The San Francisco call., 1896-02-16
Chinese Music Fills Him With
Wonder, Admiration and
Delight.
GREAT DRAMATIC STRENGTH
The Distinguished Pianist ArouSeS In.
terest in Tour Through Darkest
Chinatown.
This music infatuates mel"

L
1t was thus Paderewski spoke CT the ef-
forts of the Chinese artists who are now
filling every hole and Granny of the Chi
nese rookeries with the din of their unme-
lodious but classic productions.
Not only in word, but in action, has the
great pianist attested his admiration for
the ancient art of the Mongolians. For
three nights in succession he has quietly
walked through Chinatown feasting his
eyes and his ears. His last trip was made
last night
"Oh, it is wonderful" he said, stopping
where the full length of Dupont street
could be seen. This scene is different
from anything I ever dreamed Of.
1t was not till a little crowd had gath
cred, attracted by his striking personal
appearance, that the artist recalled himself
from his admiration of the color effects
produced by the soft, glowing light of the
myriad lanterns on the gayly painted
house fronts. Every step brought forth
new CALCULATIONS of delight and every
dangerous band held him.
THE art of these people is glorious" he
said. 1--WE see here the genius OF $500
years ago and not to-day. Their primitive
colors please me as much as their music
and have much the same effect on my eye
that the music has on my ear"
''Then it is music?" was asked.
Music" he answered, music? Why,
it is wonderful music. never saw more
dramatic expression put into tones. In
their plays fully half their effects are pro-
duced by the orchestra. I could not
understand their words, but the music
told the story.
"And there were such splendid climaxes /!
The musicians would play in low tones,
gradually increasing in force as the play
progressed. Then when fight was on or
a warrior killed, the music expressed the
ideas of the actors perfectly. Then the
scene, being past, would be emphasized by
proper music.
"What appealed to me most was the
beautiful simplicity of If all and the evil
dent art. There can be no doubt, it is art"
he asserted, when some one questioned
the work OF the musicians coming under
that head.
at is art, too, that is the result of CEN
turies of study. Those players do not
sing as they do without great study and
practice. Neither could the instrument
talists produce the effects they do without
having been carefully trained.
The theater was point OF great inter
est to the wonderful musician. He sat in
box at the side of the stage and exhib-
tied the greatest interest in everything.
From time to time he would exclaim:
Marvellous, marvellous! Is it not Won
derful?" And as he sat with every
thought concentrated on the scene before
him it was odd to see that his fingers
moved as though they were going over a
key board.
The apparent utter indifference of the
musicians was source of much specula-
ton to Paderewski. The vacant stare in
which most of them INDUCED as they
drew forth from their primitive instru-
ments tones that were of particularly
rasping harshness amused him greatly.
The man who elected shrill shrieks from a
two-stringed fiddle with a head like a
small fattened cocoanut was the uncon-
scious subject of much sincere admira-
ton.
THAT man has the artistic SOUL" de-
clared the pianist. "See how he leans
back, his eyes half closed, his whole being