The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-16
PLAYED FOR M'kINLEY.
Distinction of Miss Berliner, Violinist,
at Novelty This Week.


Not so many years ago a little Swear
old Girl played the variations Of
eNearer NV God to Thee" on a violin.
at concert in Denver. Her mother
accomnanied her on the piano in the
orchestra The playing was WONDER
fully well done, especially for small
child. and the audience applauded-
tremendously. But the little girl ran
from the stage on which she had stooG
ia cling the big crowd and reaching the
wings sat down and cried
.IWhy honey-child, what's the mat
ter?', asked some one nearby
s"The peoples they didn't like my
nIavine" sobbed the little one. |'and
now thav are all making fun of me-"
FinalIy she was persuaded that the
audience was only showing their en-
ioyment and appreciation OF her music
and was induced to give an encore
Then She played that selection simples
but exquisite in lts pialhli'e iheSSose'
1.-The Flower Song.
This was the first appearance OF MISS
Vera Rerlfner. the violin virtuoso at the
Novelty this week. Later sne piayeu
for. the late President Mckinley at ms
home in Canton, o. ANA TOT her NE
career as a violinist her mother, also d
vioIinist. taught her first, with the in
finite tenderness and sympathetic un-
darsfandinor of a mother who sees her
own talents developing in her child.
Miss Rerliner's father. Frank Ber-
liner, plays in the Colonial theater Or
dolph Beliner, is director of the orches-
ira. The family composed the Berliner
Concert company which toured the
United States recently.
How did I get started playing?'' said
Miss Berliner, as she tenderiy lald ner
violin case down on her trunk. Wei.
| it came natural. My people are all
| musical After 1 left my birthplace.
Portland Ore, with my parents when a
baby and lived in Denver mamma gave
music lessons. I would practice on a
violin when she didn't know it. On one
| of her birthday anniversaries 1 sur
prised her by playing a little folk song
on a violin. I was about years old
| then. After that mamma said 1 must
have lessons and she gave me my start
| She would tell me:
Nov about 5 o'clock in the after
| noon you practice about an hour
II would follow her instructions and
| on her way home from giving lesson
| mamma would often listen near the
house to see how long I would play
after that time, and 1 would keep OH
| playing.
| when / was about 8 years old [
made my first appearance in public al
| a concert. 1 played Nearer My God to
| Thee with the variations. The audience
| clapped loud and 1 ran off the stage
and cried because thought they didn't
like my playing. Finally 1 was per-
suaded otherwise and gave as an en-
core The Flower Song Later ]
studied at the Cincinnati College OF
Music
For a while we lived at Canton, o
Here the late President Mckinley
heard me play and invited me to play
for him at his home I did so. The
president leaned on the balustrade OF
the porch while played to the guests
in the parlor. liked Mr.. and Mrs Nc
Kinley very much. They were excellent
people, just as people without theil
prominence. Mr.. Mckinley was tn,
most devoted of husbands and treated
Mrs. Mckinley like a queen. BY tn,
way the time I played for them wa.
Just after they had returned from thei
California trip. They came back sud
denly, you know, on account of Mrs
McKinley's health, you may remember
How long in vaudeville? Since tn
Seattle exposition I like vaudeville
more money and more independence II
: it. And want to say that in all m
: experience with orchestras for accom-
= paniments, CaIkin's orchestra in To
peka Is one of the best have eve
heard"