The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-06-17
DENIED HIM A 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 ST. Peters
burg, When His Efforts at the Piano
Left Him Ashen Faced and Exhausted
In her "Recollections of Rubinstein,"
published in Harpers Magazine, Lii
Ian Nichia throws some new lights on
the character and temperament 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 a rehearsal, when the
great master invited her to dinner that
same evening The author says:
II spent the rest Of the afternoon
practising, and little before G o'clock
found myself at last In Rubinsteins
study amid all bis intimate associa.
tons. touching the books and music
that belonged to him. sitting before
the piano he played on. CHANGING over
the pages of manuscripts that he had
Just finished-in short. at home with
him. found then that he was no
longer the sphinx man of the concert
platform, bN 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 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 ont he was thoroughly a bon
yivant
After dinner had to 60 through
when | had finished. his manservant
brought in card table, and we sat
down 10 game of vindt. a difficult
sort of whist. much like present day
bridge Ruhinstein and | were part
ners and lost sha niefully to
be wondered at. for ! 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 unwritten law as unalterable as
that OF the Modes and Persians that
bis guests should not ask him to play,
whispered to me to make him go to
the piano. Cheerfully and innocently
went up to him and. running my
arm through his. said coaxingly:
"'Do come and play something's
"His face changed in a moment An
ominous silence fell on those present
Even the cuprit who had led me into
the trap looked disturbed. AS for Ru-
binstein himself. he gave me a scowi
and fairly 6ung my hand away.
mo he said shortly. i never play.
Don't forget this.
THE sudden change in his manner
unnerved me, for the tears started TO
my eyes. and | stood gaping at him.
As matter Of fact, l was thoroughly
disconnected and taken aback. AS
soon as Rubinstein saw this his face
changed again. and. laughing. he held
out his hand to me apologetically.
well, come; give me kiss and
will play for your
II had Just reached the age when
my kisses we're not lightly given. Be
sides, | was cut to the hearts core.
and | turned my head away In denial.
"'whatr cried one of the women
present Gould you refuse Anton
Gregoriew itchr
Yes cried Rubinstein. and just
for that am going to play for her
anyhow. for she is the FIRST that ever
didr
"Rubiustein was in one of his rarest
moods. and those OF US who were pres
ent will never forget the ineGable
beauty OF the Chopin F major ballade
as he started the opening theme. one OF
the wonder pieces Of that composer
whom Rubinstein had designated die
Seele des Fortepiano.' When he had
finished the ballade he passed. almost
without pause, TO the preludes, four
Of which he played Then he dashed
into his favorite mazurka and ended
with the heroic F sharp minor polo
naise. Across the room ! could see
some figures huddled. as II were, in fear
and terror The thunders Of that mu-
sic rang through the room. Ii was as
II the Polish legions were marching.
swords outstretched. banners flying.
fastening to die like heroes for faith
and country. singing their love songs
calamity, although the funeral dirge
was to follow.
when Rubinstein had finished his
face was asheu white. his breath was
coming in gasps. and he was laboring
under the excitement caused by that
malady which. alas, a few years later
was to carry him OIL None OF us
guessed It then. for. brawny Of build.
impatient OF sympathy. scorning all
bodily weaknesses. he hid his suffer
Ings from those about him till too late.
He had almost reached his sixtieth
year. for City years subjecung himself
mercilessly to the fierce and absorbing
Joys and sorrows OF the artist. and the
hour OF reckoning was not far away.
After be bad pulled at his cigarette for
a few minutes he stood up-the signal
that II was near n O'Clock and time for
Us to go"