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

time many interesting souvenirs of his
great colleagues Lszt. Richard Wagner
Johannes Brahms and Rubnstein have
heen his friends, and their signed pictures
or other souvenirs of them hang on the
usll. Of his home in West Sixteenth street.
Among tho later pictures are those OF
Paderewsh and other men Of the day.
unique and valuable collection these
pictures compose. But Mr., Mason would
rar' with all these rather than with one
old photograph taken in 1855.
n shows an assertive, spirited, masterful
vounp man looking out from the frame as
n already impatient to take in the world
the place he intended to occupy. Although
the picture was taken many years ago,
Nr Mason received it only in 1902. So
saws the inscription in Theodore Thomas
handwriting reading: "Zu menem elm
7Icen lieben freund. 1856 1902"
For q man at the height OF hs fame to
cali another his only friend bespeaks years
Of devotion. Mr.. Mason and Mr.. Thomas
were indeed devoted to each other for
many years
If was shortly after my return from
Europe that | met him first, Mr. Mason
told SuS reporter Il brought back
with me a trio and some other music by
Brahms. who was then all but unknown
here
! told Carl Bergman. the conductor OF
the Philharmonic at that time. to arrange
quartet in order that we ght play this
and some Of Schumann's chamber music
One chamber music club already ex listed
hut | suggested that we have another for
the newer music.
80 Bergman selected Theodore Thomas
who was violin, q. Malta and Joseph
Mosenthnl who was for many years the
conductor of the Mendelssohn Gee Club
II was Mt this time first made Mr..
1homas's acquaintance. We had no sooner
begun to play than his genius as con-
dnctor asserted itself.
He was a born conductor. But for
this gift Of his our body Of players might
have remained as il was But there we're
constant conflicts between Thomas. the
first violin. and Carl Bergman who was
a 'cellist and had formerly conducted the
Germania concerts alternately with Theo-
dorc Eisfed. who founded the string
quartet that preceded us.
Bergman was, as | say. a cellist, and
1t was more bio to have a violinst
~ a conductor. So after a few months
Bergman retired and was succeeded by
F Bergner, for many years a member of
the Philharmonic who is still living in
thi- city
From that time we handed over the
direction Of the quartet TO Thomas. Dur
ing all the years Of the Mason-Thomas
soirees all the credit Of them belonged to
him. / had merely suggested such a series
Of concerts
It was through these concerts that Theo-
dore Thomas made the acquaintance Of his
first wife
A German named Klauser, who taught
music nj the Pennington school. came
down frequently to hear our quartet re-
hearse, Mr.. Mason said, and he was very
anxious 10 have us play up at the school
SO we went up TO Pennington once, and the
concert was so successful that we continued
10 20 up there regularly.
Employed there as a teacher was New
ork girl who lived down on the west side
Of tosn below Fourteenth street. She was
splendid specimen OF an American woman,
Efficient, self-rcliant and capable. We met
her every line the quartet went up there
10 play. Thomas was at that time %.
One day after we had finished our CON
cort and were waiting to take our train. he
asked me to take short walk with him. as
no bad mething serious to talk TO me
about | could tell from his manner that
he was in very serious mood.
No had walked only few steps before
10 uruod and asked me what thought of
Mics Rhodes. the young teacher I have
referred to, a. a possible wife for him. l
was a-ton.shed at the question and told
him Immediately what I thought.
Your education has been so different
from hers ! said. that don't know whether
Won will be happy or not, Miss Rhodes
is thoroughly American-for instance, goes
10 church on Sunday and I don't believe
son over went to church in your life. 1t
-eems to me that your rearing has been too
different for you to be happy.
But they were married, and am afraid
that Mrs Thomas had some hard times
III the outset. Theodore was very deter
mined and firm then, although he grew
much softer in later years.
Even al that time he was quite Indifferent
to all hut his most intimate friends He
saw no Use Of wide acquaintance, which,
IN his opinion, did nothing 10 put man
forward in his work He thought always
~ that in the first instance.
He came to stop at my fathers house in
orange soon after his marriage ! played
mo organ at the Presbyterian church there,
a- spent my Sundays in Orange.
Mr. Thomas wanted to 20 to church
with my wife and me. so | told Theodore
TO take walk or amuse himself in the best
way no could until We came back. To
our astoni-hment ne said he wanted to 60
to church with us, and along he went.
looked at him several times from the
organ loft and he seemed to be standing it
pretty we'll although at times he looked
rather Inpatient We went home to dinner,
and after while it became necessary for
me 10 90 TO afternoon service. He asked
where was getting ready to 90.
To church. | answered
Church" he repeated, looking at me
in a-toni-hment Why, We went there
once to-day
Of course he never dreamed OF going
a second time that day. and it was only
i' crafty his wife that he had gone once.
he would give in sometimes for those he
ioved
But no souFh, first to be straigbtfor.
ward and frank, ard that sometimes Jed
persons who did not snow him well 20 say
no n.1. I