American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-03-27
DENIED HIM A KISS
And Rubinstein Repaid Her With
a Torrent Of Melody.
MOODS or THE GREAT MASTER

Composer In His Home In St. Peters
buro, When His Efforts at the Pian'
lsft Him Ashen Faced and Exhausted
In her "RecoIlections Of Rubinstein.
publisbed In Harpers Magazine. La
Han Nichia throws some new lights OF
the character and temperament OF one
Of the famous composers Of the last
century. Her earliest acquaintance
with Rubinstein was when, "a a child
she resided with her parents In Dub
lin. She afterward Travelled with him
during an English tour that the com
poser made and met him again IN st.
Petersburg at q rehearsal. when the
great master invited her to dinner that
same evening. The author says:
II spent the rest Of the afternoon
practising. and a little before 6 O'Clock
found myself at last In Rubinstein's
study amid all his intimate associa-
lions. touching the books and music
that belonged to him. sitting before
the piano he played on, glancfng over
the pages Of manuscripts that he had
Just dnIshed-in short, at home with
him. I found then that he was no
longer the sphinx mar Of the concert
platform. but a genial. gracious host,
asking after the friends | had recently
left In Frankfort and making inquiries
after those In Ireland and England.
especially after all young artists. for
whom he had a heart flowing over with
kindness and sympathy. Possibly his
own student days in Vienna. when
he had literally starved. had something
to do with this. At the dinner table
] found out he was thoroughly a bon
vivant.
After dinner | had to go through
the ordeal Of playing for him. and,
when | had finished. his m%anservant
brought in a card table. and we sat
to a game of vindt. a difficult
'ort of whist, much like present day
bridge. Rnbinstein and | were part
lers and lost shamefully-scarcely to
wondered at. for | had just learned
Whist but he insisted on playing again
again.
Native. the servant. then brought in
ca In the long Russian glasses with
heir silver holders. lemon, not cream.
'eins served. and one of the ladies
knowing | was a newcomer
nj ignorant of the fact that 1t was
II unwritten law us unalterable as
hat of the Modes and Persians thai
Is guests should o ask him to play,
'hispered to me to make him go to
Ne piano. Cheertully and innocently
Went up to him and. running my
rm through his. said coaxingiy:
DO come and play somethingv
His face changed in a moment. An
ninons silence fell on those present. |
ven the culprit who had led me- info
'e trap looked disturbed. AS for Ru-
nstein himself, he gave me a scowl
I'd fairly flung my hand away
NO, be said shortly. Il never play
ont forget this.
The sudden change In his mannar
lherved me. for the tears started TO
y eyes. and | stood gaping at him.
Il matter of fact. | was thorougblv
and taken aback. As
'h as k~uoinstein saw this his face
8 again, and. laughing. be held
ms hand to me alphabetically.
Wen. come; give me a kiss and
II play for your
I had Just reached the age when
kisses were not lightly given. Be
| was cut to the hearts core
u turned my head away In denial
what cried one of the woman
Could you refuse Anton
e cried Rubinstein. and lust
tnat | am going to play for her
for she is the first thar evar
i~tuplnsteln was in one of his RI rest |
and those of us who were nres-
VIII never forget the ineffobla |
uty OF the Chopin F major baIlodo |
he s'df'@d the opening theme. one of |
u pieces of that
ON Rubinstein had designated die
deS Fortepiano' When he had
shed h ballade he passed. almost
a pause, to the preludes. four
when ne played Then he dashed
his favorite mazurka and ended
d the heroic F sharp minor nolo.
* ACROSS the Don could 500
e figures huddled. as it were in foor
terror The thunders of thar mn.
rang through the room II vas .s
he Polish legions were MARCHING
rus outstretched, banners fyino
ening to die like heroes for faitb
country. singing their love songs
'htiy. although the funeral dirpa
to follow.
When Rubinstein had finished h,s
was ashen white. his breath was
In gasps. and be was labor,n,
r. the excitement caused by tha,
10y which. alas. a few a later
10 carry him OF! None Of ps
sed 1t then. for. bra why of bu,,d
ltient Of sympathy. scornine ali
" weaknesses. he hid his
nom those about him till too lata
a almost reached his sixt,ath
Hane dFk