Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1895-02-28
a VIOLIN.
( From Romance.l

,NuW II my QlnlnS-plac6 IN OLD Soho
Ia there was certain old gentle
man who especially aroused my
IN interest. A courteous, pune
I'm tual, mild old man he was, with
IA -A an air which deprecated notice
who conversed each evening for min
ute or two with the proprietor as be
rolled, always at the same hour, q val
edictory cigarette, in a language that
arrested my ear by its strangeness, and
which proved to be his own, Hunga-
rian; who addressed brief remark to
me at times, half apologetically, in the
precisest of English. We sat next each
other at the same table, came and went
at much the same hour and for long
while our intercourse was restricted to
formal courtesies The little old gentle
man, in spite of his aspect of shabby
gentility, perhaps even because of this
suggestion of fallen fortunes, bore him.
self with pathetic greatness, almost
haughtily. He did not seem amenable
to advances. [ can smile now, with
a certain sadness, when [ remind my
self that at one time | was somewhat
in awe of nj. Maurice Cristich and his
little air of proud humility.
Our acquaintance really began with
Il
me now the one which he gave me a
large, oblong piece of pasteboard, with
M. Maurice Cristich, Theatre Royal in
scribed upon it amid many florid flour
ishes.
In time he was good enough to fur
Their. He was a musician, a violinist /;
and formerly, in his own country, he
had been a composer. But whether for
some lack in him of original talent, or
of patience, whether for some grossness
III the public taste, on which the nerv-
GUS delicacy and refinement of his exc
cution was lost, he had not continued.
He had been driven by poverty to Lon
don, had given lessons, and then for
many years had played a second violin
in the orchestra Of the opera.
at is not much, monsieur ~ he OBJ
Served deprecafiffgly, smoothing his hat
with the cuff of his frayed coat-sleeve.
"But it is sufficient, and / prefer it to
teaching. In effect, they are very
charming, the seraphic young girls of
your country But they seem to care
little for music /; and l am a difficult
master, and have not enough patience.
Once, you see, a long time ago, l had
a perfect pupil, and perhaps that spoiled
me. Yes l prefer the theatre, though
it is less profitable. 1t is not as it once
was," he added, with a half-sigh; 81
am no longer ambitious. Yes, mon
sieur, when [ was young l was ambi-
tious. | wrote symphony and several
eoncertos. l even brought out at Wen
ma an opera which L thought would
make me famous but the good folk of
Vienna did not appreciate me, and they
would have none of my music. But
you must excuse me, monsleur-yOur
good company makes me garrulous. l
must be at the theater. Ii | am not in
my place at the half-hour they fine
me-two shillings and siXpence! that
is good deal, you know, mo- sieur."
| had known him year before it
struck me that / should like TO see him
in his profes sional canacity. [ told
him of my desire little diffidently,
not knowing how my purpose might
strike him. He responded graciously,
but with an air of intrigue, laying a
gentle hand upon my coat-sleeve and
bidding me wait. A day or two later,
rs we sat over our coffee, M. Cristich
with a hesitating urbanity offered me
an order.
eff you would do me the honor to
accept it, monsieur? 1t is stall and
good one! / have never asked fyr
one before, in all these years SO they
gave it to me easily. You see, have
few friends. 1t is for tomorrow, as you
observe. / demanded it especially f; it
is an occasion of great interest to me
alb an occasion You will come?n
"You are too good, NJ. Cristlch ~ |
said with genuine gratitude, for indeed
the gift camein season, the opera being
Al : r Il
command. "Need | say that | shall
be delighted? And to hear Nine. Ru-
manoff-a chance one has SO seldom ~
The old gentleman's mild, dull eyes
glistened. "Mme. Romanoff ~ he re-
peated. ''The marvellous Leonora
Yes, yes She has sung only once
before, in London. All, when remem-
ber-n He broke off suddenly. AS
he rose and prepared for departure, he
held my hand little longer than
usual, giving it more intimate pres
sure.
"My dear young friend, will you
think me presumptuous old man if l
ask you to come and see me tomorrow
in my apartment, when it is over ?
And then l will tell you why to-mor-
row shall be SO proud, why 1 show
this emotion"
The opera was "Fidelio." 1t offered
brilliant opportunities, and the incom-
parable singer wasted none of them
but only when we had reached the
shabby room of M. Cristich in dingy,
high house in Bloomsbury, and had
settled ourselves in uneasy chairs oppo-
site each other, did he allude to ''Fi-
delio." L praised heartily the disci-
pline of the orchestra, the prima donna,
whom report made his countrywoman,
with her strong, sweet voice and her
extraordinary beauty, the magnlficence
of the music, the fine impression of the
whole.
NJ. Cristich, bis glass in hand, nodded
approval. He looked intently into the
fire, viii Ia cast hooking shadows over
his quaint, incongruous figure, his anti