The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-02
APOIIIMARlS.

toms Of the madness. Women rushed
forward and threw themselves against
the stage, leaning as far over as possible,
and added languishing looks to their APP
plause as an incentive for the idol to APP
prOach. But he cOyly retreated; and was
again hidden behind the stage exit door.
Then the audience redOUbled its ap-
plause, and again the pianist came few
steps out on the stage and presented a
view of the top of his head. Thereat the
people, not being able sufficiently TO re
press their feelings by clapping of gloved
hands, began cheering.
Paderewski cast his eyes sOulfully to-
ward the ceiling, made timid step to-
ward the piano, and then the audience
wholly lost its senses. Every one in the
house stood up, many waved handker-
chiefs, and all screamed
The sight was as remarkable as the
sound. The dense crowd in the great
parquet, the two tiers of boxes, and
above them the dress circle, and still
above that, merging into the shadows of
the lofty building, the balcony, were
packed with people standing and waving
clouds of handkerchiefs.
Paderewski walked slowly to the piano
and stopped to pick up a bunch Of violets
woman had torn from her belt and
thrown on the stage. Then he sat down
at the piano, struck one soft cord, and the
empty.
He played one of Memberships songs
without words, arose, bowed, and again
the house was in an uprOar. Every woman
within range of the stage pelted the
pianist with flowers, and then made
violent efforts apparently to throw her
self on the stage, too. Paderewski
backed off, making continuous display
OF the top Of his head, but even that had
no effect in ouiptiOu the lluroar
Three more times he came out and
bowed, and he again walked to the piano.
The house again became instantly quiet,
but when he had played a few notes, and
it was known that he was favOring his
wOrshipers with his own minuet, the
most popular thing he has played, there
was another short, sharp cheer. He was
cheered off the stage and cheered on,
just as before.
1t was then ten minutes after the re-
cital programme had been finished, but
not person had left the hall. The
demonstration was continued with in
creasing vigor until for the third time he
returned to the piano. This time he
played Chopin's waltz in A fiat, and his
playing, as well as his manner, showed
that he was excited and exhausted.
But the audience was in an emotional
fit. The cheering and excitement con-
tinued until Paderewski had twice more
appeared on the stage and bowed, and
then, when after a long wait it was ap-
parent that he would not come back again
the audience slowly left the hall
Not all of it. There is a passageway on
the east side of the hail which leads to
the stairway running up to the dressing
rooms and Walter Damrosch's private
Office. Some women, probably not more
| than hundred, knew of this, and they
soon were crowded on the stairs and the
landing, which is directly in front of the
| room where Paderewski dressed. He
was called out before he had his hat or
| overcOat on, and then the "Twenty love-
| sick maidens-BunthOrne" scene was en-
acted. Women, ranging in age from 10 to
so, surrounded the man, shook hands,
begged for his autographs on
| photographs they had of him, wished him
''bon voyage begged him to return soon,
and talked German and French at the
! now half hysteriCal pianist; left him. to
| return for another word or another hand
/ clasp; sighed, giggled laughed, cried
! posed, languished. He kissed the hands
/ of some, not with the ordinary polite
! pretense of kiss, but with the warm,
resounding kiss that made those who
were not so favored glare horribly at
! those who were. His agent finally dragged
! him into his dressing room, and then hur-
ried him out by the F'ifty-sixth street
! entrance, where his carriage was stand
! ing.
! There crowd of women who had not
known of the dressing room scene were
| waiting, and had been waiting for half an
| hour for one more brief glimpse of him