The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-29

gIon we happened to be In, and as the
cook was an excellent one, Paderewski
said that he had never lived better IN his
life.
VAfter dinner the day really began.
We played whist regularly every night,
and 1t was a bad thing for the man in
the party who happened to play carelesly
or make a mistake. Paderewski plays
splendidly, and he was not disposed TO be
tolerant OF anybody who didn't devote
all his attention to the game. Usually
between 3 or 4 o'clock he would say that
he thought he might be able to get to
sleep, and we broke up But often when
saw him the next morning he would
tell me that after all he had succeeded In
sleeping only for an hour or two. He de-
voted six or seven hours regularly TO
practice every day, but he managed TO
see something of the towns we visited,
and the West in particular interested
him greatly.
"It was surprise TO me as much as 1t
was to him to see the audiences that
turned out in the small towns. Think
OF giving a concert in Houston, Tex, a
piano recital at that, and having an au-
dience that represented $500! Often L
would tell him the figures, and he would
say that II must be a mistake, there
could not tie so many people 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
S25Oo. or 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. 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 piano and
the man who played IL.
"From my own experience i am pre-
pared TO cay that on his return visits TO
this country the desire to see him will be
just "a great. 1t is not fad that will de-
cline, for in every instance in the small
towns in which these great audiences
gathered the enthusiasm of the people
vas greatest at the end of the perform
ance.
"In San Francisco, where he gave ten
recitals, Paderewski saw Chinatown
several times, and he was particularly in
terested in the Chinese music. Several
times he went TO hear 1t, 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.
sit 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 well. III he haN
not been q great musician he would have
been as great in some other field. don't
believe anybody who ever comes into
contact with him doubts that. Certainly
every body who gets to know him becomes
Immediately attached TO him. The negro
cook and porter on the parlor car would
have done anything tor him, and every
body connected with his business here,
down to the man who moved his piano to
the stage from the dray had reasun to re-
member his generosity when he left this
country. They are all eager to see him
back, too.
"It was in San Francisco that Pade-
rwski heard that Marsick, the French
violinist 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
appeared with him at recital. Tho re-
ceipts were $4,000, and Paderewski handed
every cent or ii over to the violinist.
When he appeared lately in New York
with two OF his colleagues, the entire re-
ceipts of the two concerts were handed
over to them. He is 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 it, but Nine. Modjeska and he are
great friends, and only day or two be-
fore he left San Francisco he received
from her a long and friendly Aetter.
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 we passed through San Jose
she was expected to arrive here on the
next day, and il IL had been possible we
should have waited over TO see her."
Paderewski always smiles when asked
about the enthusiasm of the women who
go to hear him play. The most EN- baras-
sing case of this happened in Boston.
When he was playing there 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 stepped
over to where the piano stood, and, TAX
ing her place just at the side of the plan
ist, remained there quietly throughout
the whole recital. Before the end OF the
program was reached SO many other wo-
men had followed her example that the
sage was crowded, and II was with Diff.
Guilty that the pianist elbowed his wey