The evening world., 1908-11-05
Mrs. Spalding, Who Gave Up
Music for Domestic Life
Happy in Success Of He
2O-Year-Old Son and Has
No Regret for Sacrifice.
Tells of His Early Love of
Music Which Gratified Her
Secret Wishes, and Her Jo.
in His Attainments-tIe
Talks OF His Art.
BY Ethel Lloyd Patterson.

by EfhcI LlOJd PATTERSON.
Just think of having the very dear
est wish of your heart gratifled! No
wonder Mrs. J. Walter Spalding is
such happy woman, for that is eX-
actly what has happened to her, To
be sure, she has waited twenty long
years, and has actually worked and
denied herself many pleasures foT
/ the last twelve of them to attain her
Wi. but in the American deous Of
her son, Albert Spa.ding, as a VIC
linis. OF recognized attainment her
unselfsh efforts are crowned with
perfect reward
Mrs. SpaldnE is not tho type that Is
given to violent visible signs of ella
ton. Her face, with its unusual firm
ness OF chin, Is almost like q mask in
its superficial impassiveness, but be-
neath--well, one catches glimpses OF
/ beneath" through her eyes. But size
does not like stranger to sound too
surely the dcrths OF her pride and
love and so she has formed habit Of
quickly CHANGING aside when her sons
work is praised to her, She could mo-.
however. suppress jub!lan: ring in
her voice as she told Of his rapid climb
to success. although she spoke quickly
and with an obvious endeavor to attain
impartiality
Gave Up Career for Home.
II would have been professional
myself If l had not married" Mrs
sons early proclivities. In fact had
made several appearances that were
practically professional when l decided
to give IT all up for domestic life
wanted 10 sing and ! was particularly
fond OF the piano. But Mr.. Spaldins
would not permit the suggestion that l
continue public performances after our
marriage SO could rot help thinking
when Albert was born, twenty years
ago, how fine It would II + should
develop n fondness for music-should
in measure take UP the career that
had relinHuished.
AT the very first. when he was n H.
tie bit OF fellow. two or three years
old and he would sit quietly and
patiently beside me while l played the
piano, I used TO assure myS If II was
because he loved me. 1t SCENE incred-
ible that a child so young as nat c0'''d
be api sd to so strongly h" nl1-'c.
Then l was SO anxious. so fairly wild
FOR him to love it. that used to try to
argue myself out OF the belief tina;
there was anything phenomenal about
his evident passion Of II. l was dread
fully afraid Of getting my hopes Ut
only to suffer disa, ,pointment.
He Decided at Seven.
When Albert was seven years old
think | will never forget tive had re-
turned one afternoon from a concert
Albert was very quiet and seemed TO he
thinking. Suddenly he said, Mother,
would like violin. OF course | was
amazed. He was so y-ung to say suci
thing, and besides violin is hardly
the instrument that you would expect
a child, little more than a baby, &c
select.
You could not play 1t. my son, Il
you had it, told him, but he answered
Yes, could. l could learn. Well
as 1t turned out, he got the vio..n-tha,
is just about all there Is to tell" Mrs
SpaldinS finished suddenly.
Fortunately, We were able to provide
him with the very best masters and
surround him with the finest books and
pictures. ] suppose that has helped
him to develop so perfectly and so rap
Idly. His interest from the first has
apparently never tagged. and after til,
first year or two he seemed willing anC
anxious TO play as much as we would
allow him to- either for our friends OF
when lie was alone.
"Only once. when he was n little char
OF nine years. / remember" Mrs. Spald
ing went on, with a tar-away smile "ht
did not care TO play. Some friends OF
mine who had dropped in were anxiou,
to hear how Albert was progressing
in his music, Albert was reading some
ding very interesting and he was loatf
to put his book aside. Finally. when
practically insisted that he oblige oui
: guests. lie snapped the book shut rather
, sharply and exclaimed: oh. mother,
wish ! wasn't so talented"
i Mother Has No Regrets.
I'VE have often leased him about Il
since, and | often repeat II TO him now
when lie is very tired sometimes, oil
, when some Of the annoyances OF hi,
Z profession arise. Then l tell him. oh
, Albert. / wish You were not 50 tai
y ented'"
? And have you really ever wished II
\ Do you ever regret your own sacrifice.
TO his talent-the many long years II
foreign countries-so that he migh
I study, the constant drain on voul
y strength and Will 10 encourage him?"
. Never for one minute" Mrs Spaldn,
$ replied without hesitation. The III,
i that my son has chosen Is exactly tn,
. lie that | would have chosen for him
+, His success IL the greatest gift 10
which ! would have prayed. As far a
8 encouragement goes Albert has needed
little Of that, or course. II has beef
. better that | should be beside him. bu
. he has naturally ths most sunny an,
. hopeful OF dispositions. but"--the doc
. opened and the object OF our converse
Ion entered, and the mother ended he
}. Ialk with an Introduction,