New-York tribune., 1907-09-01
POWER OF MUSIC.
Marie Hall GiUes Pathetic and
Humorous Examples.


q reporter for The Throne" in London, some
incidents of her recent tour through the Domin-
ion of Canada. Among other things she said;
There was quite a little crowd of kind friends
waiting to welcome back to Canadian shores,
and my landing like arriving at second
hcme their greetings We're warm After
shaking hands all round, l was just preparing
to drive away when cid woman, poorly clad.
stepped UP To- me and drawing me slightly aside
proceeded to shower blessings and compliments
upon me She had, SO she informed me with
tears In her eyes. been marking the days of
the calendar in pencil for the last six months
waiting for my return: for she and her only
daughter had attended one Of my concerts on
the occasicT Of my last visit ard had been 50
pleased by the music that the child had talked
of nothing else for months afterNHard. But now
the light Of her home had been put out: the lit
tie girl yyas dead And concluded the poor
woman, while tears trickIed down her furrowed
cheeks 'all that l live for now is to hear you
play again. because L know that your music
was with Winnie the last. 1t was a touch
ing little incident but l often recall il because
I Ike TO think that perhaps my music or the
recollection Of it, helped to brighten the little
girls last moments earth.
Another case in which the real power OF
music over peoples actions became evident
told me in a letter which I received after
concert at Montreal The writer was young
man who told me that he had been engaged 10
q girl for nearly five years, but that recently
her sister. greatly TO every cnes surprise. Ny
correspondent confessed. with shame, that this
fact had disappointed him TO such an extent
that he had seriously entertained the idea Of
throwing his fiancee. a severe mental
struggle had taken place within his heart, and
IN this state of mind he had attended my con-
cert The effect of my playing he assured. me.
had been most wonderful Little by little all
his baser thoughts had melted away, and he
had become filed with shame at his own base
-. -sT,r- 1Tr1saT so
tlishonorably as forsake her just at the time
when she most needed his care and protection
After the performance he had gone straight TO
her house 70 make immediate arrangements Tor
the marriage. and he now wrote TO thank me
from the bottom OF his heart for having saved
him from his baser nature and shown him
where the path OF duty lay
AT Ottawa / got letter from a gentleman
whom 1 Judge to have been connected with the
music hall circus profession 1t was
couched in most businesslike terms and pro-
pounded the following suggestion He had
heard that my playing on the violin was very
fine but an experience of the public in all parts
of the world extending over many years con-
WINGED him that any entertainment, however
good Of its kind, could not command real popu-
larity unless il contained plenty of variety.
With a view to adding this very desirable quail
ity my programmes. he suggested that we
should enter into partnership together. as he
was one of The finest knOckabout acrobats'
ter continued. is all very well in its way. but
it's not everything What your show wants is
something shake them up a bit, and that's
what I'll do for you IS come to terms.
Should you wish to study a line yourself.
would be very pleased TO teach you step-danc-
ing and in return I'd accept lessons the
banjo because, wise have said, knowl-
edge is power. Hoping you will favorably con-
slider my suggestion. dear Madam
After the concert at Winnipeg 1 was talking
10 a lady from the audience whom knew, and
she TOLD OF a little incident which had hap
pened during the performance, and which Illus
trates still further the fact that music does
really possess the power Of influencing people
to a very great extent
My friend. having arrived at the hall early.
amused herself by watching the audience as
as they came in and took their seats. While
thus engaged her attention attracted by the
appearance of a woman whose seat few
places off in the same row as her own. This
woaan's appearance was one Of extreme dejec-
tion: indeed, she appeared to be almost pros
frated by some overpowering grief Her face
white and haggard. while her eyes were
surrounded by dark lines which seemed to speak
of sleepless nights and long weeping. So deep
IL was my friend impressed by the sight of this
speeclless suffering that she found it impossi-
ble to keep her eyes of the woman for
long at a time. and all through the per-
forrnance kept glancing stealthily in the direc-
ton Of the pale cpepe-clad figure. As the
concert continued, however, she was surprised
and delighted to notice how the expression on
the suffering face gradually changed and
changed, until look OF the most serene exalta-
ton lighted the features that had lately told Of
nothing but despair. And when the end OF the
concert was reached so she assured me, the
woman left the concert hall changed being,
her whole bearing eloquent OF the new peace
and hope that had been poured into her soul
through the power OF the music which she
heard
The DAY Of my fierart1re from Vancouver
was one OF the happiest of my life. a huge
crowd OF people collected in order TO give
hearty send-off ami found myself surrounded
on all sides by kind friends anxious TO express
their good viii and wish me bon voyage I was
very lnu,h amused by one little boy, who. in
the charge Of his father, waited close TO the
sangxay 50 10 be the last to shake hands
with ne. AS a memento of my visit America
he presented with one OF his most treasured
possessions toy violin which, his father told
me had been necessarily scraping ever since he
leard me play one day. Mature consideration
has led me the conclusion that his fond par
ent recommended the gift for Interior motives
not unconnected with the said scraping, and
since I can quite imagine how heartrending must
have been the efforts of this youthful Paganini
] cannot blame him for the ruse employed to
restore peace to his troubled home