New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
HONOR ID. SAINT-SAENS
DINNER At LOTOS CLUB.
French Composer Heartily Greeted
Hopes to Return.

Camille Saint-sagns. the French composer and
musician, who has been giving concerts in the
United States for some months end viii return to
Paris this week. the guest OF the Lotos Club
last night at a dinner given by musicians and
music lovers. About hundred and twenty-five
members and guests of the club met to honor the
Frenchman.
The dinner was a notable one, not only from the
number OF well known musicians present, but from
the exceedingly happy vein which every speaker
took IN describing musical art not only IN this
country but in Franco The leading sxponents Of
Wagnerisn music ana German opera n the United
States praised French composition unstintedly. say
ing had only recently been recognized serious,
painstaking composition. comparabl with any
other.
The menus were said TO be among the best that
the Lotos Club, known for it's menus, has ever pre-
pared. The souvenir menu was a large scroll, with
an excellent photograph OF NJ. sHint-Saens. The
composer was deluged with requests for his auto
graph during Lhe dinner. and complied In every IN
stance
Chester s. Lord presided, and seated about him
were well known composers conductors singers
and pianists. Musicians were scattered through
out the room to the number OF twoscore more.
In introducing Hermann Klein. who made the ad-
dress of welcome TO NJ. Sa4ut-Sasns. speaking In
French Mr.. Lord saId:
THE Lotos Club has had as guests the most IA
nous artists. soldiers sailors scuiptors, men Of
letters and muicians. but can safely say there
has never been a guest VINO given much
honor as Camille saint-SaEns."
Mr.. Klein felicitously welcomed the guest and
quoted from Gounod. who praised the guest at the
first presentation of his opera Henry VII" Mr.
Klein announced that the Metropolitan Opera Com
pany VIII produce that opera next year and pos
sibly before doing so will produce Saint-Saens's
Helene et Paris also.
NJ. saint-sagns, in the foreign way, and
drank the health OF Mr.. Klein the diners drank
his health and then one American proposed three
Yankee cheers which were given. much 70 the
bewilderment and pleasure OF the composer.
NJ Saint-sasns replied in French. II am not BY
nature a speaker" said the composer. II thank
you all for the very kind toast. which Is much
greater than deserve Needless to say In Europe
we love everything OF the Americans. and here
have found everything in the musical world OF the
very highest order.
TT is indeed great pleasure" he continued.
for me TO find that the American public Is not
ungratefuI and that everything beautiful In music
and IN art rs appreciated here IN the very highest
manner. found everywhere splendid orchestras.
excellent conductors and sympathetic audiences.
and am very thankful also 20 the press for IT'S
kind reception and hope soon again TO visit these
kind and beautiful shores"
Walter Damrosch aroused the greatest enthusi-
asm Of the night when he praised NJ sant-Sasns
and then told some stories about him, which the
guest Iaughingly acknowledged were true
"I can truthfully say" Mr.. Damrosch said. that
there is not living composer whose works are so
well known. have been performed so 01tep and
with such success. as those OF NJ Camille Saint
Saens"
Mr Darnrosch recalled the first performance Of
any Of Saint Sakns's compositions in this country,
at the old Central Park Garden. when his famous
''Danse Maccabre' first given.
Here Is man threescore and ten. and more.
still Younger and acts young II he had Just
left the Conserva4oire." said the conductor. IT
fancy he IS the last one OF great period in art to
visit this country Just think who his friends have
beenI They seem like page OF a book OF long
ago Look at Wagner, Lfszt, Berlioz. Bizet Won
Bhiow and hosts Of others. He represents the last
the classic school where the exponents and fol-
lowers were taught 10 follow certain lines, and
have done so, only enlarging and working on
them"
Krehbel and others also spoke.
After the speeches some of NJ. Saint-Sasnss COM
uositions were played and sung. Among the nnu-
sIcians present were Waiter and Frank Danrosch,
NTgyrfoe Renaud Richard Arnold William McKln-
lev Alexander Petschnikoff and II. Rousseliere