Connecticut western news., 1898-04-28
PALOMA SCHRAMM.


 ite with other children. fond of dressing dolls, gathering flowers and making mud pies. Her face and hands were brown from tue tropic sun.
 Wondering. I saw little girl of nine summers at the pisno and heard music interpreted as it can be only by the few.
 The recital had been wildly heralded and photographs showed an interesting profile with Little Paloma Schramm" of Los Angeles, Pianiste. It seemed hardly true, but if it were, here was an opportunity not to be neglected of com ing in touch with an artist soul in the early stage of development.
 4 Steinwsy grand was conspicuous with the pedals raised more than & foot from the accustomed position, The hail was filled with expectancy. A murmur of surprise greeted her appear ance as alone she came towards the great instrument which also seemed to give welcome to it's little mistress. Not far away from babyhood, pretty white frock, brown ringlets, eyes unus- uslly thoughtful in one so young and a memorably radiant face. Here was the charm of childhood with no self con- sciousness to mar.
 It was climb to the seat, the hands were so small and not note of music to be seen. What could she do? The program began, "Pastorale, Scarlatti- Tsussig." The little fingers that could not span an octave moved over the keys with no hesitation, no false tones, and the idyl in harmony came to our ears with tue light and shade of a delicate and soulful expression. The child was at home. The auditors could now pre- pare for unusual pleasure with nothing to fear.
 She acknowledged the applause with 8 smile then began a composition of Beethoven. One seizes the intervening minute to anticipate, and I feared it would be a mistake to undertake Bee thoven. He must have the orchestra, or if piano, a mind matured to give | symphony are so inseparably connected with him that this thought Is natural But the child played a rondo, andante movements, meditatiye. It was not accuracy of execution merely that made impression but the rare gift of intepre- tation that comes only when soul is akin to soul; and this babe was actually communiug with one of the master minds of the world and had become un- conscious of her audience.
 It is long distance from Beethoven to Chopin. That class of excellent piauists who can perform the waltz with & feeling that invites even the slow of foot to the dance Is for the most part incapable of revealing Beethoven. An evidence of greatness is the capacity to sympathiZe with widely varied moods and temperaments, and here Is where the multitude fails. How unnat- ural Is the word great applied to q child; and yet this little girl passed without effort from the rondo to the waltz and gave graceful rendering to the fascinating intricacies and delicate phrasing of Chopin One could close the eyes and easily feel oneself in the
  acter whose work for the piano corre- spends in many ways to that which Schubert did for song. The hearers could not be restrained and. when she turned again with such q happy smile, broke forth tumultuouslv. Flowers thronged the aisle and somenne thoughtful of chili's delight present. ed doll which her sparkling eyes dis covered in the distance and her hands eagerly reached to clasp. 4 bunch of carnations in one arm, the doll iu tho other and merry laugh displayed nature's picture which every body rec ognized, of gladsome childhood.
 This seems like tale of tho fairies which I am writing. as If some dimiuutiye genii from the home of Arabian Nights had come to tell story of that wonder land. But. believe me. it Is far more real. I cannot mention all the num- hers performed, but liebestraum Of Liszt vizibly affected everyone. Hands went to eyes; an old man near cuull not restrain the tears and so they had their way. There are times when thought baffles speech and feeling tiuds no word. Perhaps some finer form If creation was before us uttering the har- monies of better world which the spirit having caught csnnot speak ve. cannot lose in the flight of years The soul of music was struggling for ez- pression in the heart of this child. Oue could fairly discern 1t in her face as she played rpfiectipg every variation in thought which her fingers were msk- ing the keys express.
 The audience had a part in the re- cital:-writing short motifs. three or four bars. These were collected and from them she drew at random aud played first the motif as written, then used 1t for a theme to an compapi- ment; now in the given key, now trans | posing with natural modulation into another key without losing the motif which was unerrlngly woven into the whole Improvisation. This exhibition | elicited such enthusiasm that she drew another aud then I knew tie expert ment was honest for this chanced to be my contribution to the pile. The final number was the Paderewski Minuet. I once heard it better done, only once-by the great pianist himself. Wonderfully strange Is our dual na- ture of sense and spirit. The spiritual revealing itself through the avenues of sense. To be conscious of ones pos session of this nature is st sp upward To prostitute sense wholly to the sense- world Is sin which is its own outer darkness. To make it gateway through which visiog of the spiritual cau come is entrance into the better kingdom. To some the vision appears in the cup of cold water; to others. in a wayside flower. To some it shines l from the artists canvass; to others 1t is beautiful in song. These are all but different expressions of Love. The city lieth four-sqnare and there are three gates on side. Forever grateful must he be who has discovered hIs gate. Now and then it may open through the | soul of littls child.
 | 13IT HvdACf San Frapoiooo