The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1913-08-29
DENIED HIM A KISS
And Rubinstein Repaid Her With
a Torrent of Melody.
MOODS OF THE GREAT MASTER


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 Harper's Magazine, Lii
lian 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 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 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 @ 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 plano he played on, glancing over
the pages of manuscripts that he had
just flnished-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 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 out he was thoroughly bon
vivant.
"After dinner had to go through
the ordeal Of playing for him, and,
when I had finished. his rnanservant
brought In a card table, and we sat
down to game Of vindt. difficult
sort Of whist, much like present day
bridge Rubinstein and I were part
ncrs and lost shamefully-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 1t was
an unwrtten 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
the piano. Checrfully and innocently
| went up to him and running my
arm through his, said coaxingly:
"po come aud 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-
himself. be gave me scowl
and fairly flung my hand away.
mo he said shortly, i never play.
Don't forget this
'The sudden change In his manner
me, for the tears started to
my eyes, and ! stood gaping at him.
As matter of fact, was thoroughly
and taken aback. As
soon as Rublnstein saw this his face
again, and, laughing, ho held
,ut his hand to me apoloeetlcally.
"Well, come; give me kiss and !
will play for your
II had just reached the age when
my kisses were not lightly given. Be
sides, ! was cut to the hearts core,
md turned my head away In denial.
"Whatp cried one of the women
present, Could you refuse Anton
iregoriewitchT
YES cried Rubinstein, and just
or that am going to play for her
anyhow, for she is the first that ever
lidv
"Rubinstein was In one of his rarest
moods, and those of us who We're pres
mt will never forget the ineffable
'eauty OF the Chopin Il major ballade
$ he started the opening theme, one Of
he wonder pieces OF that composer
whom Rubinsteln had designated die
'eele des Fortepiano.' When he had |
nlshed the ballade he passed, almost |
Without Il pause, to the preludes, four
{ which he played Then he dashed |
nto his favorlte maZurka and ended |
With the heroic Il sharp minor polo.
lalse. Across the room could see
ONE fgures huddled, as It We're, In fear
nd terror Tho thunders Of that mu.
ic rang through the room. 1t was as
the Polish legions were marching,
words outstretched, banners flying,
fastening to die like heroes for faith
nd country, singing their love songs
although the funeral dirge
Ias to follow.
when Rubinstein had finished his
ace was ashen white. his breath was
oming In gasps, and he was laboring
nder the excitement caused by that
laladS which, alas, few years later
Tas to carry him off None of us
tessed II then, for, brawny of build.
Inpatient of sympathy, scorning all
odily weaknesses, he hid his suffer.
lgs from those about him TIL too late.
10 had almost reached his SixtIeth
ear, for ffty years subjectlng himself
lercllessly to the fierce and absorbing
,ys and sorrows OF the artist. and the
our OF reckoning was not far away.
fter he had putfed at his cigarette for
few minutes he stood up-the signal
lat It was near II o'clock and time for
; TO go"
Ths Sacred Goldfish.
The sa,sed goldfish carved In wood Is
hn epnn an tha wills nf tha hall nf