Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-19
AOEE-ARuED PIANIST.
The Astonishing Musical Genius Of
Count Geza Zicby.

Count Geza Ztcby.
Count Zichy has only one arm, and
is the greatest living pianist, with the
sole exception, perhaps, of his country
man and teacher, Able Franz Liszt.
The Count was born in Hungary in
lS49, and from childhood eyinced a
marked taste for music and poetry.
When boy he made verses and played
on the violin. lie imagined that he
saw visions, and even composed sere-
nades for them. His father placed him
under the care Of a music-teacher, but be
did not make much progress. AT last
the teacher visited the father and sadly
remarked ." That boy Of yours has an
excellent right hand, but his left will
never amount to anything Never
was a prophecy more strikingly falsl-
fed. When fourteen years of age the
Count lost his right arm by an accident
while hunting. His physicians forbade
him pursuing any physical or intellec-
tual work for some time after the am-
putation. The Count chaled under this
enforced inactivity for time, and final
" one day he handed his tutor a sealed
note with instructions not to open it for
a year. The note when opened read As
follows: If within year from this
date | cannot do with my left hand
everything that other people do with
both hands / will blow my brains out
The young Count set to work reio
lutely to carry out his resolve. lie re-
fused TO eat any meatunless it were cut
with his own hand, or any fruits unless
he peeled them himself, and he even let
his nails grow till he could pare them.
At the end of three months he was able
to drive his horses, handle the oar,
fence ike an athlete, and hunt Ike a
Nlmrod. He soon resumed his musical
exercises, but was compelled to substl-
tute the piano for the violin. Mean
time be studied law and devoted a pnr-
tion Of his spare hours to light literl-
ture. lie was fond Of the theatre, and
wrote four comedies, which were played
at a theatre in Buda-Pesth. and pub
lished several romances and two small
volumes Of lyric poems.
One day the famous Able List heard
the one-armed youth practicing on the
piano alone in his room. The master
listened for a time with rapt attention,
ard then stealing on tiptoe TO the boys
presence. stopped down and kissed him
on the forehead, exclaiming: Young
man, you will be without a rival. Tu
Marcellus eris." Xichy at once became
Lists pupil and remained under the
instruction Of the great master foT SIX
years. List taught his pupil to
substitute his thumb for the right hand
in playing the piano. Bat the mas
ter afterwards declared that he did not
then dream his pupil would ever sue
ceed in executing the chromatic scale,
or making tiger bounds Of five and SIX
octayes by the use Of his thumb"
After his six years practice under
List, Count Itchy entered on his pub
lie career. His first appearance was at
Vienna. where the celebrated critic
TIandschilick exclaimed, after hearing
him: Many people play the piano ;
some delight us with it, but Itchy en-
chants" The Count has never received
any remuneration from his per-
formances. They are given in the cause
of charity, and he has travelled over
all Europe in his philanthrOpic mission.
lie has realized hundreds Of thousands
Of dollars for the poor Of sll countries.
A lady, referring to Count Iichy's in.
trinity, exclaimed one day in the hear
ing of List "The poor man How
pity him !" "Pity him :" replied the
master; not at all, madame but his
piano is to be pitied, and the people
who never heard him play it still more
so." The Count is a capital shot, and
has been the victor in three duels.