New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-30
SIIE SOUL OF THE VIOLIN,

But, after all, Julius, is it not possible
that you may be little unreasonable You
not only had the lions share of applause
tonight, but it was also hearty and spon.
taneOus."
81 can not see how it is possible for YOU
to misunderstood me- Lisa" her lover re-
piled. "DO you think that l play for ap-
Plause alone-that my art means to me
nothing but SO much clapping and stamp
ing! In fact, think this very applause of
which you think SO much is at the bottom
OF my dissatisfaction tonight."
Well, you are unreasonable. First you
complain that you are wasting your life
playing to dumb ears and now you quarrel
with your audience because it has shown it's
pleasure in the only way open to it,"
Julius shrugged his shoulders mpatiently,
and looked at Lisa half in doubt whether
she was in earnest or not. But she sat
leaning toward the fire, looking intently at
it, with SO quiet and grave face that he
knew she must mean all she said.
"Of course" he replied after moments
hesitation, applause is all very well in its
way 1t would be an affectation in me to
deny its value; but an artist can receive
higher tribute. There is a certain silence
that sometimes-nOt Often-fOllOws my lay
ing that is more eloquent than any noise
Can be. Then, too, my dear, we who stand
before audiences soon learn the source of
that was made tonight came from the bows
IN the back benches and the roughs in the
gallery. You would hardly expect me to
0e fattered by their appreciation 2"
II do not see why you should not. They
are capable of feeling, if not of Judging. |
Bou do not want merely brain criticism"
Now, Lisa, you are growing cOnven- !
tiOnal. You know that the talk of any ap- |
probation of real art by the mob is simply |
'Ihpap faI no o6nI
song if the words appealed to their feel
lngs; but to the meaning of music alone
they are insensible. What do they care for
in my violin but the merest trick of skilll'
Lisa looked at him, but made no reply. so
he quickly added:
but such appreciation as you give me is
worth everything to me. l shall never
forget the first night l saw you, played to
yOur
Nor l, Julius" she replied, in low tone
slow brilliant and full of light your eyes
grew! You were as sensible to the tones of
Any violin as the air was. After that |
played to no one else if you were present;
and, no matter where you sat, found You
%hen you were not present and when |
played in other Cities l might as well have
Seen machine. l have been a different
artist since have known you, dear
II shall never forget the first time you
spoke to me, julius"
81 had a right to do it. my love. You
knew 1t then. Out of the whole world we
had already chosen each other, and what |
had to wait fort But can see Won now.
half hidden in a corner, all dressed in himsy
blue, with absent looking eyes, waiting for
your father to find the carriage. You were
not in the least startled when came to YOU.
Some, confess, Lisa, did you expect met"
Lisa took the hand he extended in both
Of her own, laid her cheek softly against it,
making no other reply.
But, Lisa, to come back to what we were
speaking about, and, to be frank, | think
" hat troubles me most is my own want of
self-control. 1t seems to me that an artist.
Il he were true to his art. would ALWAYS be
ander Its influence; that no outside worry |
no disturbing element could affect him at |
Ter he had given himself up to his iustru- s
ment; But my worship is divided; | can b
not play as l ought if anything at the mo- '
nent troubles me. Why, the very tones of s
my yloln, tonight, were sharp and thin.
and had neither feeling nor power Yet | I
especially wanted to play well. You know /
iou were no better satisfied than l was. '
You sat there like a stone" I
wish could deny 1t. dear | wish | 5
,onld persuade you that, even when you l
seem cold to yourself. you have the power |
IF touching Others. But then, Won know. {:
julius, every body does not pretend TO be as j
much ca rapport with your music and van o
IS do; and, for me to see you uneasy. and o
With a hard expression, was enough to dis.
ress me. But, while you played, | fancied t.
for you know your violin always awakes n
ny imagnation-but do you want to heart, a
e Ger tainly," he replied. $
al fancied, then, how fine it would be if il
ou could only give your violin a soulr' V
g | would be content to give that to nv h
carers" a
But listen to me, dear. You know how Ii
he fibres of the wood, the molecular struc '
ure, become affected by continued playing, u
o that an old violin becomes SO finely SEN L
tive that every tone is impregnated with
he music the wood has before echoed. You
now how sweet, how mellow, it grows, I'M =
il every year adds a new grace and beauty
D its sounds. Well, then, suppose that you Il
ould inspire these tones with the inspira a
ion you feel SO that not only your mechan- p
IN, but also your soul, would speak through
!. Suppose that playing on it year after t.
ear, with the same enthusiasm, you should e,
i've its tone vitality, living tenderness, IN
lat would always breathe from it, no mat W
r what your present mood might be. pl