, 1892-02-27
SHERMAN'S SAGE.
NITsCHKE WAS A PUPIL OF THE
WONDERFUL LISZT.

he Tells Of His Youthful Days in
Listening 20 the Famous Conn
poser and Pianist in Far-Off
Westphalfa.
"Where did you get your musical educa-
tion2" asked TRIBUNE reporter Of F.
Nitschke, the sage of Sherman valley, whose
splendid playing of the piano at the recent
concert, created such sensation.
From Franz Liszt, y was the prompt re-
ply.
Not, the famous composer and pianist ?''
"The same. My father was a Polish
refugee, who settled in Munster, the capital
Of Westphalia, where I was born" Con
tinuing he said: aWhen the old man
List, was still young man, his world
wide fame as a minstrel had conquered the
prejndiees of professional cue-dom, had
won and held against all corners the palm
of new school, he developed and shared
with no one except Wagner. In those days
OF noble rebellion, Of magnificent revolt,
political, musical and social, the old or
rather then young man, Franz Liszt, played
in my poor fathers humble piano factory,
a one-horse concern whose stock amounted
on an average to no morethan a half dozen
pianos, mostly squares, an upright or two
and only one concert grand, which latter
ne could not sell because the denizens of
Munster were not rich enough to indulge
in the luxury. This concert grand.
List selected for his first recital
in the ancient and magnificent historical
salon OF the Munster Rath house or coun-
Gil chambers. AT that time Liszt was at
fa tF7in a1e, g1oSf-
grand Tor hours at time, and l, about six
years old-father and mother not permit
ting me to disturb the great artist-wouId
steal into an adjoining bedroom that com
munlcated with the music room bva small.
| high, old fashioned window; at least 1T
seemed very high to me at that time, I
cOuldn It reach it on tiptOe, but could
climb and stand on the foot end of a clum-
! sy old bedstead and looking through the
window, l Chuekled to think how COM
pletely had stolen march upon my
mother. Here, without money without
price, / secured my first impressibIe music
lesson, and was rewarded with a kiss from
4 the great man himself, who, with beads Of
sweat upon his forehead after a terrific
heroic performance, turned around and
spled m in the window. He laughed all
! over with his grand, iron face and pulled
me bodily through the window and set me
on his knee Alas! MY victory was of
The music having stopped, familiar
voices sounded the alarm; they were hunt
/ ing me all over the house, and / had reason
to fear. But the great minstrel, my guardian
angel pro tenn interposed the flash OF his
flaming eyes; and father and mother were
proud to stand off in awe of that face and
figure; he had taken my part, that settled
4 it, was free to stay with him. The soul
OF child is fearfulIy and wonderfully
madel My great guardian angel appear
ing but once upon the humble scene Of nv
work-a-day life had set his image upon nav
heart. I WoTshipped him as only children
are privileged to worship, as heroes wor-
ship heroes. All children are born
4 heroes; if they fail of true fruition,
with whom is the responsibility? IF our
| physicians tremble to answer from consid-
erations the most kind, most gentle most
4 generous and humane, / may be excused
! for bowling heart and head to their superior
i judgment. How many times have Wor-
! shipped the minstrel hero enshrined in my
heart. How many times drenched my
straw pillow with tearsi How many times
4 walked this humble planet in foreign
lands stranger among strangers NO.
4 that We're ungratefui Papa Lfszt had pro-
v1ded me with a magic key to open the
4 doors oil novels, of prisons, of hospitals and
4 palaces To share al viii the fare of pluto
cratic princes, or If that fare were luxury,
contemplate. Papa List had shown ME
how to appreciate and share the sweet and
tear-stained crust of the children Of the
poor OF all lands and languages"