The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-10

picturesque perhaps than the head and
face of any celebrity of the day, not ex-
cepting Tolstoi, who, it has been well
said, resembles humanized lion, what
ever that may be. Rubinstein's face
is leonine. His forehead is broad
and massive. His complexion is
swarthy. His eyes are small and seem
to pierce the very soul of the beholder.
They are overshadowed by thick brows.
His shock OF black hair has scarcely been
touched with gray. His face is scanned
with thought. In word, he looks like a
robust man in the prime of life, man
who has been profound student and
thinker, as well as O great lover of outdoor
exercise.
And yet Rubinstein has been before the
public as piano player for fifty-three
years, and that is very long time for any
one person to stand in the garish light of
public life. He began his career when
only years of age, and he confidently tells
his friends that he is good for a score
more years of service yet. 1t has
been given to few men or women
either, for that matter, to have the sue
cesses that have made Rubinstein's life
memorable. His early career was one of
trouble. not unmixed with poverty. He
has made many fortunes and given a great
deal of money to the poor of his own coun-
try. He went to Vienna. Moscow and St.
Petersburg only recently to play for
charity for the Russian peasants, who are
starving, and the price of seats rose to fab
ulous sums. Not one penny of this money
did he keep fer himself 1t all went to
those who were dying for bread His
genius has been recognized in every land.
lie has no rival as pianist. He is q
virtuoso. whose reign is absolute; a conf
poser, who has done excellent work; in
fact, a man who has left no field in
music unexplored. He has been decorated
many times by the crowned heads and
notabilities of the old world. He has n
large box filed with decorations, many of
them of priceless value. Blu. Rubinstein
cares little for these. In Russia he is a
commander of the Order of Vladimir. In
France he is knight of the Legion of
Honor. In Germany he is knight of the
Crown of Prussia. In Spain he is Don
Antonio. In Sweden he may wear the
cross of Gustavus, and in Denmark the
Order of Daanbrog. These are only his
great decorations, the list of the others it
would be hard to give, for Rubinstein has
valued such things so lightly that he could
not himself say off-hand Just what orders
he is entitled to wear.
A visitor to the home of the great master
the other day found him seated at his
WIRING
script lying here, newspapers and maya
zines there. writing materials, pens, blot
tiers, a cigarette case and ash tray, all in
delightful confusion on the table. The
table had been placed between two win
dows, so that the sunlight did not strike
his face but yet gave him plenty of light,
for his eyes are not strong. Above the
table hung q charming picture of the
pianist as 4 young man, seated at the
pianoforte, while around him were The
various great personages who had been
listening 10 him that day, whose photo
graph had been taken in the drawing
room of the Grand Duchess Helene. The
room where he sat was most comfortable,
vet artistic in its decorations and arrange
ment. There was something in the very
atmosphere that would have made q
stranger, not knowing in what room he
was, feel that he was in the presence of a
genius. Rubinstein is a very approach
able man. He wheeled around in his
chair, deity lighted cigarette, offered his
visitor another, and settled himself back
for a talk. He first of all inquired eagerly
about the news of the day and then, when
reference was made to his probable visit TO
America, candidly replied: II do not
know yet. Ny health is very good and /
may decide to go. L cannot say"
The conversation turned at once to
musical matters, and somehow hereditary
genius came to be discussed. | asked
Rubinstein if he considered his genius an
inheritance. Unequivocally he replied no,
except as a certain musical instinct NAV
be said to be the common heritage of the
entire Jewish race.
Rubinstein then went on to tell me that
his father had no taste or talent for music
of any kind, and had marked out for his
son the career of provincial merchant.
HIS mother, however, loved music and
was clever amateur pianist. 1t was
from her that Rubinstein received his first
instruction, and this when he was but s
years of age. The family had moved to
Moscow, and there the child was placed as
q pupil of Villoing, q Frenchman by