The morning call., 1893-09-02
A CRAZY GENIUS.
Herr Strauss Fight at a
Ballad Concert.
w. CAMPBELL HIS OPPONENT.
A SIugging Match Between a Pianist
of European Reputation and
WeII-known Basso.

The people who bought tickets for Alfred
Wilkes grand inaugural ballad concert
last evening in Golden Gate Hall little
dreamed that a pugilistic encounter would
be thrown into the programme gratis.
Such was the case. however. and some of
the beholders were heard to remark, cheer
fully. That's a whole lot of fun for
dollar
To tell the truth, Alfred Wilkie had as
little idea as any one else of the innovation
that was 10 be made in the programme.
When be arrived at the hall and found
the the firm which had tastefully adorned
that programmes with advertisements OF a
particular brand OF pianos had neglected
to send the promised sample along he felt
ruttied. Even then, however. be never
guessed to what results the unpuGctuality
0t the piano people was to lead.
Alfred Wilkis made neat little address,
expressing regret az the caTelessness of
the piano firm, after which an upright
grand was hauled upon the platform by six
stalwart men amid the applause of the au-
dience.
But the calm was deceptive.
Hail, Smiling Morn" was pleasingly
sung by eight charming young ladies aud
as many valiant male singers, and still no
one in the audience scented battle in the
air. The next item on the programme was
Theme varie." piano solo 10 be rendered
by Henry Strauss, musician who is said
TO possess European reputation.
Instead of the pianist, Alfred Wilkie
appeared on the platform, and announced
that Mr. Strauss positively refused 10 touch
the upright grand. even TO accompany the
| singers; II. ). PasmOre, however would
kindly accompany. Then Alfred Wilke
sang, although his heart WAS heavy, for lie
heard that the pianist OF European reputa-
tion was raging furi0usly in the green
I room.
Warm applause greeted Alfred Wilkes
efforts. and the air was still ringing with
il when wild. weird figure burst on the
platform and began to harangue the audi
ehce fraDticaliy. Every one guessed that
/ this man with diSheveled yelluw hair and
garing eyes must be the gifted Herr
/ Strauss but whether he was talking his
native tongue or Chinese people could not
! for few minutes make out.
At last, however, they began to make
! out; " Paderewski practice five month,
/ ], ;" with an impassionate gesture. 81 learn
/ IN three week" Then he pointed to the
/ piano and gnashed his teeth, shrieking
( fiercely, Il play that! MOI n0p' 1t was
/ evident the gifted Herr was telling people
/ his own superiority TO PaderewskI, ana
| his Scorn at being asked to play upon the
upright grand.
Tie worst OF the Herr was that like
/ Tennyson'S brook he wanted TO 90 on for
ever. People began to litter, then 10 laugh,
/ applaud and even hiss The more demon
stra;ive the audience grew. the more the
/ wild, weird Herr shouted and brandished
/ his arms, hurting defaDces at every one
generally.
4 At last Walter c. Campbell walked on
/ the stage and mildly but firmly remOn-
| strated with the eccentric genius. Findi NJ
/ this of no use, he took him by :he arm and
/ led him toward the greenrOom. Then Ine
/ pianist turned, like lion at bay. He
D N,le lNo1l Il
struck him. furiously shrieking, You!
| ! on are one Eugiishman.
People who mad never dreamed of see
ing pugiiistic encounter IN their lives
sat spellbound, wondering who would be
killed. A few delighted youths called out,
Time for the secOud round!'
But happily Walter Campbell knows
something Of the noble art OF self-defense,
though be probably never expected to
exercise 1t on concert platform, before
fashionable audience. He proved quite
match for the excited Herr, pro badly be-
cause he kept cool, and only acted On the
! defensive. The combatants seemed averse
TO mixing things, and were evidently not
! good al short-armed fight
Aftrr the first sound Walter Campbell
| retired. probably out of res pect for the
/ feelings of the audience, and the Herr,
| flushed with victory. began to take up his
/ haraDgue with fresh energy. Then Alfred
! WIlkle. more in sorrow than in anger, at
| tempted to demonstrate, but Herr Strauss
/ pointed ma les Iically to the door.
/ The possessed genius remained master
/ of the field and brought his speech to a
/ close when he felt like 1t. Then lie retired
! and Ii. b. Pasmore made little speech TO
! the effect that as Mrs. MarriueT-C Campbell
4 did not care to appear Immediately after
| 1.-The late entertainment" the triple quar-
! tet would sing next. The plucky singers
! were naturally awarded q well-deserved
! ovation.
| And then, to every ones surprise, Mrs.
Mariner Campbell came on the plat
form, followed by Herr Strauss. But 1t
! was not the same Herr Strauss. Crest
! fallen and humiliated, he looked like the
kackdaw of Rheims bringing back the
/ ring. By what spell had Mrs. Campbell
tanned MIN? The Herr positively justified
! his European reputation by the way he
| spanked the piano in his accompaniment
! to that song
But the greatest surprise was when Wal
ter c. Campbell gave The Miller of the
! Dee" Strauss played for him and before
! the song the two late cOmbatants shook
! hands, and the Herr gave his recent
enemy beautiful pink rose. After that
! all was peace and goodwill.
Genius Will be crazy sometimes. and all
/ those present fOrgaYe Strauss because he
i had made them laugh. But the audience
went home with a warm feeling of ad-
miratiOn for the other artists. One and all
they bravely held the fort, never showing
q trace of i'll humoT nor impatience.
The entertainment was an excellent
one, and if the piano-maker had kept hack
! the instrument with malice aforethoueht
| he could not have taken a better means of
raising Alfred Wilkie and the other sing
| ers In the estimation OF the people who at
| tended the ballad concert.