The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-05-23
VIE NiAWsKI KNOCKED OUT.

wiENiAWsKI KNOCKED OUT.
An Experience of the Famous violinsst In
Aristocratic Society.
Eugene 1saye tells this story of
Wieniawski's experience in Paris, in
which the artist did not some of first
best either. When that v~iolinist was
the rage, 80 years ago or more, a bar.
0ness of the Faubourg st. German
insisted on his coming to her soiree.
He did not are much about doing
so, but finally gave in. When he
went, the baroness received him with
effusion, and after a few moments,
when a few people were present,
asked him to play something. He
glanced around: the baroness had
gone back to the head of the stair.
case, and there we're present a few
shriveled up old gentlemen and
three OF four young girls. "Bahi"
he said to his accompanist, shrug.
ging his shoulders. Let us play
'Ernst's Elegie.'"
Now, you know that "Ernst's Ele-
gie' is of all compositions the most
dull and un~interesting. It is tedious
enough to drive a nearer to commit
suicide.
They played ''Ernst's Elegie," and
the baroness, who had been out of
hearing during the performance,
came beaming into the room soon
after, at least SO runs the story in
the Pittsburg Dispatch.
"Ah, monsieur, how beautiful /
cannot thank you enough, but might
/ dare to ask you to play once again?
Yes!" And she fastened away to
welcome more guests. .,..
"What shall we play?" asked the
accompanist. Wieniawski looked
around. The company was becoming
more numerous, but no more inter-
esting than at the beginning. Lets
play 'Ernst's Elegie' again." he said.
They did so with renewed lack of
attention from every ono and anoth-
er burst of ecstasy from the baron
ess and a third request to play, after
which she fitted away again.
IF these people don't understand
'Ernst's Elegie' they must hear it till
they do" Wieniawski said to his ao.
sompanist when she had gone. so he
played the elegie for the third time,
and the baroness. who came back
just as the last few bars were being
sounded, proclaimed this to be the
most %ravishing of all the v~iolilist's
renditions and babe him adieu with
thanks.
Thus far this is the story as Wi.
eniawski tells it, but Rubinstein,
who heard it repeated once. said,
"Ah, but you have omitted the las,
part" and this is how he ended it:
LAS Wieniawski was leaving the bar
oness' house n Of the guests, a lit
tie. shrivoled old gentleman, who
had been present from the beginning
Of the s%oiree, came up to the violinist
Monsieur Wieniawski, he piped. i
have felt the most profound admira-
ton for your playing tonight. In
deed, I have never missed a concert
that you have given in Paris Wi
eniawski bowed, and the old gentle.
man continued: There is one piece
in your repertory that once made
the most profound impression on
me, and I desire ardently to. hear it
again. Come with your violin to my
house tomorrow or the day after and
name your own terms, for before !
die I must hear you play "Ernst's
Elegie."'"
Rubinstein says that Wieniawski
did not stop to make the appoint.
ment. lie rushed out of the house
too much overcome to say whether
he would crafty the old gentleman's
last wish, and that is one of the most
authentic musical histories that were
ever penned, for Rubinstein and Wi
eniawski both vouched for it.