Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1881-07-16
EugeniO MaariciO Disagreement.


/ wish that all Che children in the
world might get together some beauti-
full June Gay, and then there certainly
could be nothing more charming for
them than that they should all be still
for while, and listen to the wonderful
violin-playing of Eugenio Mauricio Dem
gremont the child-artist.
Let me tell you what | know of him.
He was born March the 18th, 1866, at
Rio Janeiro, Brazil His father, having
other boys, as well as girls, and being
musician in moderate circumstances,
had no idea of making musicians of his
children, and did not dream that the
son born to him this day was so gifted
But, at the age of four, Mauricio asked
his papa to teach him to play the violin.
This his father did not feel inclined to
do. He was himself violin player in
the theater orchestra, and felt the life
of an ordinary musician an uncertain
one and not desirable for his son; but
the child never gave up the idea Of be-
ing a violinist, and would leave his play
at any time to stand near his father and
eagerly watch his practice.
At last, in 1872, when the boy was
six years old, his father removed to
Montevideo, where he played again in
the theater orchestra, whittier the boy
usually accompanied him. Here Maui
ricio begged so earnestly to study the
violin that his father, taking him at his
word, decided to crafty him and said:
"Well, my boy, if you begin to study
the violin you will have to carry the
business through"
81 shall do so, papa" said the boy;
and his lessons began.
He was so small! and so much in
earnest! and his father spent hours
bending over the tiny figure and guild
ing the bows little arm in the bowing.
And now take notice, all boys and
girls who would so much love to play
Great as this child's natural gifts are,
he at first practiced three and four
hours faithfully every day. To be
gifted, no doubt, makes the work
easier, but a certain amount of real
drudgery must be done by one who
succeeds in any art, no matter how
gifted he may be.
After four months study, Mauricio
could play the scales and in thirds,
also (qute difficult on the violin) as
well and as rapidly as his father; and,
besides. he played so remarkably that
his father discovered him to be really a
genius. as his name indicated, and so he
faithfully and strictly attended to the
boys teaching.
After fourteen months study, the
father decided to allow the boy TO give
his first concert, but fearing lest his son
might not have the self-control neces-
sary for a successful public perform
ance, he took him to little town.
Paysander-up the river, TO make trial
The concert at Paysander entirely
satisfied the father of the bows nerve
and self-command, and, returning t.
Montevideo, he gave his first concer
there to benefit the unfortunate victim:
of a railroad accident. Here his play
ing created great excitement, and, aft
er that, every appearance OF his in pub
lie concerts was an ovation.
Since this modest beginning in thu
South American town, the boy has beei
petted and fattered by all Europe, al
though he is singularly unspoiled, botl
son and father being of generous ma
ture. But like to think OF him, in hi
childish grace and beauty, beginning
his musical career with this kindly deed
He seems to me capable of doing sucl
a thing nobly.
After the concert in Montevideo, ant
a grand concert in Rio Janeiro, he LEI
his brothers and sisters, and his mothe
whose personal beauty he inherits
and went with his father to try his fol
tune in the Old World.
,, He went first to Lisbon; thence t
! Madrid, where he played before th
King, and received no end of honor
and decorations; and from there t
) Paris, where he gave ten concerts.
Think of it: scarcely ten years old
From this time -1876- he had privat
lessons from Leonard, in Paris. Thes
lessons hardly would have occupie
more than a year, if given without
break, but tney extended over Ionge
period, during which he travelled owe
all Europe, excepting Russia and Italy
,, Everywhere he met with great success
Such is a meager history of this wor
derful boys child-life enough, how
|, ever, to give us hope of a glorious maj
hood for him, for Mauricio is not an III
naturally precocious child-a force
hot house blossom but healthy, ful
loving. boyish boy, with buoyant an
: : NAL spirit, and as ready for wholeson
fun as for earnest study; and witha
: certainly much more of a child than IL
average American boy of his age.
> But, then, when his face is quiet, IL
violin under his chin, and his bow
o motion, he is again something strang,
ly above us-a true musical genius. IS
= Nicholas