The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-04
UNDER NUSIC'S INFLUENCE.
SOME ODD WORKINGS OF TEE
ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENT.

TOO IsADT thohNO S~NS
for q PianiSt-Letter to . Singer
Music ooc OCCASIONALLY makes people d.
,,,oer things. The musical temperament
w. long been used to explain the PECULIAR
Mas Of persons gifted with II, but 1t does no
account for the carvings on Of persons
Who have Just regular, ordinary every
dov te~mperaments, but who do very strange
things when they come under the influences
Of music.
Not long ago there was a meeting OF a
committee that had raised money to bring
n famous European conductor over here
Ha was to play with an orchestra whose
leader Is a popular American conductor
and who for the use Of his orchestra was to
have part of the guarantee fund.
It was during a discussion Of The ques-
tlon of dividing the fund that the hus-
hand Of one Of the women who had been
most active in raising the money ven
tured an observation that nearly caused
the meeting to break up altogether. The
American conductor had his adherents,
who would ave nothing to do with the
fund unless he was also retained. Tho
~practical business man Of the party
could not understand the situation. Only
the women who swear by this leader or
that ever could.
Il think it's very foolish to have two
conductors he said In the ignorance Of
his unmusical, normal mind. why don't
vou lust have Herr Observation-Disclosures
"a long as you raised the money to bring
him over here?'
This remark would have been awful
enough under any circumstances 1t was
made worse by the fact that the New York
conductor was in the room, although his
presence was unknown to the speakers,
Even the women adherents Of the two
conductors lost their presence Of mind,
and the meeting broke up almost immedi-
ately.
The women have most fun out of music.
They like 1t very well at all times, but they
love it most when they have the conductor
they like at the head Of the orchestra.
They must always have one In whom
they are greatly interested somewhere
In the ofing. Then they are able to get
up funds for him, arrange concerts for
him and otherwise coddle the conductor
OF their choice.
New York recently had a visitor who
fell in with this sort Of adulation without
the least difficulty. He loved the teas
and the dinners, the meetings and the
talk about the funds, and showed his feel
ings In the most naive way. It was said
by some of his friends that one could hear
him purring in his satisfaction 90 BOOT
as the door was opened in a house at which
be was being entertained.
Well, he went onc to q tea party and
brought along with him q oompatriot In
whom he took a great interest. This young
man Is a pianist. He sat down to play
soon after his arrival.
He crashed out the opening bars Of q
sonata that musicians Immediately recog-
nized as a very musical and somewhat dry
composition that lasted for nearly forty
through. A patter Of feminine applause
greeted him.
He was there to make friends. There
had been many new arrivals during the
music. The hostess had had no oppor-
tunity to greet them. Forty minutes
Isl long part Of the afternoon tea.
1t was almost time for the refreshments
to be served when the piece came to an end.
The butler and the maidservants were al
ready looking uneasily from behind the
dining room portieres awaiting their signal.
The hostess rose to receive her guests,
who started to enter the dra wing room.
As she opened her mouth to greet ono
Of the ladies' who had entered the dra wing
loom the smile of welcome froze on her
lips. The pianist had turned on the piano
stool and struck the opening chords Of q
Brahms concerto.
The electric fixtures ratified and the
brlc-a-brac threatened to fall. Converse
ton was out of the question.
The time passed, The dismayed SER
wants retired from view. Ominous closings
OF the house door showed that the late
arrivals had turned in their tracks and
were determined to beat a retreat.
There was an obvious uneasiness among
the guests who were seated and unable to
leave; but it was certain that two persons
enjoyed the concert immensely. One was
The player. The other was the conductor,
who had brought him to the house.
AT twenty minutes to 7 he finished the
concerto. There was a break for the par
Tor door that could not have been more
unanimous had somebody yelled "Firel'
The hostess soon found herself in her draw
Ing room alone with her two distinguished
quests, who then began to drink tea and
enjoy themselves.
When a young woman who loves music
bought a ticket to go to a song recital, she
never knew what an expressive face
she had, Nor did she realize how closely
The prima donna was watching her when
enc took her seat during the first song.
II the prima donna had not emitted O
particularly sour note just at that time
nothing might have happened, for the
young woman's face wouldno have assumed
such a candid look of horror. Some more
sour notes came and that expression did
not change. She had reason to regret this
eloquence in her features at the close Of the
first part.
The manager would like to speak to
you an usher remarked, leaning over the
Tour persons that sat between her and the
aisle will You kindly step to the back
OF the hall?"
In a minute she thought Of her sister
ana the new motor which she would drive
80 reoklessly through the city streets.
something had certainly happened to her.
ana this was the means taken tonotify her
Of it.