The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-03

He Discusses the Merits and Attractions OF
Four Celebrities.


Women admire p.anists.
The first piano-ronder / ever mot TO
know, was Gottschalk. Talk about The
rawlings over Padcrewsld. they are not in
il in comparison with the irenz.ed deVo-
lion manifested toward Goilschalk some
thirty years ago. tie was tail ana thi1,
pale and emaciated. HIS hair Was du-
b lrn-hued and worn at the conventional
length. H. had what schoolgirls call
heavenly eyes and flashing les.h. His
fingers, though not Ike Uncle NeIs -ts
long as the cane IN the brdke-were OF
tremendous length and slender, with IL
power born Of cthstan- exercise that was
really phenomenal. It's technique was
mary ellous and his lingering the very
supremacy OF graceful accuracy. lie was
nor particularly fond OF money ana would
really much prefer playing FOR hours In
a paIlOr or schoO.rOJW filed with adOr-
ing, sigh-rais.ns WON .u. than 70 appear
as piano sOiOist, supported by Thomas
orchestra In the most intricate concerto
ever written. like all great planists,
he ,oas hired Ly a manufacturing firm.
who, in return for the privilege Of adver-
Using his exclusive use of their instru-
ments. paid him 81 .OOD month, and sent,
al their own expense all over the cOun-
try wherever he played, two pianos, one
Tor private practice ana one Tor public
exhibition. he was engaged for Phil
harmonic concert in Brooklyn one Satur-
day night, and a young local amateur was
to play with him. When he found that
the liano she wished 10 use was not OF
his employers make he literally and ah-
sOlutely refused 10 comply with his con-
tract. 1t made great str an the time.
and one winter suggested that 10 would
the name OF his fayOrite firm neatly but
conspicuously embroidered on the seat
OF his trousers, so that wayfar.ng men
might read.
Thalberg was q genius.
The hours Gottschalk spent in the So
ciety of silly women or IN carOusals OF
ques dor able nature rhalberg devoted TO
study and practice. The one delighted in
brilliant effects, the other found heart rest
and mental satisfaction In mastering the
most intricate compositions OF the great
est masters. on one occasion. after three
recalls before 4 great metropolitan au-
dience, a critic said TO him in mis- dress
ing-room, where ne Was drinking Rhine
wine and settler. This applause must be
most agreeable In your ears, professor"
With shrug OF his shoulders utterly in
describabe, he replied. tapping his breast
"Oh. no. / have the satisfaction here"
lie was snowbound near -.,ue town
Oh the Old Colony line, between Fail
River ana Taunton, Mass, one morning
Huge drifts were piled on every SIDE
Some ten yards from the track was a
large barn, into which the forty or nifty
passengers made their way, beating be-
tween IL and the track quite a passahle
path His Piano was in the freight car
Some one jokingly proposed a concert
With his permission the piano was lug
ged into the barn and set up. and there
for three mortal hours the great artist
gave himself away TO the exigencies OF
the occasion. much to tho amazement
OF his manager and more to the delight
of his fellow passengers. When they
crowded about him. their trip being end
ed with thanks and protestauons OF re-
gard, he looked up archly ind replied
but I have TO keep IN practice"
You remember Josef Hoffman,!
He was = hg1xht-oaced. manly lfttiA boy.