The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-30
""HHN WHEdT MAS PLIYIyG. -
y remarkable Entertainment By a Very
Gifted Man,

, III ever an audience were enthralled by
e"o colder letters OF music. and trans
POI yea on The wings of harmony from me
leaI 10 inc IDEAL II was that assemblag-
1T the Presbyterian College Tor Women
lo9t Hlsht, which Tor two hours was under
'Lo sway OK the genius of Leo Wheat.
Had never heard Wheat before, though
nau heard much Of him; but the mo-
Iheht ne touched the keys in Litzt's Fan
tdlsie on Eaust knew there WAS a mas
Ter MIND IN music present. But OF what
ylurr Oh MIND! II Is a question not east
~ answered.
am not a critic. and have little faith
ia cntlcs. In fact, l do not believe that
cfltclsin, a. an art, exists among Us to-
Jay. auit -hnding IS not criticism, neith-
tI - lndlscrimlnate praise nor the leaden
mean-hackneyed generalites.
there Is, indeed, Il certain cant in vogue
dubbed by its mouthpieces Criticism,
but think with Laurence Sterne that "of
all the cants which are canted IN this
canting world though the cant OF hypo-
critics may be tho worst, the cant of crit
iclsm Is the most tormenting."
Deprived, then, OF this resource OF
cant hardly know how to deal with
the unique musica! genius OF Leo Wheat.
II seems 10 me that II is soemthing sui
Seneris, without plural, a thing apart,
one chosen from many. 1t embodies the
spirit and essence OF the old trouveurs
and troubadours in whom were met tho
anacreontc, tho pastoral and the epic in
music.
That Wheat is a genius / think no one
VIII deny. for ii would be absurd TO call
his gift mere talent. Any schoolboy may
possess talent, for talent il that which
IS in mans power; but genius is that In
whose power "A man is'-and II ever a
living soul were dominated by one all-ab-
sorbing passion and power OF music, Leo
Wheat Is that being.
Hear him talk on the subject II but for
a moment, and you Will be convinced.
Wheat possesses creative genius, though
scarcely of the order Of Schubert, or
Schumann. or ChristOph Won Gluck, or
even that Of Sir Arthur Sullivan. 1t IS d
lowlier gift than that OF these masters.
yet quite as striking in its own distinc-
tive way.
1t is as child singing at its mothers
knee compared 10 tho full-thrOated song
Of Peerless Patti; but then, there is
sympathy. a sweetness touch OF the di-
Vine,a remembrance Of angel chOirs-in
child's pure, fresh voice that endues II
with a charm often surprising in effect
arts most finished effort.
Wheats genius Is of this order, think.
II voices the simple. untutOred emotions
of Nature, not Of mind; and herein lies
its power. 1t is, musically speaking. in
accord with mans heart not his intellect
10 Is not for the chosen few, but for all
the world.
Wheats genius Is also Of the reproduc-
tive order Ii enables him to enter into
the spirit OF A compartments the actor
enters into the spirit OF his part-and lay
bare all its hidden meaning. its latent
sweetness Sadness fIe or force. IL is
not imitation; it IS interpretation-a git
Of genius only.
Wheat is eccentric-verging at times
towards the crratic, the fantastic-but
there is no genius without tncture OF
Madness and Wheat, when seated at
the piano IS Wheat no longer, but crea-
ture Of dreams-a harp 10 be played on
by any rowing breeze or fancy-an empty
Al 81 D. Ia. Nc
tion-a poets dumb soul longing TO give
utterance 10 itself.
This may sound like rhapsody. and per-
haps II IS, but | am not yet from under
the spell OF Wheats magic touch. As
Georgia's gifted poet. Frank Stanton, has
so beautifully voiced 10
Somehow the tears. they would come
Down nv nv hot cheeks when Wheat was
And Vet vst rs ! saw Gods glorious skies
Through all the mists that dimmed my
In Ioyelicst meadows life went Msyins
When Wheat was playing!
Iife-dcath. and love that lives forever,
And lips that meet. and hearts that
sever;
But earth in music seemed to roll.
'Toucbed nv the magic Of his soull
And vet. somehow, the tears came stray
ing
When Wheat was playing
As / have said j am not n critic, ana
therefore 1 have not the assurance ne
cessary to attempt 20 dissect examine
and analyze the quite unique anc extraor-
binary programme 70 which l listened
last night ,,.,
write from but an individual point Of
view: and from that position / can only
say that not for many years have been
so stirred so thrilled, 50 wrought upon in
all my nature by any one mans giit or
music as by that Of Leo Wheat.
II IS a remarkable feat for Il musi-
clan TO entertain an audience OF more
than ordinary intelligent, people for two
solid hours by q clock but that is what
Leo Wheat succeeded in doing last night.
and l doubt il there are many men on
ether side Of the Atlantic who could
DO letter or rs well.
Mr. W r. Glover. who IS n favorite
tenor OF Columbians. should judge-if
the applause that greeted his appearance
IS taken as n criterion-sang that old
Comes In" with good effect and was re-
called Iris number was the only inter-
polation in the long programme interpret
ed solely by Mr.. Wheat-C, lumbia IS.
c.. Register OF October Ath.
rsIr or CHEAP MONEY