The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-17
L THEIR MECCA.
Few Topeka Music Lovers Will Miss
the Great Pianist.

The demand for tickets to the Ottokar
Malek recital still keeps up and no less
tnan on hundred people bought tickets
To-Day. He will have a larger audience
imam any pianist has ever had in To-
peka. Malek has a personality which
inspires an interest hardly less than that
which is evoked on account of his mu-
steal genius. Sensibility is the domi-
nant note in Malek's character, a quail
1ty which is manifeStly expressed in his
spIrltuelle countenance, and evealed in
the many stories af1oat regarding the
great pianist.
His love for animals is pronounced
Not long ago his most intimate friend
was a beautiful Scotch collie, which,
next to his piano, Malek owed better
than anything else in the world. One
day the dog suddenly went mad, and
breaking away from his master dashed
through the crowds of pedestrians,
swapping and snarling as it went. The
people scattered to right and left as the
brute came on. and a veritable panic
ensued. But Malek had no intention of
deserving his canine friend at such a
critical moment. He dashed after the
dog with the humane object of protect
ing the pedestrians and of saving the
animal from the kicks and projectiles
tnat seemed to it all the
more. Without a semblance of fear
Maiek approached the Infatuated collie,
grasped it and held it to the ground,
while a policeman came up and with his
p4SlOI put an emu TO the DANGER. AS
Malek arose, his eyes were full of
tears. 1T was like killing my best
friend" he said.
Malek's love for animals is of the deer
kind which takes an interest in the ma
ture and habits of the lower creation. A
curious instance Of his intimate knowl-
edge OF some forms of animal life is re-
lated by his American Malek,
visiting at this g~entleman's home, be-
came greatly interested in a brood of
incubator" chickens. Taking one up in
his hand he said. without a moments
hesitation, Nine days old" He was
exactly right Feeling it's crop he said,
It's hungry" In that too he showed
ne possessed the scientific knowledge of
the true animal lover.
Children, too, appeal to Malek's deep
est nature. There you seem to catch
a glimpse Of the real man-of the SEN
s1t1Ve, gentle. nature which, young man
though Malek is, has already suffered
more than n rude blow from the
heavy hand of Fate.
The artist in Malek is in constant ev-
idence. 1t betrays itself in his almost
boyiSh Responsibility in the little
matter-of-fact events of every day life.
One day he was hurrying down State
street, Chicago, with a friend to catch
a train Melek was especially anxious
to make time, and his long legs were
carrying him over the ground at a
pace which taxed the powers of his
companion to keep up with him. Pass
ing Marshall Fields store, Malek was
attracted by some pictures of female
loneliness in n of the windows. He
stopped, gazed absorbently and criti-
cally-and the train left him behind.
1t is h artist, too, in Malek as a
musician that makes him so popular.
Musical critics are unanimous in prais-
ing his wonderful technic, his mastery
of the keyboard, his finished rendition
of the most difficult passages of the
masters. But beyond, and deeper than
all this, there is that touch of genius
and sympathetic understanding of the
mind of the which enable
Malek to convey, eve to the unknow-
ing, feeling and understanding of the
| piece he is expounding.
His personal appearance and gentle
thusiastic welcome which is accorded him
by audiences of all degrees of musical
culture. There is nothing fantastic or &c
centric either in his appearance or man
demonStrative musician. He plays with
out an effort the most difficult passages,
hardly leaning this way or that, his long
arm seeming all sufficient in reaching any
part of the keyboard. His pale face never
1ushes. He accomplishes marvels with
his wrists and fingers and his chords and
scales and trills are perfection.
Malek's Sensibility and practical tenn
in which he becomes wholly absorbed in
the composition which he is rendering.
Occupying the same rank as a master
of the piano that is held by Kubelik and
Kochan, his compatriots, as masters of
the violin, richly endowed with the tenn
! permanent that interests and attracts, of
a gentle and lovable nature that makes
friends everywhere, it is safe to predict
that the which this young mu-
steal genius has already scored, are but
a f~orerunner of still more splendid ones