The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-20
IN THE y O O
who Were There ana Who wasn't There when
re was Wanted BADLY.

W. ~ "Ni
In the green room OF n leading club, noted for
Its entertainments, sat u number OF concert art
lists with their escorts and managers. There was
an italian diva with q voice like Mclba's. She
was decidedly good looking II ono cared for black
hair, large black eyes, checks ever flushed, and
languor so intense as to suggest both laziness
and slovenliness. Tho big. fat, coarsc-looking
woman who sat beside her suggested what she
would look like in middle age. Ono felt In
stinctlvely that they were mother and daughter.
Tho daughter attracted considerable attention
from the men, nevertheless, and her quizzical,
sarcastic reception OF compliments rather pleased
them. In tho pauscs OF tho conversation she sang
In mufilcd tones tho first few bars of tho song
which she was to deliver Mt tho concert. Her
voice broke out unexpectedly and with startling
effect. Hardly had she ceased before the blond
tenor begun with his song. He, too, was keep
Ing his voice In practice. There was nothing
eiTcminate about this tenor. He was two feet
across the shoulders, wore a No. 8 hat, and had
bowed legs that rcscmblol tree trunks. He
barely noticed the diva, but stopped occasionally
in his nervous strides to address a word to a
digni1ed young pianist who sat apart from tho
others with her escort.
AS tho time approached for the concert TO bc-
gin, Gregorovitsch. the Russian violinist, en-.
tered. In Berlin, whcro no has lived for some
years, Gregorovltsch is known as a genius of
decidedly Bohemian tastes. He has appeared at
tho best concerts there with an untricd violin
that he had picked up a moment before. He had
plenty of fno Instruments Of his own, but bill.
lizards had kept him up to tho last moment, and
he had not had tho time to fetch them.
II saw him on a festival night after n concert
in his true character" said the pianist to tho
tenor, Invent with a party Of Americans to
one OF the cafes. There was n big crowd standing
around n table in the centre of the room, and on
this. looking like an uncrowned king of Vaga-
bondia. sat Gregorovitsch playing with appar-
ent reckless Indifference, but, nevertheless, very
well. A big cigar was stuck in one corner OF his
mouth, and he stopped occasionally to take a
long drink that was handed up to him"
HE is lucky" said the tenor obviously; Ibis
sort are never nervous"
Are you T. asked the pia DIST.
Often. Aren't you =
Not often. When I was a child. not at all. I
rcmeinber once l was almost paralyZed.'
"Ihavc a horror of bugs or insects of any
Well. once when l was PLAYING a Beethoven
sonata in a Western city ! saw a big roach com;
ing across the floor. 1t was headed for me, and
knew Il would crawl up my dress, played on.
but with one eye on the music and the other on
look up, and the piano drowned my voice. On
dress. / felt concealed, but somehow played
on. l could see the roach crawling up and, for
presently. The tAntalizing thing moved around
in curves and circles, but always. closer to my
face, and | felt thai IL IL touched my skin l
would just jump up and yell. II seemed TO me
that 1 played like an but the audi
Gnce applauded furiously when had finished.
l was pale as n ghost when / got up to bow. but
] managed TO brush of the roach with my fan
and saw it run away. The audience insisted on
several encorcs, but | was SO u%nnerved l played
only one. Next day the critics all spoke of my
excellent conception of the sonata"
Monsieur, the audience is waiting called
the stage manager. and the tenor bowed, and
went out cumming his first piece.
Madamo,selle speaks French T. asked the
diva in broken English.
English"
"Oh, too bad"
"Ihaye seen Msdamoiselle before said Greg
o%rovitsch in German. taking the chair just
abandoned by the tenor.
Yes. in Berlin"
They talked a Few moments. and then the vir-
tuoso was called away by his manager. A num-
Committee OF Arrangements sent in n bowl OF
clarct punch. which the artists alone declined
to touch. The tenor returned. and the diva
went on the boards. She came back, her arms
piAniste. who returned similarly laden.
Then it was GrcgorOvitSCh's turn, but he could
not be found. Neither could his manager. The
orchestra hid TO rlay an extra number while
about seeking the lost violinist. Messengers
were despatched to all the nearby cafes, but no
trace OF him could be found. The orchestra had
almost finished and the manager was in despair,
when GrcgorovitsCh walked calmly into the
green room.
"What. looking for me p he asked in mild
surprise, MOI at I'll CONCERNED at the manaEer's
disturbed condition. WHY, we were smoking
a cigarette in the basement
His was the last number. and soon after 1t the
green room was deserted.