The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-08

i cannot even remember what had
asked him, as l only found his letter to-day.
II never occurred to me TO mention the
subject again. az knew he must have
his own good reason for refusing"
Not all Of Mr. Thomass acquaintsnces
we're satisfied TO overlook his occasional
abruptness Of manner, and sometimes the
men who worked under him had 10 feel
his severity.
But they were all devoted to lam, :
Mr.. Mason said and the mon cried at
the Philharmonic rehearsal when his death
was announced He was firm with them
not stern. and that came from his absolute
certainty Of what he wanted to do.
He was never eccentric in his readings
but he was often original and always sound
He knew just what he wanted his men to
do and waited until they were able TO do It,
His wonderful sense Of pitch was shown
by discussion held in bis presence once
with a teacher who assisted me at times.
She was a remarkably fine musician.
We had been going to church where
II seemed to me that the organ had been
tuned to the high pitch, which has been
done In so many churches. She thought,
however. that the organist had transposed
the hymns
Il don't sec why there should be any
doubt about the question. said Theodore,
who had heard our conversation. I could
tell Immediately by the vibrations
Once he was rehearsing large orchestra
for testimonial concert that was to be
given in bis honor. He noticed n disso
nance somewhere In the orchestra and
could not tell where It was
Finally no narrowed 1t down to the vio-
Inns and discovered that one player was
bowling in another direction from that in
which the eleven others were drawing their
bows. so accurate and fine was his ear.
While Thomas men were never friendly
with him, they all liked him and respected
him. He got the best players and paid
them the highest prices.
He did not believe in being familiar
with them. because he had always in mind
the thought of getting the best possible
work out OF them It was always the work
he thought of.
why Theodore never went to Europe
to play do not understand. as he had re-
peated opportunities. He acquired great
reputation among European musicians with
out ever having conducted there.
Those who came here and appeared
under his directions carried back with them
the accounts of his great ability So 1t
came that the great composers Of Europe
we're always glad to have him conduct
their music in manuscript.
Brahms. Roff. Rubinstein Massenet.
Dvorak all these and many others gladly
let him have their music before 1t had been
performed elsewhere But few If any of
them had ever come into contact with him
personally or heard any of his interpreted
lions"
Mr. Mason told the reporter that New
Workers never knew the extent to which Mr..
Thomas was affected by the necessity of
his leaving New York.
For that reason. he said. Theodore
was looking forward with pleasure to com
ing back to New York to conduct the last
Philharmonic concert. IL would have been
a great delight for him to return and enjoy
triumphant success iast after he had
opened his new hall in Chicago
Theodore was much gentler and milder
than he had been in the past. The in
difference of New York after all his work
here was more Of blow to him than any
body ever knew.
"All he was he had made himself. He
had little or no education and his father
had been the humblest sort Of musician,
playing the violin on a Mississippi steam
boat SO what he accomplished WAS due
wholly to his own genius