The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-22

Xxx - able In the produc-
NV ton of new must
programme it was agreed to begin work on a
chorus and to secure subscriptions for a must.
Cal library. One of the most pleasant features
OF the afternoon was an address delivered by
Mrs. +. A. Churchill on the personal recolec-
lions OF Franz List, with whom she spent an
entire summer. Mrs. Churchill said:
Yes, during one whole blessed summer, every
day or every other day, have seen Liszt, been
with him and spoken to him. He was one OF the
great of the earth-his fame has gone to all
countries and to all people. His genius lived
on the heights where few only are permitted
by God to dwell, but his SPIRIT 50 kind and
gentle. lived below with us in the valley; That
one summer-my summer-it lived in Weimar,
In the quaint, simple house on the Marien-
strasse, where the windows look out on the
beautiful Weimar park. There, with helping
words and many a tender deed known only to
one or two. II guided young, upward-strtving
| PILGRIMS on their way. Beyond all, wish l
might impress upon you the great loyingness
df you will allow me to coin the word for this
occasion) OF Lszt's spirit. Hundreds OF incl
dents throughout his life illustrate this intense
| love toward all humanity, which dweit within
him and which permeated all he created and
played-all he lived suffered and believed. It
rounded his works aud life into one great
harmony which solved all dissonances known to
our art. What the sympathy OF this man meant
| to SO many, you will understand when you
know that all the years of his artist life, till the
| year OF his death, he spent hours nearly every
day helping young musical students OF taent
who came to him as to q father, from all over
the world. Nothing did they dare to offer, for
this gift of his valuable time aud genius was as
free as sunlight 1t shone upon the righteous
and often upon the unrighteous too. Only the
benedction OF these young hearts was his por-
ton, and wherever they have wandered in later
life, some OF them to the ends of the earth, they
will call blessings on his N. m0ry until life Tor
them has also ceased
The names of the great works he composed,
and which will live as long as humanity has
nup IN hnap fha hon iftt non nm
in books or they are known to you already, and
how wondrously he PLAYED and now he knew
to touch the ivory keys SO that the very soul OF
music lay bare 70 your heart; you have all heard
about II again and again, and II not, could not
tell you, for those fingers are still in death, and
words can never re-create their magic. "Oh!
for the touch OF . vanished handP But with
his writings Imust dwell Q little. 1t may not
be known to you all that List was great and
recognized writer upon all kinds OF musical
TOPICS. and that his writings have been trans
lated into many different tongues, but true to
that loving nature OF which have spoken, he
used this great gift most freely for the needs and
advancement of brother artists. When his
warm heart was stirred to OVERLOOKING with gal
and admiration for the at that time poor and
unknown Wagner. or Chopin's melodies filled
all his soul with RAPTURE. then the pen In his
fingers became imbued with the magic OF those
fingers, and. a. pearls dropping from rosary,
the sentences fell resplendeat with imagery
and fervent with feeling. With never a thought
Of self or envy other great artists have SO
often shown, he lifted tine young Hercules,
% t. as ms Of sss wSTs
from which the other might reach the crown OF
undying renown. Also one OF the many proofs
OF his great generosity would l mention. When
the Beethoven monument project in Bonn was
lan~uishing for want OF money, only 600 francs
having been subscribed, List, with holy indig-
nation, wrote to the committee. II will pledge
$4,000 francs, il you will allow me to appoint the
great sculptor BartolIni, OF Florence, as artist
for the monument" hundred deeds like
nf financial m ira
recorded Of him. and the good acts he did in
secret are countless
But now will you 60 back with me to that one
consecrates me to myself was the youngest
in more senses than one, in the charmed circle
that gathered around the "mei,ter," rs We all
called him. dear friend OF his and mine, the
Countess Won Myendorf, had invited me to meet
him-the great one-at her house at dinner and
then to play for him. How 1t 10 all present again
to mel the sitting next to him at table, then the
large MUSHROOM with two grand pianos in 1t,
one OF which had just been sent to List from
the trembling fingers and then the meister so
kindly taking my hand In his and leading me to
the new instrument, seated himself and looked
up 10 me with a smile, such a smile as would
reassure a little. lonely baby soul about to enter
eternity. "First I will try the Flugel and you
shall tell me how you like it; then you viii
kindly play and can judge OF the tone" And
90 it came to pass that / was chosen and could
live in his presence hours, day after day.
