Omaha daily bee., 1886-09-12
BOLD AMERlcAN GIRL.
She Burlesques Liszt to His Face,
and Breaks the Piano stool
and Strings

Boston Herald List was a strange
compound of strength and weakness, but
his weaknesses harmed no one but him.
self. An article on this subject, quoted
from a Paris journal may interest your
readers, and gives one a very amusing
idea of Lists life in Rome during the
pontifcate of Plus IN:
The familiar card OF the Princess y.
made one day o sudden sensation in
social circles. Ii ran thus: Come and
take an ice with me tomorrow evening,
We shall hear List List was the god
of the hour Gossip was busy with his
friendship for Nine de w 1t was said
that the lady had cNactcd from the
celebrated pianist the legitimate ratti.
cation of their affection, that List, quite
averse TO marriage, had interpoSed be.
tween his friend ana himself the obstacle
of his sacred engagement to take holy
orders. All wondered at the sudden in
vestment of the artist with clerical vest
mentS, and curiosity, not entirely divested
of malice, was excited. We shall hear
LisztN
Not one of the hidden guests failed to
accept the summons of the Princess y.
Old Roman patrlcians, the foreign
colony, English, Americans, the corps
diplomatque, officers of the pontificial
army, many prelates and even cardinals,
gathered in her salon, happy tor the
promised attraction, and promising them
selves the pleasure of hearing the illus
trious pianist and new abbe. Liszt ap~
peared. The long black robe became his
tall, thin figure He wore it without en-
barrassmeut, with that weary and
naughty expression which never really
left him. He received 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 dong il.
One whispered as if in church. One
feared to disturb the repose of the lion.
The evening advanced, and still the mas.
ter had not approached the grand Erard
which stood open for him. The Princess
" at last decided to solicit him to play.
The guests breathlessiy awaited the
hoped-for pleasure; they placed them
selves in the most favorable positions for
hearing The discrete 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 hlm
that he had played at the Colonna palace.
Why should he not play heres
List, cold and lmmovable, answered
briefly, Il will not playr
The Princess was desperate. Her
guess had been brought here by false
hope. In the midst of the general silence
the colloquy became pain VI. A few
charitable souls came to the rescue; a
Urelate interfered. The master was OBJ
stinate. The prettiest women deluged
him with eloquent solicitations and sup
plicating looks. All efforts failed. The
great spirit remained cold, and he de-
clined in a tone cutting andincisive. All
seductions were powerless to move hun.
In the midst of the general dismay, 3
young lady, excited and irritated like ali
the rest, rose and addressed in these
terms the unfortunate mistress of the
house, who sat upon tborns: Dear
Princess, the master has refused us the
great happiness his presence made US
hope for. We cannot hear his divine
pect music, l will, although very un-
worthy, offer my modest assistance. 1
will 90 TO the piano
The stupegction could not have been
greater if one had seen the cupola of St.
Peters perform a fandango. The be-
numbed audience watched curiously the
young woman. Ii was an American, very
gay, very daring, very witty, well-known
for her eccentricities, but a woman of
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
attention. For a while everybody forgot
Liszt for the beautiful eyes of her who
took his place. With the precision of an
hut ha roaig Of nf oh no
preluded brilliantly. But the piece! Oh,
the piece! 1t was parody extra noisy
of the most noisy composition of List.
And what gave plquancy 10 the thing was
that the eXecutante initiated exactly the
method of the master. The notes vibra-
ted more and more under her furious at
tacks; they growled angrily; the hands
ran as if they mad over the electrified
keys. Soon II WAS not only the finger
but the tist which hammered the note. or
perhaps the arm, and even the elbow
struck the ivory in burlesque chords
Tine American lady was no longer
seated-she played standing, her eyes
raised to heaven, the head turned up,
rolling her glances, either swooning or
maddened, about the room, and shaking
herself like an evil spirit. Finally her
hair, shaken as if by Il 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 ike tie master then
painting, exhausted, laid on with al her
foI ce the last hoarse chord and let her
self fall upon the piano stool. apparently
half fainting. The tabouret broke with
a gToan, and at the same moment some
of the strings of the piano cracked under
this last pressure.
Never shall forget the effect of this
joke, doubtful as il was on the whole.
The guests forgot all decOrum, they
writhed with laughter, they held their
sides, they wepr. The thing was so un-
expected. she was so droll, that no one
could check the gayety OF this immense
salon. The good princess could only
follow the tide. And the masters He
grew wan, green and red by turns, and
picked nervonsly at the buttons of his
new cassock. He threw a wandering
glance upon the audience. No one dared
to tx his gaze upon him; they were all
well bred, but they laughed aloud, al
though without mahCo or any intention
OF being insulting or aggressive. Thus
the able was enabled TO gain the door
and glide out without being perceived
The lesson was severe, ] admit, but ii mas
borne fruit Since then one has rarely
seen the abbo List protect himself too
y.h +rr. =, ar,. A 4