The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-11-06
A BOLD AMERICAN GIRL
6URlesoUEs LIST TO HIS FACE,
AND BREAKS THE PIANO STRINGS.


The Able Standing on His dignity
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 Paris jour
nal, may interest your readers. and gives
one very amusing idea Of Liszt's life
in Rome during the pontificate of Plus
TX:
"The familiar card of the Princess X
made one day sudden sensation in social
circles. 1t ran thus: Come and take an
ice with me tomorrow evening We
shall hear Liszt.' Liszt was the god of
the hour. Gossip was busy with his
friendship for Nine. de w. 1t was said
that the lady had extracted from the cele-
brated pianist the legitimate ratification
OF their affection; that List, quite averse
to marriage, had interposed between his
friend and himself the obtacle of the
sacred engagement to take holy orders.
All wondered at the sudden Investment
Of the artist with clerical vestments, and
curiosity, not entirely Invested Of malice,
was excited, we shall hear Lisztl'
mot one Of the hidden guests failed to
accept the summons of the Princess X.
Old Roman patricians, the foreign colony,
English, Americans. the corps diplo-
matique, officers Of the pontifical 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.
10 1t oppaoro1 Tha 1ono, h1ooly ,ol,e
became well his tall, thin kgure He
wore 1t 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 IL in church.
One feared to disturb the repose of the
lion. The evening advanced, and still the
muster had not approached the grand
Erard which stood open for him. The
Princess x. at last decided to solicit him
to play. The guests breathlessly awaited
the hoped-for pleasure; they placed them
>slves 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 placs at the piano.
The princess insisted; she reminded him
that he had played at the Colonna palace.
Why should he not play herep
"Liszt, cold and immovable. answered
briefly, Il will not playr 4
"The princess was desperate. Her guests
had been brought here by false hope. In
the midst of the general silence the col
hoquy became painful. A few charitable
souls came to the rescue; prelate inter
fered. The master was obstinate. The
prettiest women deluged 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 incisiye. All seductions were
ppwerless to move him
sin the midst of the general dismay, G.
young lady, excited and irritated like all
the rest, rose and address ed 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, al
though very unworthy, offer my modest
assistance. will go to the piano
"The stupefaction could not have been
greater IL one had seen the cupola of
st. Peters perform fandango The be-
numbed audience watched curiously the
goang woman. 1t was an American, very
gay, very daring, very witty, we'll known
for her eocentricities, 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 wondering atten-
ton. For while everybody forgot Liszt
for the beautiful eyes of her who took his
place. With the precision of an artistic,
but the mischief of a child, she preludod
brilliantly. But the piece Oh, the
piecel 1t was a parody extra noisy of the
most noisy composition of Liszt 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 II they were mad over the cleo
tritied keys Soon it 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 glances, either swooning or
maddened, about the room, and shaking
herself like an evil spirit. Finally, her
hair, shaken as If by whirlwind,
ESCAPED from the comb and fell In a sheet
about her shoulders. She interrupted her
play, raising herself with a gesture
toward her forehead, exactly like the
master. then painting, exhausted, laid Oh
with all her force the last hoarse chords,
and let herself fall upon the piano stool,
apparently half fainting. The tabouret
broke with groan, and at the same
moment some of the strings of the plano
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.