The San Francisco call., 1896-02-16

wrapped up in his performance. All, and
how he does play What precision and
force you find there, and such expression,
tool"
Tie virtuoso's companions listened.
Then they smiled. Paderewskt properly
interpreted this to mean unbelief, and
quickly answered:
at is there-it is there. Listen for your
selves"
But the others would not ee, and the
great pianist smiled. And he listened and
gazed Then the fiddler solemnly un-
crossed his legs and scratched one limb
against his chair, though he still gazed
ceilingward in the same rapt way.
He was not the only one who gazed,
though. The Chinese recognized Paderew
ski Immediately. The word passed about
the house and every eye was riveted on
the stranger with the wonderful hair and
the still more wonderful reputation.
Both in the theatre and on the street
they were more polite than their white
brethren in satisfying their curiosity,
never obtruding themselves and only tax
ing side glances. They all seemed to
know him. and as many of the Chinese
1ShN t4JC bil4g DalOl ., ll4Sy NO4S NOupIiCSo
we'll informed as to his many peculiarities.
Had there been any doubt as to the fact
of their knowledge of the identity of their
distinguished visitor it would have been
set aside by an incident that occurred in
one of the restaurants. A Chinese, dressed
in rich clothes, advanced and with a bow
presented Paerewski card, saying:
You will pardon me, but will you
kindly write your name on this?"
With a kindly smile the pianist said,
Certainly" H. sat down at one of the
tables, and as he wrote a gentleman asked
the Chinese:
''Do you know who he is?''
"Why, of course" was the ready an
swer. 'That is Paderewskl, the man who
makes the piano sound like a singing
girl"
And he pronounced the Polish name
correctly.
Those who had heard the singing girls
did not doubt the sincerity of the compli-
ment, though the value OF it was not so
apparent.
All the Chinese had not the same knowl-
edge of Paderewski's talents. They seemed
to know that he was earning vast sums of
money. One merchant, who said that he
read about the first concert to his wife,
said he would like to attend the perform
ance.
"Would they admit me?" be asked
When told that it was probable that he
coulu purchase tickets he grew more inter
ested in the nature of the performance and
inquired:
lis it very exciting show? Are there
yurapl-s or OF
He decided that he did not think he
would get So worth from just hearing
piano played. In consequence it is prob
able that Paderewski's possible auditor
will not attend the Grand 0pera-house
In speaking of the Chinese music Pad
erewski said that it was one of the things
that had most interested him in his trip
Il am gong to study it more" he ex-
planned, 'before l can really tell you any,
thing about it. 1t seems to me to com bine
many peculiarities of the Slavic and of the
Scotch music. The rhythm is perfect.
Through long bits of recitatlve the entire
orchestra rests, yet the measure is never
lost.
at does not seem to matter particularly
whether the singers and the instruments
are in the same key or not. Frequently in
completing a speech the actors at the the
ater would change the key in which they
were delivering their parts. This did not
bother them nor the orchestra bit"
The temples of the Chinese were gazed
upon with reverence. The legends of the
Chinese gods were listened to with great
interest for Paderewski is a most delig htful
listener, and his questions in regard to the
curious carvings, the rich embroideries
and many odd bits of furniture and, above
all, the extreme respect which he displayed
for their sacred things, won him the re-
gard of the Chinese from the first.
OF course the book of fates and the reeds
of fortune were consulted by the party.
Paderewski learned that the symbol he
chose indicated paragraph in the sacred
book which was favorable, since it told of
noble needs performed and good work ac-
complished by the great King Chung, now
god. Then Hugo Goerlitz, the pianist's
manager and secretary, drew one of the