Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-05-04
DENIED HlM 4 KISS
Ard Rubinstein Repaid Her With
 a Torrent of Melody.
MOODS OF THE GREAT MASTER

burg, When His Efforts at the Piano
 Left F4irn Aahan Faced and Exha austad
 In her "Recoilections of Ilubnste n, published in Harper's Magazine. Iii Han Nichia throws some new lights on the character and temDera rnent of one of the famous composers of the last century Her earliest acquaintance with RHbinstein was when, as q child, she resided with her parents in DGb lin She afterward traveled with him during ar 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:
 'I spent the rest of the afternoon practising, and q little before ( o'clock found myself at last in Rubnstcins $ study amid all his intimate associa tions. touchihg 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 fnished-in short at home with him. 1 found then tlqt he was ;.o ! longer the sphinx man of the concert : platform. but genial. gracious hosF asking after the friends I had recently left in Frankfort and making inquiries after those in Ireland and England, i especially after a!l 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 I found out he was thoroughly bon vivant
 After dinner I had to go through the ordeal of playing for him. and, when I had finished. his manservant brought in a card table. and we sat down to game of vindt. difficult sort of whist, much like present day bridge. Rubinstein and 1 were part ners and lost hamefully-scarcely to i be wondered at, for had inst learned whist-but be insisted on playing again and again.
 "Matve. the servant, then brought in 1 tea in the long Russian glasses with l their silver holders. lemon, not cream. | being served, and one Of the ladies present. knowing 1 was newcomer 1 and ignorant of the fact that it was an unWritten law as unalfera ble as I that Of the Medes and Persians that i bis guests should not ask him to play, whispered to me to make him go to the piano. Checrfnlly and innocentIy 1 went up to him and, running my arm through his, said coayingy:
 "'Do come and play something"
 His face changed in a moment AZ ominous silence fell on those present i Even the cnlprit who had led me into i the trap looked disturbed. As for lsu- i binstein himself he gave me scowI and fairly flung my hand away,
 No he said shortly. I never play Don't forget this.
 '"The sudden change in his manner unnerved ne, for the tears started to my eyes, and l stood gaping at him. As a matter of fact, l was thoroughly 1 disconcerted and taken aback. AS soon as RubiRstein saw this his face changed again, and, laughing he held out his hand to me apoloseticaily.
 Well, come; give me kiss and ] will play for you3
 II had just reached the age when my kisses were not lightly given. Be sides, was cut to the hearts core and I turned my head away in denial
 "'Whatr cried one of the women present. Could you refuse Anton Gregoriewitch?'
 "'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 ineffaElc beauty of the Chopin F major bailaf!e 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 lie played. Then he dashed into his faYofte maZurka and ended with the heroic r sharp minor polo naiSc. Across the room l could see some figures huddlcd, as 1t were. in fear and terror. The thnnders of that mu- sic rang through the room. It was as If the Polish legions were marching. swords outstretched, banners flying. hastening to die like heroes for faith and country. singing their love songs Sallantly, although the funeral dirge was to follow.
 When Rubinstein had finished his face was ashen white, his breath was coming in gasps, and he was laborine under the excitement caused by that malady which. alas, a few years later was to carry him off! None of Us guessed it then, for, brawny of build impatient of sympathy, scorning al bodily weaknesses, he hid his suffer ings from those about him till tod late