The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-03-07
DENIED HIM A KISS
And Rubinstein Repaid Her With
a Torrent of Melody.
MOODS OF THE GREAT MASTER

|
! In her 'RecollectiOns OF Rubinste,n," ;"
published In Harper's Magazine, Lii
| liam 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 I'm st.
! Petersburg mt a 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 q O'Clock
found myself at last I'm Rublnstein's
! study amid all his intimate associa
tlons, touching the books and music
that belonged 10 him, sitting before
the piano he played on. glancing over
the pages OF manuscripts that he had
just hnlshed-ln short, at home with
him. found then that he was no
longer the sphinx man Of the concert
platform, but n genial, gracious host
asking after the friends | had recently
left I'm Frankfort and making Inquiries
after those i'm ireland and England.
especially after all young artists. for
whom he had n heart flowing over with
kindness and sympathy. Possibly his
own student days I'm Vienna. when
he had literally starved had something
TO do with this. At the dinner table
/ found ont he was thoroughly n bon
vlvant.
after dinner I had to 90 through
the ordeal OF playing for him. and,
when | had finished. his mnnservant
brought I'm n card table, and we sat
down to game OF Yindt, n difficult
sort OF whist, much like present day
bridge. RubInsteln and | were part
ners and lost amefully-scarcely 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 newcomer
and ignorant OF the fact that It was
an unwrittcn law as unalterable as
that OF the McdeS and Pcrsians 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 something!
"IIis face changed in moment An
ominous silence fell on those present
Even the culprt who had led me into
the trap looked disturbed. AS for Ru-
binstein himself. he gave me n scowl
and fairly flung my hand away.
"'No,' he said shortly. 4 never play.
Don't forget this
The sudden change I'm his manner
unnerved me, for the tears started to
my eyes. and | stood gaping at him.
AS n matter OF fact, | 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 apologcticUlly.
"Well, come; give me kiss and
will play for your
'I 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 Gould you refuse Anton
GregoriewitchT
Yes. cried Rubinstein, and just
for that | am going TO play for her
anyhow, for she is the first that ever
didr
"Rubinstein was In one of his rarest
moods. and those of us who were pres
ent will never forget the inelIable
beauty of the Chopin + major ballade
as he started the opening theme, one Of
the wonder pieces OF that composer
whom Rubinstcin had designated die
Seele des l'ortepiano.' When he had
finished the ballade he passed almost
without pause, 10 the preludes. four
OF which he played. Then he dashed
into his favOrite maZurka and ended
with the heroic II sharp minor polo
naise Across the room could see
some figures huddled. as IL were. in fear
and terror. The thunders of that mu-
sic rang through the room. II was as
IL the Polish lcgions were marching,
swords outstrctched, banners dying.
Fastening To ,kc like heroes for faith
and country. singing their love songs
gallantly. although the funeral dirge
was To follow
when RuhinStcin had finished his
face was ushen white. his breath was
coming I'm CaspS. aud he was laboring
under the excitement caused 10y that
malady which. alas. n few years later
was To carry him on None W us
guessed II then. for. brHwuy Of bud.
inpatient of sympathy. scorning all
bodily weaknesses. he hid his suffer
ings from those about him till too late
He had almost reached his siNtieth
year. for fifty years subiecting himself
mercilessly To the fierce and absorbing
joys and sorrows OF the artist aud the
hour NJ rpgl.oufnv yyas unf far away