have here some little flowers which were
story and it is this: One beautiful summer
evening after recital at the piano the meister
proposed a walk in the park. We all gladly as
| scented and soon under the green trees we were
wandering. List in advance with saremski.
| Max Primer and walking next. In childish
way, was very young then, pictured to my
| around some rare flowers, List as the sun and
| Us all as his satellites and planets.
According to their musical magnitude
| ranked the scholars. Saremski. of course, was
Marcury
Max Primer asked me then. "But what planet
are your 81? Well let me see, being here
west, smallest OF the asteroids, thousands of
| which go to make one such good sized planet
| you are. Mr.. Pinner." The meister must have
| overheard this little conversation for the next
| morning his valet came to our house and
brought me a lovely bouquet of flowers with
this verbal message from his master: "Lisz.
sends these children OF the sun to his little
| asteroid. Martha Blanca"
Another little story would like to tell you,
which also happened in my summer. young
composer from the south of Germany came to
Weimar to obtain Leszt's opinion as to the mer-
its of his compositions When he arrived there
his courage failed him. and after spend ng some
DAYS walking by the meister's windows, he
finally gave up in despair and was about to re-
turn home without speaking with Liszt But
| before he went he decided he must just touch
| the master once. So he let LISTS housekeeper
into the secret a dear old lady with heart al
| most as big as her masters She advised him to
stand behind the door at the foot of the stair
out his hand a. the meisteF went by and so gain
the privilege he Gravel. The plan was carried
out by the young enthusiast, but as the timid
hand came forth, Liszt, W no was informed OF it
a l. caught il, and with il the young composer.
He took him up to his rooms. looked over his
compositions: interested himself in every way
for his advantage, and so male the poor, bash
full, young musician from the South the hap
piest man In the world.
And now IL is lett 10 me to tell you how my
wonderful summer came to an end. One beau
tful but sad morning IN September l went tor
| the lsst time TO Liszt's house. My nearest way
there was through the park, aud 30 came TO
| the entrance of his house which faced the gar
den. As I approached saw Lszt sitting on a
| bench close to his door, deep in thought and
alone Quietly stood there awhile aud the
tears were in my eyes for 10 me it was the last
time Il was farewell TO him, to my summer,
| TO Weimar aud much beside. Then he looked
un '.Ah. it IL the little Blanca he liked to
| call me; land today ! 60 away and We all go
| heart is sorrowful about it" Then gently rs-
| ing he laid my hand in his aud walked
with me TO a bed of late roses which were bloom
ing in undimi nished splendor there. Piesing
pretty words, how the rosebuds were nay sisters
and should console me. Then ne asked, saw hat
book 10 this?" for carried book in my hand.
Ii was a birthday book. Just as ! was leaving
my home A friend TO whom | had gwen IL TO
write in had brought 1t TO me aud was carry
ing il. was Is, aud We all do that sort of thing
at>that age. You know now II is. told Liszt
| the purpose OF the book De smiled, took
pen il from his pocket and asked me, ''Shsii
write in il" Did answer? Was il necessary
| I think not IL was IN my eyes. Musingiy he
openei it, saying, Lei me see: what day Is this
| the llth day of september" Then he turned to
the page, read the little inscription at the top,
and wrote, "Auf wedersehen."
Alter that day I never saw him again. and
prsy that there may be Tor me an Auf Wieder-
sehen.
The n-ov-sume in detail was a. foIlovs.