The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-29

at was surprise to me as much az IL
was to him, to see the audience that
turned out in the small towns. Think
of giving concert in Houston, Texas, a
piano recital at that, and having an au-
dience that represented 50, 900 Often ]
would tell him the figures, and he would
say that 1t must be mistake, there
could not be so many speople in small
town who wanted to see him. In San
Antonio. too, where he was particularly
interested in the Mexican influences the
audience that turned out represented 49,,
500 OF course. the people did not come
only from the town, but from all the re-
gion around, and the enthusiasm of the
people everywhere was great. I don't
suppose for instance, that ever before
there was any audience in San Antonio
that represented more than fifth of that
sum. But the thing that drew them to
hear Paderewski was only a piano, and
the man who played 1t.
"From my own experience, I am pre-
pared to say that on his return visits to
this country the desire to see him will be
just as great. 1t is not fad that will
decline, for in every instance In the small
towns in which these great audiences
gathered the enthusiasm of the people
was greatest at the end of the perform
ance.
''In San Francisco, where he gave ten
-
several times, and he was particularly in
terested in the Chinese music. Several
times he went to hear it, and as he went
about with an interpreter who had access
to all the resorts, there were few phases
of Chinese life there that he did not see.
1t was in San Francisco that he had his
first opportunity to play game of pool
after our long trip on the cars, and he
went at it eagerly. He does everything
that he attempts equally we'll. If he had
not been a great musician he would have
been as great in some other Held. l don't
believe any body who everfcomes into con-
tact with him doubts that. Certainly
everybody who gets to know him becomes
imm ediately attached to him. The
negro cook and porter on the parlor Car
would have done anything for him, and
everybody connected with his business
here down to the man who moved his
piano to the stage from the dray had rea-
son TO remember his generosity when he
left this country. They are all eager to
see him back, too.
g 1t was in San Francisco that Padere-
wski heard that Marsick, the French
vi0linist who is playing In this country
this year, had had an unsuccessful season
and was in Denver in rather embarrassed
circumstances. He telegraphed to Mar
sick to come to San Francisco, and he aD-
peared with him at recital The re-
OOipuo WoIc GCs SOO, duu Z dl6I6WSkl uduu6u
every cent OF 1T over to the violinist.
When he appeared lately in New York
with two of his colleagues, the entire
receipts of the two concerts were handed
over to them. He is a very good business
man, but he Is generous to every one with
whom he comes in contact.
'Paderewski was never indignant over
the story that he had been helped when
a young man by Nine. Modjeska. The
story was not true, and his secretary de-
MED 1t, but Mime. Modjeska and he axs
great friends, and only a day or two be-
fore he left San Francisco he received
from her a long and friendly letter.
Count Bozenta. her husband, told the
truth in the matter the other day when he
said that his wife had been among the
first to recognize Paderewski's genius
and have confidence in him, and that was
true. When wo passed through San Jose
she was expected to arrive there on the
next day, and if it had been possible we
should have waited over to see her,"
Padorewskl always smiles when asked
about the enthusiasm Of the women who
go to hear him play. The most embar-
RAISING case of this happened in Boston.
When he was playing there a woman,
middle aged and handsomely dressed,
rose from her seat and, walking down
to the front OF the orchestra, walked up
the steps that led to the stage. She step
ped over to where the piano stood, and,
taking her place just at the side of the
pianist, remained there quistly through
out the whole recital Before the end of
the programme was reached so many
other women had followed her example
that the stage was crowded, and it was
with dict1iulty that the pianist elbowed
his way through the crowd. In one
place girl who was delayed in getting
to her place told the usher that unless be
tad hor i'm ms adj ntQlv Gba would
"Fire" and put an end to the whole
concert. In Salt Lake City he received
a request to join the Mormon Church,
along with a oatechism and the articles
of faith. Doubtless Paderewski would
have to become Mormon If he wantedssto
make any matrimonial arrangement that
would satisfy his admirers.
Padsrewski never twice played the same
programme on his tour. He used always
to say that he had two programmes in
his mind, when he was practioing. He
never went to the theatre in which he
appeared before the concerts, as the tuner
from Steinway's .who accompanied him
on the trip knew well enough how to
have the piano in condition for him. He
was usually nervous before the concerts,
and ON last Saturday, when he played
here for the last time, he was especially
nervous.
81 always know, wherever I am" he
said to Mr.. Fryer, "that there are hun
dred or more people in the house just
waiting to catch me in some mistake"
The close of the concerts always finds
him completely Frustrated.
Paderewski has only one engagem ,nt
to play in Europe and after that for
long time he will rest and devote himself
to composition. He will play at the
Philharmonic concert in London in
June Scottish fantastic written for him
by Sir Alexander Mackenzie. principal
of the Royal Academy of Music in Lon
don and conductor of the Philharmonic
Society there The summer he will spend
in southern France, and mis- particular de-
sire iskto retire for while from public
life He gave this statement of his plans
to reporter of Western paper:
81 will make my home in Paris, as
heretofore. However, after the produc-
ton of my opera I hope to travel for
pleasure in the Orient. When I have no
concerts I rise early and take long
walk, and then practice for an hour Or
two After breakfast I play game of
billiards and then work my compositions
until dinner After that again play
billiards until bedtime. Yes, am very
fond of playing billiards. 1t is my
hobby"
In reply to the question, What is the