hair is always done by 6 o’clock in the morning, and by 7 I am fully dressed” !! What a hassle!
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The story is actually about the subterranean tragedy of Maria Constanze Cäcilia Josepha Johanna Aloysia Fischer. Perhaps the intricacies will be revealed in a later instalment?
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LOL! All, except the last name of Fischer, is the name of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s wife! She was an astounding astute businesswoman (look at the fame of her husband that she created!) and her story is probably not as yet written.
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Well they do say nits like nice clean hair so I’m sure the new wig would make a perfect home for them!
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I’ve never had nits – which is good because I’ve taught a lot in those schools where kids were always getting nits.
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Whoa!
Court Reporter: State your full name.
Constanze,…. uh, um….uh, call me Connie.
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These were Mozart’s wife’s names – and I THINK she was called Connie!
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