The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-23
Mr.. ARMSTRONG'S TALK.
Contemporary Club Listens to an In
tercsting Address.

The March meeting of the Contemporary
Club was held last evening and Mr.. William
Armstrong delivered an address. this being
the third season he has appeared before the
club. His subject was The Artistic Temper
ament. Psychologcally Treated" It was the
first time Mr.. Armstrong has given the
lecture, and the subject is one which has
not heretofore been considered by writer or
speaker. Mr.. Armstrong was long connected
with the press as music critic, and the
studies for his paper were made from life
after close association with some of the
greatest living artists and under conditions
which allowed OF unusual opportunity. Mr..
Armstrong gave his address in an earnest
and interesting way and illustrated ii with
numerous incidents, naming the different
artists from whom he gathered his material.
One of the most interesting sections was the
one relating to the vanity of artists. He
spoke Of the vanity of the true artist, which
is necessity, with certain limits; the van
ity of the artist without tact; the vanity
OF the phlegmatic artist, which Is SO Oh
noxious; the vanity of the veteran, who has
grown old imperceptibly and who refuses TO
leave the stage; of the time which comes
sooner or later when he is made TO know
that his power has left him, and then the
passing years when he believes that the past
was the time in which TO live and that the
art of to-day Is not so great as that OF the
time when ne sang. There was d pathetic
touch in the picture which the speaker
drew. Another section was devoted to feel
ing-real and assumed-and of impetuosity,
which is so nearly related to inspiration, a
feeling which develops things in an operate
role OF which the artist never dreamed. An
other section was jealousy, which even the
most distinguished and high in position have
for others who are successful. Art makes
his worlu and bounds his horizon.
Other topics were graSping, nervous sensi-
bility, adaptabiiity, the influence of operate
roles on artists of intelligence and the IN
fiuence of audiences. One incident related
was of a concert in Chicago. when Bur-
meister, whom Mr.. Armstrong believes 10
be the greatest living violiniSt, was playing
a Spohr concerto. The artist feels his audi
ence and often selects some one in 1t who
Is sympathetic and plays TO that one. This
time the violinist saw a pair OF opera
glasses leveled at him, suddenly the glasses
were dropped and the holder SmOthered a
yawn with her hand. From that instant
the violinist played the notes, but he had
no more feeling to put into his music. An
and in the midst of the audience was Il
man who giggled and laughed. She could
not imagine what was the matter and on
going to the dressing room found the one
who sang before her in tears because a
man in the audience had laughed all the
time she singing. Ii was afterward
learned that the half-witted
fellow who loved music and that was his
manner of expressing his delight. After the
lecture there was a general discussion. The
Rev. and Mrs. Hyde, Mr.. and Mis-. Albert
Baker and Miss Julia Harrison Moore Mr.
Armstrong was presented TO the members of
the club Mr.. Armstrong was the guest of
honor at Mrs. SewalPs afternoon at home
and at dinner last evening. He returned to
Chicago last night.