The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-04-11
~WIENIAWSKI KNOCKED OUT,


~WIENlAWSkI KNOCKED OUT.
An Experience of the Famous violinist In
Aristocratic Society.
Eugene Isaye tells this story of
Wieniawski's experience in Paris, in
which the artist did not come off first
best either. When that violinist was
the rage, 30 years ago Or more, a bar
oness of the Faubourg ST. German
insisted on his coming to her soiree.
He did not care 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 or four young girls. "Bah!"
he said to his accompanist, shrug-
ging his shoulders. Let us play
LIHSt > EloSle.
Now, you know that "Ernst's Ele-
gie' is of all compositions the most
dull and undressing. 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! I
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
aocompanist. 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 one and anoth-
or 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 ac-
companist 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 violinist'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 last
part" and this is how he ended it:
LAS Wieniawski was leaving the bar
oness' house n of the guests, a lit
tie, shriveled old gentleman, who
had been present from the beginning
Of the ~soiree, came up to the violinist.
Monsieur Wieniawski, he piped, I
have felt the most profound admira-
tion 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 I
die I must hear you play "Ernst's
Elegie.
Rubinstein says that Wieniawski
did not stop to make the appoint
ment. He 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 We're
ever penned, for Rubinstein and Wi
eniawski both youched for it.
Packing Sugar.
The bag has displaced both the
h~ogshead and the barrel in the ship
ment of refined and raw sugars.
There was time, not SO very long
ago. when such a thing as shipping
sugar in anything but a stave made
vessel was unheard of, but now it is
just the other way. The bag has be-
come popular because it is cheaper,