Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-10
GIVES HIS REC0LLECTI0NS
Learned to Play Piano Before He
Was Three Years Old.
GAVE PUBLIC CONCERT AT TEN
Warrington Dawson, American Au.
thor, Writes Book in French on
Negro Problem.


| ~~Aeu correspondence VI L Hc ctdf.
PARIS. April I. 1912.
DIR. Sadnt-Saens seems to have been as
much of q wonder child as Mozart. ac-
cording to his own account. He will
shortly publish his recollections of child
hood. His mother, who was fond OF music.
though she knew little about It, had made
up her mind that her eldest son would
be composer.
"She was therefore not surprised" says
DR.. Saint-Saens. when. just out of my
nurses arms. I began listening to every
noise. My greatest pleasure was the
symphony Of the kettle on the hob. I
used to listen with passionate interest to
its slow and surprising crescendo. and
finally its song, like that OF the oboe. Ber-
lioz must have listened to that same oboe,
for 1 heard it 'afterward in the .Damna-
ton of Faust in the Ride to He'll"
At two and half the infant Camille
got through LIE Carpenters method. No
one could find music for the child. The
only pieces brought him he refused to
play because the bass did not sing. They
and Camille could not put up with a bald
bass. At last music for him was found
in Hadyn and Mozart.
Composer at Five.
At five he played quite prettily and cor
rectly many sonatinas, but would consent
to play them only before persons capable
Of approaching them. He composed at
this age waltzes and galops.
At seven he had a piano master who
began by fixing an iron bar in front OF
the keyboard. on which the pupils hands
rested. Thus only the hands and wrists
moved, and arm motions were prevented
At ten he gave his first public concert
playing Beethoyen's c minor concerto
and one of Mozarts pieces, accompanied
by the orchestra Of the Italian Opera
But his mother did not want him to be.
come an infant prodigy, and put a stop
to his public appearances. She believed
in him, and when asked what music he
His own
Warrington Dawson. young American
author. whose novels. dealing with the
negro problem from the southern point Of
View. which are very well known, has
written book in French on the same
subject: 1t Is to be published in a few
days. The work is particularly interesting
Mr.. Dawson, who accompanied ex-Presi-
dent Roosevelt on his African hunting
expedition. has been able, from personal
observation, to draw comparisons between
the negro in his natural state and the
uc6Io ia AuicFsC3 ne TENOR OF MS ar
gument Is that the black man should be
treated as q black man and not as a
white man; that Is to say, with kindness
and sympathy, but not with false ideas
as to his capacities and possibilities The
two races should be kept In parallel lines,
but there should be no converging.
Thought Boy Detective.
Attired from head to foot in black, and
leading a bright little boy Of seven by
one hand, while he carried q bag in the
other. gentleman presented himself at
the police Office in this city. and, produc-
ing card. asked to be introduced to the
commissary. AS he is a medical man,
the magistrate thought that he had called
on professional business. and his amaze
ment may be imagined when, after the
dressed him: Everybody is aware that
the Paris police is badly organised. The
criminal detective department has not a
single clever officer. This being the case,
You will no doubt be pleased to hear that
I have discovered the detective for whom
all respectable people are longing. Will
you present him In my name to the pre-
lecturer
where is he?" the bewildered commits
proud reply 'It is my son. a marvel
ously clever boy. Just see how he can
be made up" And suiting the action to
the word, the doctor opened his bag and.
them ON the little lad. whose delight
knew no bounds. The commissary con-
trived. with q promise to look carefully
into the matter. to obtain the poor mans
address, and his fanny Is sending him to
a private hospital.