Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-15
A BOLD AMERICAN GIRL
BURleSOUES LlSZT TO HIS FACE,
AND BREAKS THE PIANO STRINGS.
A Sudden Sensation in Social Circles
The Abbe Standing on His Dignity
nariny nead

Turning a Deaf Ear to the Ladies-A
! Daring Deed.
Liszt was strange compound of
strength and weakness, but his strength
| was of the best, and his weaknesses
| harmed no one but himself. An article
on This subject, quoted from q Paris jour
! nal, may interest your readers, and gives
one a very amusing idea OF LisZt's life
| in Rome during the pontiicate of Plus
| IX:
The familiar card of the Princess Y.
| made one day "A sudden sensation in social
| circles. IL ran thus: Come aud take an
/ ice with me tomorrow evening. We
/ shall hear List LiszJ was the god Of
| the hour. Gossip was busy with his
! friendship for Nine. de W. IL was said
! that the lady had extracted from the Cele-
| brated pianist the legitimate ratification
! OF their affection; that Lszt, quite averse
to marriage had interposed between his
| friend and himself the Ubtacle of the
sacred engagement to take holy orders.
| All wondered at tine sudden investment
| OF the artist with clerical yestments, and
! curiosity, not entirely diveSt Ell Of malice,
! was excited. We shall hear LsZtr
| Not one of the bidien guests failed 10
! accept the summons of the Princess y.
! Old Roman pGtricians, the foreign colony,
| English, Americans. the corps diplO-
| matique. officers of the pOntiiical army,
| many prelates and even cardinals, gath
cred in her salon, happy for the promised
attraction, and promising themselves the
! pleasure of hearing the illustrious pianist
| and new able
List appeared. The long black robe
became well his tall, thin figure. He
wore it without embarrassment, with
| that weary and little naughty express
sion which never really left him. He re-
ceived with dignity the homage OF the
! lovely ladies' saluting them majestically,
scarcely deigning to open his lips, and
| producing upon the spectators, especially
the young and timid, feeling of awe.
| They found the atmosphere of the room
| imbued with his presence. The more
courageous brought him champagne and
lemon ice, but their hands trembled while
doing it. One whispered as if in church.
One feared to disturb the repose of the
lion. The evening advanced, and still the
master had not approached the grand
Erard which stood open for him. The
Princess Y. at last decided to solicit him
to play. The guests breathlessly awaited
the hoped for pleasure; they placed them
selves in the most favorable positions for
! hearing The discreet murmur of con-
versatiOn stopped altogether. 1t was an
hour OF ectasy. But Liszt had nerve; he
refused to take his place at the piano.
The princess insisted; she reminded him
that he had played at the Colonna palace.
| Why should he not play here3
81
briefly, i will not playH
The princess was desperate. Her guests
had been brought here by false hope. In
the midst of the general silence the col
lcguy became painful. A few charitable
souls came to the rescue; prelate inter
fered. The master was obstinate. The
prettiest women deluZed him with elo-
quent solicitations and supplicating looks.
All efforts failed. The great spirit re-
manned cold, and he declined in a tone
cutting and incisive. Ali seductions were
pOwerless to move him.
"In the midst of the general dismay, a
young lady, excited and irritated like all
the rest, rose and addressed in these terms
the unfortunate mistress of the house,
who sat upon thorns: Dear princess, the
master has refused us the great happi-
ness his presence made us hope for. We
can not hear his divine harmonies! But,
since our friends expect music, | will, ell
though very unworthy, offer my modest
assistance. l will go TO the piano
THE stupefaction could not have been
greater IL one had seen the cupoia OF
St. Peters perform fandangO. The be-
numbed audience watched curiOusly the
young woman. 1t was an American, very
gay, very daring very witty, well known
for her eccentricities, but woman of
mind and real talent, and so young and
pretty that no one could find fault with
her. She gracefully unglOved her hands,
while the princess murmured her aston
ished thanks, seized the. arm of the first
cavalier who presented himself, and went
and seated herself on the piano stool.
This scene attracted a wondering atten-
tion. For while every body forgot List
for the be- utifui eyes of her who took his
place Wi the precision of an artistic.
but the mischief of a child, she preluded
brilliantly. But the piece! Oh, the
piece! 1t was parody extra noisy of the
most noisy composition of Lisz:. And
what gave piquancy to the thing was that
the eXecutante initiated exactly the
method of the master. The notes vi
brated more and more under the furious
attacks; they growled angrily; the hands
ran as If they were mad over the cleo
trihed keys. Soon 1t was not only the
finger but the fist which hammered the
note, or perhaps the arm, and even the
elbow struck the ivory in burlesque
chords.
The American lady was no longer
seated--she played standing, her eyes
raised to heaven, the head turned up,
rolling her Ciances, either swooning or
maddened, about the room, and shaking
herself ike an evil spirit. Finally, her
hair, shtXen as il by whirlwind,
escaped from the comb and fell in a sheet
about her shoulders She interrupted her
play, raising herself with gesture
toward her forehead, exactly like the
master, then painting, exhausted, laid on
with all her force the last hOarse chords,
and let herself fall upon the piano stool,
apparently half fainting The tabouret
broke with a groan, and at the same
moment some Of the strings of the piano
cracked under the last pressure.
Never shall forget the effect of this
joke, doubtful as it was on the whole.
The guests forgot all decorum, they
writhed with laughter, they held their
sides, they wept. The thing was so uneX-
pected she was so droll, that no one could
check the gayety of this immense salon.
Tie good princess could only follow the
tide. And the masterH He grew wan,
green, and red by turns, and picked nerv-
ouSiy at the buttons of his new cassOck.
He threw a wandering glance upon the
audience. No one dared to fix his gaze
upon him; they were all well bred, but
thep laughed aloud, although without
malice or any intention OF being insulting
or aggressive. Thus the able was enabled
to gain the door and glide out without be-
ing perceived. The lesson was severe,
admit, but it has borne fruit. Since then
one has rarely seen the Able LisZt protect
himself too much from his adm rers. A
gracious and well timed prayer has
rarely found him deaf."-Boston Herald
Why He Couldn't Move Them.
IgnatiuS Donneily tells story of one of
his experiences when stumping the state