The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-03-11
DENIED DEF II' him | 4 KISS
And Rubinstein Repaid Her With
a Torrent Of Melody.
MOODS OF THE GREAT MASTER
The Climax TO an Evening With the
Composer In His Home In 81. Peters.
burg, When HE Efforts At the Piano
Left Him Ashsn Faced and Exhausted

Composer In His Home In 81. Peters.
burg, When HE Efforts at the Piano
Left Him Ashsn Faced and Exhausted
In her "RecoIlections of Rubinstcin,"
published In IIarpers Magazine. Lii.
han Nichia throws some new tights on
the character and tempera ment Of one
Of the famous composers Of the last
century. Her, earliest acquaintance
with Rubinstein was when. as 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 n rehearsal. when the
great master invited her to dinner that
same evening. The author says:
81 spent the rest Of the afternoon
practising. and little before o'clock
found myself at last In Rubinstein's
study amid all his intimate associa-
tions. touching the books and music
that belonged to him. sitting before
the piano he played on. glancing over
the pages Of manuscripts that he had
just tinishe,l-in short. at home with
him found then that he was no
longer the sphinx man Of the concert
platform. but genial gracious host,
asking after the friends I had recently
left IN Frankfort and making inquiries
after those in Ireland and England.
especially after all young artists. for
whom he had 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 ont he was thoroughly bon
vivant
"After dinner I had TO 60 through
the crd"al Of playing for him. and.
when ! had finished. his manservant
brought In card table. and we sat
down 10 q game Of vindt. a difficult
sort Of whist. much like present day
bridge. Rubinstein and | were part
ners and lost shameful scarcely TO
be wondered at. for I had just learned
whist-but he insisted on playing again
and again.
NATIVE. the servant. then brought In
tea In the long Russian glasses with
their silver holders. lemon. not cream.
being served. and one OF the ladies'
present. knowing ! was a newcomer
and ignorant OF the fact that 1t was
an unwrittcn law as unalterable as
that OF the Medes and Persians that
his guests should not ask him to play,
whispered TO me TO make him go to
tho piano. Checrfully and innOcently
! went up to him and, running my
arm through his. said coaxingly:
DO come and play somethingv
"His face changed In moment. An
ominous silence fell ON those present.
Even the culprit who had led me into
the trap looked disturbed. As for Ru.
binstcin himself, he gave me n scowl
and fairly flung my hand away.
NO he said shortly. i never play.
Don't forget this.
The sudden change In his manner
unnervcd me, for the tears started to
my eyes. and ! stood gaping mt him.
As n matter Of fact, | was thoroughly
disconnected and taken aback. AZ
soon as Rublnsteln saw this his face
changed again. and. laughing. he held
out his hand to me apolOgetitally.
"Wcll, come; give me kiss and
will play for you!
Il had Just reached the age when
my kisses were not lightly given. Be
sides. / was cut TO the hearts core,
and turned my head away In denial
what. cried one of the women
present, could you refuse Anton
GregoricwitchT
"'Ies. cried Rubinstein. and just
for that | am going TO play for heI
anyhow. for she Is the first that ever
didr
"Rubinstcin was In one OF his rnres
moods, and those Of us who were pres
ent will never forget the inetfablt
beauty Of the Chopin r major ballad'
as he started the opening theme, one o
the wonder pieces Ut that composer
WHOM, Rubinstein had designated 'dl,
Seele lies Fortepiano.' When he ha,
finished the ballade hs passed. almOs
without pause, 10 the preludes. fOu
Of which he played. Then he dashet
into his favorite mazurka aud endet
with the heroic II sharp minor polo
nalse. Across the room could se,
some figures huddled. as Il were In fea
and terror The thunders Of that mu
sic rang through the room. II was a
II the Polish legions were marching
swords ontstretched. banners hyinr
Fastening to die like hcrose FOR faitl
and country. singing their lovs' song
gallantly. although the fupsrrl dirg
was 10 follow.
"when Rubinstein had nnisAed hi
face was ashcu white. bis breath wa
coming in gasps, and he WAS laborin
under the excitement "aNsed by tina
Malady which, alas, II few years late
was TO carry him on! None Of u
guessed Il then. for, brAwny Of built
impatient of sympathy. scorning a
bodily Weaknesses. he hid his sutfeI
hugs from those about him TIL too late
| huL al olnuxl hta et lsAt