The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1913-01-21


1t is something to have had the honor
of interviewing so great a celebrity as
Herr Xaver Scharwenka.
| admit that / had many misgivings
when l went to call on him yesterday.
In the first place, the distinguished pi-
anist speaks very little English and
speak practically no German, my vocab-
ulary being confined mostly to different
brands of beer, and an occasional trte
phrase like "Sprechen sic Deutsch," Itch
lebe Dich," mach die Theure zu," and
"Wie gent es linen"
So
Mr. and Mrs. William Gussen, who were
the very charming hosts of Herr Schar-
wenka during his visit. and both of
whom by the by, are fluent German schol-
airs, had to act as Interpreter" which
was a novel experience to me, since |
usually do my cwn talking.
When 1 went to the Gussen studio to
meet Herr scharwenka, 1 was told that
he was "practiclng.
What" | exclaimed, 80 grand a mas
ter as he must still practice"
Wasn't that foolish thing to say when
any sane person knows that the bigger
the artist, the harder the work that he
does and the more of it, too?
Any way
1t was only few minutes before Herr
Scharwenka was ready to act as Inter
viewee" and after a most cordial greeting
from the great virtuoso, he meekly sat
down beside the table and, folding his
hands, said:
ir, r.Ifo oh pf
own mother She was a very, very good
mother to me- and she was Polish. My
father was a Bohemian, from Prague. IN
1890 his ancestors emigrated to Germany"
OF course. L hadn't an idea what tie
gentleman was saying, but MIR. and Mrs
GRssen were cenvulsed with laughter,
and | thought, OF course, he was talking
about me- but / found out very differ
emily.
The distinguished pianist had been in
terviewed' before
In fact, everywhere he has been in this
country he has been interviewed, ana
it was his way of Just starting at the very
beginning and telling his story, before I'd
had a chance to ask him single ques-
ton.
OH this deadly game of interview!
Anyway, he knows it by heart.
"All of my ancestors were architects
only two of us being musicians-nly
brother Philip and myself. Up to the
present time / have four children.
He said this last sentence III EnSiish
and | shreked.
why do you laugh?' he asked serious.
~ Abraham begat a son at the age OF
one hundred and four."
Ahem.
Goodness gracious; Mercy me-
zone daughter, the Oldest. is painter,
said Herr Scharwenka. "Kullak is her
godfather Liszt was the godfather of my
second daughter. Ny daughter, 1soiue, Is
a musician, not professional, but Just ior
the love of music. while my son-he is
LAWYER What do YOU call them in Amer
| lea? Liars Yah; That is It,"
| DO I make this intelligent -interlsrd-
| ing his English with my German, and vice
versa?
| Oh. it was lovely, believe me.
| "Who is your favorite composer? |
asked after he'd gotten all the first for
| NAL interview questions over with
| ..Xayer Schawenka.' he laughinSly re-
piled.
Don't YOU love his sense of humor?
| II is perfectly delicious and absolutely
saved the day for me, because If, he d
taken me seriously. I'd have gotten rat
| tled," and-there YOU are!
| I should have known that Herr Sonar
wenka was witty, for was 1t not his very
own father who on a visit to America
and being shown through the Druckefei
| (printing shop Of one of the great pun
| fishers at the close of the inspection said:
| ,Now. will you not show We through
/, ,our northumberland (re-printing shop.
| But addressing.
returning to the subject of favorite
| oo,,nosers. Herr Scharwenka very clev-
erlv expressed his preference by saving
| mat all good composers were his favor
| ties.
Ntontaomerv. Mr.. Edward Freeman of Eu-
| fa,,la and DR. W. F. Turnipseed. I'M
mediately after the ceremony Mr. Chand-
Ter and his bride will leave for a we'd
a,ng trip and after several weeks will be
| =. ta,oa tn their friends at AS South