The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-21
TWO GREAT FINGERS.
The Uumor That PnderewsIsi Has
Lest Their Use
(FrOm the New York Tribune.)

kETVn RnS new lOfh lFlbuhe-
There was a rumor about town yes
terday that Ignace Paderewski, the Gel
ebrated pianist. had lost the use of two
fingers, and that he would probably never
be able 10 play the piano again, The
report appeared to come solely from an
English provincial paper. 1t was, of
course. heard with regret by everybody
who heard ii at ALL merely on the chance
Of its being true. but ii was by no means
credited by all who heard il. Some years
ago Paderewski had a felon on one of
his fingers, and for a long time afserward
he was in constant dread of a worse
fate Detailing that member. 1t was sug-
gested yesterday that he was of a nerv-
Gus temperament, and quite likely TO
think thac any disability was more Sc
rious than there was any real need of
fearing.
]. Ignace Paderewski was born in Kur-
ilowlka, in Podolia, Poland, on November
6. 1860. He attributes his musical tall
ent 10 inheritance from his mother He
began learning 10 play the piano when
he was six years old, but his teachers
Were not good ones, and ne suffered un-
der other disadvantages, which would
probably never have been overcome but
for the wonderful ability which was
part Of himself, and quite above all
teaching. He went to the Conservatory
at Warsaw when he was twelve years
old. and he had the honor of being ex-
PEELED from that institution three times
But he went on studying, and he made
concert tour in Poland and Russia
when he was sixteen years old. This
probably helped him more than any cor
responding amount of study in a school
would have done. But he got a diploma
at Warsaw, and was elected professor of
music there when he was eighteen.
A year later he married and another
year later his wife died. From this time
he devoted himself exclusively to music
He was professor of music at the Con-
servatory at Strasburg when he was only
twenty He worked and studied hard to
improve himself as an artist, and turn
ing point in his career came when he
began to receive lessons from Leschetit-
zky. From this master he gained much.
though he took only thirty lessons from
him
Paderewski's visit to this country five
years ago was one of the most remark
able incidents in recent musical annals
Even considering his great art as a pian-
ist, his reception here was nothing less
than extravagant. His playing doubtless
deserved any recognition that il could
well receive, yet il is impossible to say
just how much of his vogue he owed 10
his personal appearance and to the Won
derful personal fascination which he
seemed to have for the feminine portion
of his audiences None of the long list
of famous matinee actors who have
fiuttered the hearts of New York and of
the nation ever caused their audiences to
conduct themselves in the manner that
Padrewski's audiences did. The women
made organized attacks on the box office,
they crowded the galleries, they cheered
and wept till they might have shaken, if
not shattered, the strongest nerves, and
Paderewski's nerves are said to have been
of the weakest. They left their seats at
the end of each performance and crowd
ed to the front of the house TO be nearer
to their idol while he played a last Sc
lection. and then just one more, and then
a positive farewell They threw flowers
at him. and they counted the fact that
they had seen him pick them UP as the
most precious of their memories.
Paderewski naturally carried away with
him an enormous amount of American
money Equally naturally he came again.
This was in 1895. In the end of this wear
and the beginning of 1896 he made another
long tour. as successful as the first.
Paderewskis weak nerves had been
mentioned. He was in constant fear of
DREAMING ooWh anu not Delng able TO play.
Often he did play when it was agony
for him to do so. His music was his only
work, though his music does not mean
exclusively his playing. For he also
composed many pieces for the piano and
finally an opera. Several of his piano
pisces were highly successful especially
as played by himself. 1T is unnecessary
to say that he devoted enormous amounts
of time to practising. His amusements
came late at night, when the concert was
over, and then he delighted to get his
friends to sit at supper with him till
daylight. 1t has been said lately that a
greater pianist than Paderewski is COM
ing. Whether he proves to be a greater
pianist or not, he will be fortunate in
deed if he sweeps musical and feminine
America before him as Paderewski did.