Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-11-27
THE SOUL OF THE VIOLIN.

HE SUtL Ut HE NlUIiNs
"But, after all, Julius, is it not possible
that you may be little unreasonable?
You not only had the lions share of ap-
plause, tonight, but it was also hearty
and spontaneous"
81 cannot see how it is possible for you
to misunderstood me, Lisa" her lover re-
piled. "Do you think that | play for APP
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 50 much is at the bot
tom of my dissatisfaction, tonight"
"Well, you are unreasonable, First you
complain that you are wasting your life
playing to dumb ears, and now you quar-.
rel with your audience because it has
shown its pleasure in the only way open
to it," !.
julius shrugged his shoulders impa-
tiently, 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 a
face that he knew she must mean all she
said.
"Of course" he replied, after mo-
ment's hesitation, applause is all very
ton in me to deny its value; but an artist
can receive higher tribute. There is a
certain silence that sometimes-not often
follows my playing that is more elo-
Quent than any noise could be. Then, too,
my dear, we who stand before audiences
soon learn the source of the applause
The spontaneous racket that was made
tonight, came from the boys in the back
al "a orb in, ha
You would hardly expect me to be flatter-
ed by their appreciation
Lisa looked at him, but made no reply,
so he quickly added:
But such appreciation as you give me
is worth everything to me. | shall never
forget the first night / saw you, played to
your
Nor /, julius" she replied, in low
tone.
"How brilliant and full of light your
eyes grew You were as sensitive to the
tones of my violin as the air was. After
that played to no one else if you were
present; and no matter where you sat-
found you. When you were not present
and when | played in other cities, might
as well have been machine. | have been
a different artist since have known you,
dear"
II shall never forget the first time you
spoke to me julius
II had right to do it, my love. You
knew il then. Out of the whole world we
had already chosen each other, and what
had to wait for? But | can see you
now, half hidden in a corner, all dressed
in flimsy blue, with absent-looking eyes,
waiting for your father 10 find the car
riage. You were not in the least startled
when came to you. Come confess, Lisa
you did expect me?"
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 what troubles me most is my own
want of selfcontrol. It seems to me that
an artist, if he were true to his art, would
always be under its influence; that no out
side worry, nc disturbing element, could
affect him after he had given himself up
to It's instrument. But my worship is
divided; cannot play as | ought if any
thing at the moment troubles me. Why,
the very tones of my violin, tonight, were
sharp and thin, and had neither feeling
nor power. Yet | especially wanted TO
play we'll You know you were no better
satisfied than was. You sat there like a
stone"
81 wish I could deny it, dear. wish
could persuade you that, even when you
seem cold to yourself, you have the power
of touching others. But then, you know,
julius, everybody does not pretend to be
as en- rapport with your music as you and
do; and, for me TO see you uneasy, and
with hard expression, was enough 10 dis
tress me. But while you played | fan
Cied-for you know your violin always
awakes my imagination-but do you want
10 hearI"
Certainly" he replied.
~ f4nced, then, how fine it would be
if you could only give your violin =
soul ~
Il would be content 70 give that to my
hcarers"'
But listen to me, dear. You know
how the tibers of the wood, the molecular