The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-08-12

is his official title If he could do as his
fancy prompted him, he would invite ev-
cry visitor at once to take hold of a cue
and play game of billiards with him,
thus preventing all the annoyances of a
stlI-dragg1ng conversation. But as So
cal manners cannot always be dispensed
WIN IN TINS cordial fashion, he leaves
the entertainment of his guests to his
wife, moving about nervously himself
and only now and then taking part in the
conversation, :, Here is a gentleman who
like to play his Gypsy Baron in some
provincial town, third who begs him to
take part In charity concert-he listens
patlenLiy 10 every argument, but is visi-
matters into her hands and politely ar
ranges them as she finds best, from long
experience. When the visitor retires
strauss generally returns, either to the
piano, the billiard or the tarock table.
The piano is naturally his favorite re-
sort 1t stands in his Holy of Holes, -
remote corner of the house. into which
only friends are allowed to penetrate. He
is not obtrusive with his art; he does not
continually hum and whistle the melodies
with which his muse inspires him, and is
therefore much averse to all professional
curiosity. Reporters would not stand
very good chance with him. His best
productions have been composed in the
silence of night. Those who meet him in
in him. He is an old-fashioned Viennese
bourgeois from head to foot, jovial, good
and light-hearted, a little critical, harm
less in conversation, painfully fastidious
in his appearance, and very polite and
chivalrous in the society of ladies. Only
his friends are acquainted with his true
character. 1t is maryelouSly fascinating
to watch him engaged in an interesting
debate with some kindred minds on re-
form in dancing for instance, in which
the waltz will play the principal part.
How enthusiastic he grows over his sub
ject. How he pours forth the hnest OBJ
oD6 "A words
with most animated gesticulations! Such
movements, however, are rare; they eX-
haust him and very often after such an
outburst he retires, not to rest but,
strange to say, to draw caricatures of
his friends or of some well-known per-
sonalities. If he were not the king" OF
waltzes, he might have made MS artlstlc
career as caricaturist.
Johann Strauss rarely speaks OF his
works. if he wishes to explain some must
cal difficulty he simply sits down at the
the logic of sounds. Now and then he
utters a clever mot, such as, NO genius
can find his ideas without searching Ior
them" He is no virtuoso on the piano. mo
forte but nobody can play his music IKE
himself, so full of temperament, OF ner-
vous animation, and of rythmical move
rnent; not in the dancing style or MS
brother Edward, but with more dignity
ard tact. He is a man of 60, and yet the
music has preserved him young, merry ana
flexible.
What experiences he he's had ii in o the r his
librettosl How he has thought over tIie
exits and entrances! How he mas quarrel
ed with the libretto writers. who, NE au,
" ord of the text How often was ne de-
ceiyed in his own music! One must near
the recital from his own lips to appreciate
i fully He Is fbs angry While aI Hnf his fingers
glide through his bushy hair and MS lace
reflects every passing emotlon. :.
In the twilight hour, before the gas IS
IT. he likes to sit smoking with. circle
If friends in his billiard rom. telling them
anecdotes of his career; whoever mas Wis
ted one of these informal receptions VII
preserve a pleasant recollection OF IL
through life. A.,
One would suppose, in witnessing the
5oung couples whirl around to the nazes
If Strauss waltZes in the ballroom; or
q hear the enthusiastic applause Whlcn
yreets his comic operas that these meio-
lies would Immediately conquer lne WHORE
world at their appearance, as they haa no
other aim but to please, to 6r1Snten sociLt
feelings and to rouse mankind from ITS
melancholy moods. And yet Such was not
always their fate.
CURIOUS EXPERIENCES.
The Blue Danube waltz, that classic
model of Vienna waltzes, did not please
he public at first introduction into vi
,rna, by the composer himself. And Jo-
ian Strauss was not even sorry about 1t: |
'emarking to his brother: II don't mind
or the coda. I gave 80 much careful work
o it." And yet the refused 'valtz-one
night also quote the memo propheta IN
,atria,' when 1t appeared in Berlin, Lon
necessarily attracted the attention. of |
he Viennese. When Strauss played 1t |
gain after the lapse Of a few weeks the
.pplause seemed unlimited. Such is the !
ate not only of books, but also of waltz
s. And what a gold mine this Blue Dan
lbe became to the publisher and compos-
r. The local legends of Vienna tell that I
{ built houses for both. Strauss made a /
inilar experience with his "Morgenb- /
after" 1t happened at the ball Of the So