Middletown transcript., 1881-06-24
EUGENIO MAURICIO DENGRE-
MONT.

EUGENIO MAURICIO DENGRE-
MONT.
l wish that all the children in the
world might get together some beauti
full June day, and then there certainly
could be nothing more charming fol
them than that they should all be still
for a while, and listen to the wonderful
violin-playing Of Eugenio Mauricio
Dengremont, the child artist.
Let me tell you what I know of him
He was born March the 10Th, 1866. at
Rio Janeiro, Brazil. His father, having
other boys, as well as girls, and being a
musician i'll 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 a 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
being yiolinist, 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 Mau-
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. y
II 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 boys little arm in the bowling.
And now take notice, all boys and girls
who 'would so much love to play well,
but can't bear to practice" Great as
this child's natural giftsa 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 in thirds,
also (quite 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-eontrol
necessary for successful performance,
he took him to a little town-Paysan-
der-up the river, to make trial.
The concert at Paysander entirely
satisfied the father of the boys nerve
and self-command, and, returning to
Montevideo, he gave his first concert
there to benefit the unfortunate victims
of railroad accident. Here his play
ing created great excitement, and
after that, every appearance of his in
public concerts was an ovation.
Since this modest beginning in the
South American town, the boy has
been petted and flattered by all Europe,
although he is singularly unspoiled,
both son and father being of a generous
nature But I like to think of him, in
his childish grace and beauty, beginning
his musical career with this kindly
deed. He seems to me capable of doing
such thing nobly.
After the concert in Montevideo, and
grand concert in Rio Janeiro, he left
his brothers and sisters, and his mother,
whose personal beauty he inherits,- -
and went with his father to try his
fortune in the Old World.
He went first to Lisbon; thence to
Madrin, where he played before the
King, and received no end of honors
and decorations and from there to
Paris, where he gave ten concerts.
Think of it : scarcely ten years old!
From this time-1876- had pri-
vate lessons from Leonard, in Paris.
These lessons hardly would have occu-
pied more than a year, if given without |
a break, but they extended over lon
ger period, during which he travelled
over all Europe, excepting Russia and
Italy. Everywhere he met with great |
success.
Such is meager history of this won
derful boys child-life-enough, how
ever, to give us hope of glorious man
hood for him, for Mauricio is not an
unnaturally precocious child,-a forced |
hot-house blossom, but ahealthy, fun
loving, boyish boy, with buoyant ami
NAL spirit, and as ready for wholesome
fun as for earnest study; and withal,
certainly much more of a child than
the average American boy of his age.
But, then, when his face is quiet, the
violin under his chin, and his bow in
motion, he is again something strangely
above us,-a true musical genius
From St. Nicholas for July, 1881.
Mr. Orlando Weatherbee, says an eX-
change of ours, proprietor of "The
Spencer Pharmacy" Spencer, Mass.
reports: My customers speak very /
highly of the Great German Remedy st.
.Tacoh's Oil If having a1vavs 0ivaD ay