Omaha daily bee., 1888-03-25
A BRILLIANT AMERICAN. GIRL.
Miss Neatly Stevens, the Well
Known Pianist.
A FAvoRlTe PUPIL OF LlszT
Bfementoes of the Maestro Which Are
Treasured by HIS American
Pupil-Pecuiiarities OF the
Great Instructor.

Chicago Herald: A large room, with
a great, sunny bay-window hung with
Japanese draperies. Walls covered
with pictures, chiefly photographs of
Liszt in every pose Imaginable. An
enormous Chickering strewn with music
In delightful disarray. A big jar of
jacquemiuot roses on the mantel catches
your eye next. Then, from low chair
by the open fire place, there rises n
charming vision--a plump, fair little
maiden, with masses of soft, silten,
blonde hair piled high off the graceful
head. The dainty tea gown OF pale
blue surah. with bewildering mass OF
lace and India silk drapery, reveals a
well-rounded, shapely figure, the open
neck and sleeves show the whitest
throat and arms in the world, and the
hand she extends to you in greeting is
as Adelina said of 1.-THE hand Of an
artist"-pliable, creamy, and with a
cunning dimple in every knuclile. Such
is Neatly Stevens, one of Chicago's best
known and most brilliant pianistes.
She was pupil Of Liszt-a real, truly
pupil--not like those people OF sublime
nerve who having played once for the
great master, and having been tolerated
by him, then went forth to the world
X
announced themselves as pupils of
Liszt." No, Miss Stevens was for two
years genuine, bona fide pupil of the
great maestro. And, moreover,
highly cherished friend. She has re-
markable collection of notes written by
him and other souvenirs of that great
genius. She went to Germany a little,
unknown American girl, longing to
approach the consecrated ground, but
not knowing how. Sadly disappointed
by the non-appearance OF musical
friend who was to present her to the
MASTER" she felt she should have to re-
tire from Weimar baffled, when an
American lady who happaned to know
Liszt said to her: ''It's q shame that
you should miss all that might come to
you If once he heard you play" and
forthwith, with woman's skill, contrived
plan. There were two ancient spin
sters who were devoted to Liszt, and
who were in the habit of giving little
Sunday afternoon receptions for him,
at which sometimes he would conde
scend to play himself, sometimes to
listen to others. So it was at one of
was presented to List, and with fear
and trembling played before him.
"He evidently expected little from
me-" she SAID laughingly, "for he told
me when l had finished that he was sur
prised at my rendition of the heavy
Bach selection had made. From that
day he took me quite under his wing.
was with him two years. Not only was
invited again and again to play before
him but he admitted me to the privil
eyes OF his friendship I was often
hidden to dine and sup with him and his
friends Often, too, have 1 risen before
1u u1yli irb 1y,on iaI hi m IN ar1x
mass and then home with him for q
breakfast of eggs and honey. I really
think should have changed my reli-
gion and become Romanist save that I
should have missed hearing him call
me in delicious abuse 'the little Ameri-
can heretic.' What a wonderful nature
was his. Bright and sunny himself, he
wished only cheerful and happy faces,
bright colors, young people, flowers and
music about him. He detested gloom
and abominated ugly faces and dark
gowns. He was generous to prodigal-
ity and of a singularly devout and spir-
in passion, but when angry he was
like an aroused lion, and woe to the first
person who crossed his track. l rem
ember once when something had oc-
Cured to specially upset him he vented
his fury upon stupid pupil with the
question. DO you prefer to go out by
the window or the door, madamoi-
selleT"
sWas he really so fascinating to
women?" asked.
"Yes, though the stories of his amours
have been terribly exaggerated. OF
course, the Vichenstein affair was we'll
known, but great deal of the rest has
been idle gossip. Liszt had very ca
ressing way with women. He used to
kiss his favored pupils on the bangs,
and" running her fingers through her
fluffy fringe, Il can tell you / used to
keep mine we'll perfumed, but kiss on
the brow from Liszt meant no more than
a handshake from many men. AS to
kissing him--why, you couldn't find a
place for the lovely big warts all over
his face. This was his pet" pointing to
gigantic one over his right eyebrow,
"and he used to push up his glasses and
rest one side on this wart. Then pic
ture him, if you can, with his long, thin
lips curled upward in his sardonic
smile~.the effect was unearthly, fiend-
ish, but altogether fascinating. His
sarcasm was fine and cool and his wit
subtitle. A Leipsic critic of the Schu-
man and Mendelssohn school, being
with him one day, admired the playing
of pupil, and chiefly ccmplimented
MIN on tne skill ne SnOWeu IN pldylnH u
difficult piece without notes. The Leip-
sic critics always nettled Liszt, and he
replied, with supreme contempt, 'Ho,
that's nothing; we never use notes
here"
but must show you my treasures
my souvenirs. Let me see; shall / ad-
init yout to my holy of holies?n said this
animated young woman as she disap-
peared behind a screen with mysteri-
Gus air.
Upon my assuring her that / was
ready TO put the shoes from off my feet,
il it'were necessary, so that might be-
hold these cherished relics, she came
forward with divers boxes and caskets,
which she touched with reverence and
looked upon with the rapt face of one
who sees occult visions. She possesses
sixteen different portraits of List, on
the back of several of which there are
Inscriptions in his hand, one of which
reads:
TO Miss Neatly Stevens, in most friendly
attachment (anhanglichkeit. f. LIszT
She has notes of commendation and
introdu ction and invitation innumera-
BILE, one she especially values being a
note of introduction to the late DR..