The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-26

scarcely taking enough food to sustain existence
and using no stimulants whatever; to stay as
IL were in n world where all men are as shadows
and only art Is real. Surely one should reap
some material reward for this devotion. Surely
one thus possessed of an ideal aud willing to
do all this must compel the fates to grant sue.
cess. The price is too high for most men even
II they had the talent or the genius.
o
Padercwski could have been great in almost
any way which he had chosen wonderful is
this ability to concentrate his entire energies on
the subject at hand. lie is almost the solitary
example of supreme musical genius combined
with power OF self control and phenomenal
judgment in worldly matters lie earns fabu.
lous sums Of money and his manager told me
that II he would put his thought to it, he
would make the ablest OF fnancers, but he Is
| SO generous that about half of his great income
he throws out with the two supple hands which
brought it in, with the most indiscrimnate
charity.
Let Pole come to him with tale of woe
and prompt reply to prayer is assured by the
lavish gifts he bestows.
81 never can refuse them" he said laughingly
the other day. "My poor countrymen. Alas,
unhappy Polandl The very air there affects me
differently l must not go there too often for ]
cannot work. l have large estates in Galicia,
the last little corner you know, where they
| go there the house Is full OF visitors and |
see my people-and-ah, / cannot work, l can
not compose-that Is all''
lie was much interested in hearing about the
Poles in this city. "They are not bad people
these my countrymen," he said pathetically
"They have had 50 little, they have been denied
so much. Wait! They will be different! They
will yet be good for America. Then that strange
beautiful smile lit up his face. "Thcy don't
want to be mayor soon as they land" he
said in sly humor. But they do have christen.
ings and weddings l am told"
How he greeted those countrymen OF his
Both hands went to each one and there was a
mist in his eyes. as he gave them such hearty
greeting. thought they would crush his slight
fingers and many Of them wept. They were ftne
looking, wel.dressed men. 81 come from Chi
cago," said one. II came a thousand miles"
said another, "to hear you and see YOU" while
there were many from this immediate vicinity
including several members of the priesthood.
II NAV not be generally known that Mr. Pad
erewski, as well as his wife, who was the
Baroness Rosen, is Catholic-not OF the Greek
church, for that is Russian you know. The real
Pole of Poland can scarcely be anything that IS
Russian. Sienkevicz is Il very close friend OF
his. lie is not an admirer of Tostoi, whom lie
believes to be insincerc
Paderewsk almost never sees a newspaper or
couragng to the interviewer who can remedy the
above omission by means of his own imagination,
is explained by the pianist's statement made TO
the writer: II never read press notice, sad
lie. They won't let me see then | don't know
whether they fear l shall be made unhappy, but
sometimes six months or so later, l may look
them over. They are all saved for me. don't
know but they think press notice cold is less
depressing than one hot. Sometimes they have
been hot, am told"
| should like to tell more of the incidents OF
his romantic career Many OF them have not
reached the public prints. 1t is this sad ro-
mantle story that has held much charm to those
who worship at his slrine and yet beyond and
above and surrounding it all is the personal
magnetism of the man, the something that makes
him greater than others who make sweet music
in the world. Nothing better illustrates this
singular quality than the experience OF Pro.
fessor Theodore lTemberger, of this city.
Sometimes, because we have him with us and
he seems contented in our company we forget
that he really does not belong to lis wholly;
that such Il master as he. is of a wider sphere,
and higher attitude We forget that he has
had the widest advantages, that he has had and
still continues to receive, invitations to hold
notable positions both in this and the old world,
and that he has heard and knows intimately
many of the greatest pianists of the day.
Back in 1889 Prof. Ilcmberger was member
of 4 certain Composers society in Berlin. There
was young man in the society who was not con
sidered as having any remarkable ability. Indeed
he was refused as pupil by Rudorf, the famous
master. His work pianist had no particular
vogue They all chums in the society and
their relations were familiar that frequently
the other students used to inclose fifteen pfen.
nigs in letter advising the young man in ques-
tion to get his hair cut. 1t was blonde hair and
lie wore it long and tousled Societies and mem
bers came and went and the young man was for
gotten.
In the winter of 1895 a pianist appeared in
New York who was the cause OF uneXampled
furore. lie bore the name of the student at
Berlin. Mr. llemberger, then comparatively
new conner to Scranton was interested in the
stories which came this way and one day went
down to New York. ''I'm going to find out
whether this is the same Paderewsk that | used
to know" he thought.
Carnegie hall was packed almost to the cell
ing Mr.. llemberger from his seat far back
caught one glimpse of the performer with the
nmbus of fair hair and he said to himself "That
is our Paderewski sure enough but wien he
began to play the sonata of Beethoven opus 101,
the Scranton listener began TO wonder. AS that
notable composition went on and grander, wider,
more sublime under the artists fingers, Profes
sor Ilemberger forgot the young fellow at the
conservatory, forgot the memories " the past
and only realized that something was speaking
TO him out OF the music that never had spoken
before At the conclusion of the recital he
rushed out and home perhaps the most devout
admirer Paderewsk ever had
Professor lIembergcr is a modest man and de.
spite his past connection student with the
great pianist he did not attempt to see him after
the close of the recital on Monday night as he
had no idea of being remembered.
1t so happened that he was obliged TO go TO
the station with friend and reached there Just
as Paderewski was about TO enter the sleeper.
Mr.. Hand FASTENED TO him and took him to the
pianist's side, Paderewski looked at him mo.
ment fash came into his eyes and extending lis
hand second time he said: ''Well. you have
changed a great deal"
This almost took the professors breath but he
replied hastily, "Ah but the men of Poland are1
polite 1t is kind of you to say you remember
me-" Paderewshi then began 10 speak rapidly
in German; Il pat you on the back" he said |
'You remember Felix Dreiscllock and Staven.
hagen, You remember that night after the con. |
cert" continuing in swift flow OF Ieminiscence
which simply paralyzed Professor lIemberger, who |
was touched by this marvellous gift OF recol- |
lection that he could not speak.
Paderewsk was most delighted at the meeting |
and piled him with questions leaving with the |
cxaction of promise that Professor Iemberger |
should send him some of his compositions at |
once.
Professor Ilemberger listened through the re-
cital the other night to feel at its conclusion |
that it was one of the most blissful evenings of |
music he had ever known With his knowledge |