New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-08
A DREADFULLY coNCgTrED PERSON.
H. Fales0nf IN TIE Queen.

| DREADFULLY CONCETTED" PERSON.
| H. Fa,e,ont IN TIC Queen.
| Liable List is an honest man and gentle-
man, and have always remarked in him that innate
feeling which belongs only TO the delicate minded man.
and during my several years close intimacy with aim,
shocked by single uDpoe action, stll less
by any rudeness toward any else. say this,
because wish at protest against all the cslm-
MES which have heaped up against this great artist,
who has been guilty OF no other fault but that OF wishing
TO desert his proper role OF pianist instead OF conenng
himself with having casts made OF his right hand 10 dis
tribute relics 20 his deyotees. But must first warn
my readers that, although Italian, well as
musician. quite incapable OF citicizng ~ Li-zt ~
an artist as unfortunately cannot number myself
among those privileged few who alone can thoroughly
appreciate his music. have never been able TO under
it, he has said himself that NJ Camille Saint
saGns is the only Frcnchman living snce NJ Berliozs
death) who knows what true music II.
Had but the pen OF George Sand would describe him
10 you he when he lived at Santa Francesca
Romano at the foot OF the Palane Hill, at the summit OF
which was born, and where aimed for more than
twenty years. very proud Of being occupied by
him nearly all day long, and in the evening, unless he
went out visiting in the town, had the pleasure Of
teaching him little Latin And as myself also an
able at that time flor Romans all abbes; IN fact,
we were obliged TO be II would be or any condera
ton at alD taught him his breyiary which repeated
together with all the fervor OF which were capable.
All this was however strictly private; for the Able used
the greatest precautions TO avoid all proane eyes This
amusement proved 10 be far more profitable lesson
TO than those received from him ON the piano.
saw that wasting both my Latin and my time
should never have believed that he who had 30 much tai
ent for creating harmones should be totally incapable
OF connecting two IDEAS together The Able, though
dreadfuy conceited, very sprtuel but 20 learn
little rhetoric enough Latin TO say ones breyiary
without understanding 1t too WELL 10 make oneself 40
quanted, be Il slightly with eccesiastical AFFAIRS;
consideration, at least every day. and That List was I'M
able TO give Many Is the time have been Obliged TO
rank List far beneath all those Partisan wormen who,
according to his account have obtuse ears ana con-
e Sp es ha 81 Of SHe wa 81 s
The Able List certainly has done many foolish things,
were within the shade OF the sanctuary But,
after ALL these ollies were all disnterested and must
be forgotten that he attempted IN the slightest
manner TO curry favor with any one NJ Lists troubles
French saying: Chassez lie natnrel Ell II reyient an
galOp" Thus 1t happened that, the very day after THIS
musician in cassock back came the musician as well
ever and there he remains 70 this day Offering himself
ignored the fact that moral revolutions are not
made Eeaa de rose It. Was simple enousn eire ,ln1,
his true vocation When he came TO settle al Rome ono
of his relatives then bishop at the Court OF nus IN,
II was there, in the sxne Chapel where since the age
of seventeen had occupied the honorable post OF secre
taryl that first met him. My superior, Cardinal An
tOne. with his ynx-lke eyes. thought on first seeing
asm, profit by his universal celebrity, and accordingly
| gave him welcome Ia Richelieu. -
| This reception all that needed 10 induce NJ
List TO ranspose his Hungarian Rhapsodes into
celtic key and to convert them INTO grand overture iof
longer pianist but as person of great authority 1oth
ecclesiastical and las Monaigne expresses 10 cariin-
able" that is to say stun which cardinals
made The very day after this sudden change be took
upon himself the duty Of announcing this event 10 Rome
and ali Europe by sending right and left visiting
cards worded thus Liable List, au Vatican un-
luckily one OF these cards reached the Pas4uh statue
(which undertakes, Figaro says, TO ridice foles
under whatever aspect they present TN s % R6 % e
of pretty girls their halr al disheyelIe running
with visiting cards in their hands, TO AbDe List an
Vatican. AntOnel seeing how completely be had been
mistaken about NJ. LisZ who had no influence whatever
more nrodt ont of n chorister boy than out of this re-
braed man. abruptly deserted him without taking any
neither thing nor the other TO ruin the Able in
Plus the Ninth eyes, AnOnelli had recourse simply to
Liszt, even as pianist only SMILED ,. ,.,,,o .,
still i'm his service, was In 1871 dung the Commune.
After having handed over him the letter with which
had been ntrusted and after he had closely questioned
me about Paris from whence had just come, he ended
his clever conversation by saying "And your Able List,
through the siege OF Paris without bread and without
the arch pianist r. The Pontn pronounced these words
the Able Liszt IN manner SUI geneTts, the irony
| which cannot describe.
long after List had assumed the eassock lac had to
leave the Vatican, and still wishing 10 live hctlt-
| ary went the DOminieans at MOnte-Maro close 20
accustomed to solitude and study also declined the honor
of having in their abode this Louis XIV OF The piano.
who completely destroyed their former tranquility with
the continual come and go OF sassoeked men, priests
Ns have already said, at santa Francesca Romano.
where he was able to remain several years. thanks Ia
separate apartment which had been standing unOccuped
for long WHILE and which the monks very glad 10
let to this model ledger.
NV dear mother very fond OF LisZt because she be-
lieyed him to be really sincere priest and he came very
mass in chapel OF st. Sebastian NJ List very often
came 10 lunch with us after mass and would sometimes
play duets with me. IL was by playing alone that he
own he gave to all the poor who were lucky enough 20
| meet him, and do not remember having him %
single time refuse to give aims In this manner did he
show his sense Of fraternity without speaking Of H.
| left LsZt when quilted Rome for the first time IN
1870 and correspondent with him all through the siege
OF Paris have only him since then and that
hospitality and there shook hands with him for the last
| time. And this last time found him just the
the first su as young and lively stu the Play thing OF
false romance and like stove which always keats but
| cooks nothing" "a NOltaire said OF La Harpe.
He was spOilt by ignorance and pride, and believed
himself To be than whereas, except nc the
| piano. he less than woman, for n woman even
when ignorant Is always projected by certain AMOUNT
OF common But here, this Able has often
a man, priest priest, more sincere than VI. List,
who may be reproaced with many FAULTS but never VI
NJ de- Pontmarn has intelligeny remarked that there
and which is but temporary, and IL i for THIS
that the world often accuses OF dupcity men who ara
indeed double but not IN the sense OF hypocrisy; DOUBLE
either from weakness imagination, they eNat them
selves when they speak, but unable 10 act mp 20 ther
self-assumed standard. BY this admirable definition IL
| explained the whole OF VI. LISTS life. His Wit has
qured either delay rendezvous To clever word
have been fond OF this unique man for his frank
that ask myself whether although thoroughly sincere
may not have been somewhat too for sucl pyi
legged man. who into the world not 10 think but To
plsy.
GEORGE IiL'S PIETY.