Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-13
Ter to eleven, but was sorry when he left off.

ter to eleven, but was sorry when he left off.
never saw more delighted audience, and
what number of fastidious and blase amar
sional people, some of whom doubtless came
to oarpl
Grieg, whom you may perhaps have seen
In London, is about the height of Louis
Blanc, who was the height of Theirs, who
was the height of Napoleon. who was the
height of the late Earl Russell, who, having
been five feet two, was little taller than her
majesty. He may be forty, is fair, with
curly hair that is silvered at the temples,
and which is good deal shaken when he
marks in quick, jerking mods the forte pas
sages that he plays. In these bars the fin.
gers come down with short, crisp touches OF
extraordinary strength, muscles being moved
no higher than the knuckles, Grieg in
forte passages beats Saint -Saens, or even Ru-
binstein, and in the rest none but himself
could be his parallel.
The little great msn (for he is a genius)
has unlocked, to give to the world, the
treasures of Morse song-lore and of the
primitive music of Norway. His "Werke"
take ones breath away by their freshness,
pungsnt originality, variety, and at times
deep sentiment-quite unlike any kind of
musical sentiment we are used to. In the
symphony in B minor he gave proof of
strength of wing and sustaining power.
Anything more delightful in its Wild fresh-
ness and originality than "a Norwegian Bri-
dal Party Driving Through the Mountains"
never heard.
Grieg looks peculiar and 30 does his wife.
He has, in walking across the stage, Q self
assured and concentrated manner. Thinking
out his "Werke," and many other things to
boot, has set a stamp of meditation on him.
He is not unlike Rangabe, who was for many
years Greek minister here, and who thought
more of his poetry than of his diplomacy.
Grieg and his wife are free from posture,
genuine, and, of the stage, simple as a pair
Of children. She has smile and . glance
bespeaking @ wish for universal propitiation.
As singer of the Morse songs he has set to
music she is matchless. Did you ever hear
a prima donna, save Jenny Lind, carol q
competitive style spoil them for this kind of
vocal music.
I own to having been little startled when
Nine. Nina Grieg came on the stage to so-
company her husband In a Duet Imagine q
concert singer free from all the convention
alities of "the profession;" without a bou-
quet, tree from paint, Indifferent to crows
feet, with cropped head Of hair, brushed
any way, and high bodied brown silk
dress, enlivened somewhat by necklace and
a large pendant of fligree, made in the Nor
ersntial courtesy to the sudience--the very
same, am sure, that she dropped to the
queen of Sweden-glanced around at her
husband and then began to sing. After q
few bars felt like crying. Goa est!" She
went straight to ones soul. Her eyes got ell
oquent, her retrousse nose took delightful
piquancy, and the delicacy, the purity, the
pathos that she infused into her song were
beyond all praise. She was given up to the
song, and did not trouble herself about Nina
Grieg or how she looked, or what people
thought of her. Every verse was enthusiast
tically applauded, and whenever there was
applause she dropped her court courtesy.
Frank Birds Wonder Removed.
Here is an incident, says "Templeton" in
the Hartford Courant, which illustrates what
term the better days of politics. am re-
minded of it by the fact that tho chief actor
in it has just died. Frank Bird tells the
story. It occurred in the period when Mr..
Bird was active in the republican political
machine of the state. An attorney general
was to be nominated in a state convention.
Mr. Bird had his candidate. He had count
ed noses among the delegates and was entire
ly assured that this candidate WAS to be sue
there was no choice, and to Mr.. Birds con.
sternation another candidate led his own
The hour was late, and in the usual hurry Of
the delegates to get away the motion wal
made that the candidate with the highest
number of votes be declared the nominee
and it was easily carried. Mr.. Bird wen1
home not only ohagrined, but puzzled
''How could have made such a mistaken
said he to himself. Some months after,
meeting one of the committee who counted
the votes. he opened his heart to him. 81
can't understand to this day why Griffin was
not nominated" said Mr.. Bird. "Well, ]
can" replied the committeeman with cyni-
cal frankness. 81 carried one of those bal
lot boxes from the hall to the counting
| room, and on the way I stuffed in a handful
of votes and said they were all counted.
Mr.. Birds perplexities were removed. HI
wondered no Longer. I should say, in JUS
tice to Mr.. Reed [Ohester I. Reed of Taun
toni, the successful candidate, that he knew
nothing about this. He was one of the mos
honorable Of men.