The daily Alaskan., 1913-04-07
DENIED 8II A KISS
And RubiEStain Repaid Her With
 a Torrent of Melody.
MOODS OF THE GREAT MASTER

Tho Climax to an Evening Wtth tho
 Composer In His Home ln st. Potoru.
 bur7 When tlis EHorts at ths Piano
 Loft Him Aahon Faced and Exhau5tod
 ln her "RecoIIecuons of Rublnstein," published tn Harpers Magazine LIl- Ham NIcbn throws some new lights on ,hc character and temperament of one of the famous composers of the last century. Her earliest acquaintance with Rub.nstclu was when, as a child, she resided with her parents In Dub IIu. She afterwurd travelled wIth him during au English tour that the com. poser made and met hlm again in st Petersburg at a rehearsal. when the great master Invited her Go dinner chat same evening. The author says:
 "I spent the rest of the afternoon practising. and little before 6 o'clock found myself 0t last ln Ruhnstein'g study amid all his Intimate associa- lions. touching the books and music that belonged to him, sitting before Che plano he played on. glancIng over Che pages of manuscripts that be had just dnlshcd-ln short 0t home with him. fouud then that be w0s no longer Che sphinx man of the concert platform. but a genial, gracious host asking after fHc friends ! had recently left ln Frankfort and making Inquiries after those Iu Ireland aud England, especially aftcr 0T young artists, for whom be had a heart flowing over with kindness and sympathy. Possibly bis own student days In Vienna when be hadIltcruIly starved, had something to do with this At the dinner table found ont hc was thoroughly a bon vIvant
 After dinner had to go through the ordeal Of playing for hIm, and, when bad finished h.s manservant brought lu a card table. and we sat down to game 0f vIndt a difficult sort of whist much like present day bridge RublUstcIn md ! were part ncrs and lost shamcfuIly- to bc wondered at, foI | hnd lust learned whIst-but he Insisted on playing again and again
 "Matye. the servant then brought in tcu u Che long Russian glasses with tHrlr silver holders, lemon. not cream, being served. and one of the Indies present, Knowing ! wus a newcomer and ignorant Of the fact that lt was un unwrittpn law ns unuitcrahlc as umt of the Mcdcs md Pcrsians that Hs guests should u0t usk hIm Co play, whispered Go me Co make hlm go to thu piano. ChccruIIy and luucccntly went up Co bIm and running my um through uls. Hid conyingIy:
 "'uu come and play somcthingH
 "UIs face changed in a moment An omIu0us silence foll on those present Even tnp cuIDrIt who bad led me Into rhr crap looked disturbed AS for Ru' bIustuIu himself hc gave me a scowl and fairly dung my hand away.
 No. be said shortly. q never play. Don't forget thls
 ~The sudden change In hIs manner mueryed me, for the tears started to my eyes. and stood gaping at him. As mutter Of fact was thoroughly disconccrted and taken aback. As soon as RubInsteln saw thls bis face changed uEglu, and, laughing, he held out his hand to me apologedcally.
 "'Wcl, come; give mo kiss and ] win play for your
 "I had lust 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
 "Whatr cried one of the women present Could you refuse Anton GregorIewitchT
 "'ycs.' cried RubingteIn and just for tbat am going to play for her anyhow for she Is the first that ever dldr
 "RubInstcn was ln one Of his rarest moods. and those of us who were pres ent win never forget the ineGable beauty of the Chopin P major ballade as he started the opening theme, one of the wonder pieces of that composer whom Rublnsteln had designated ale SceIe des Forteplano' When ho had Finished the boIl0de ho passed almost without a pause, to the preudes, four Of which he played. Then be dashed Into his fuyorlte mazurka and ended with the heroic Q sharp minor polo nalse. Across the room ! could sec some figures huddled, as it were, in fear and terror The thundcrB of that mu. sic rang through the room It wac as lf the Polish lcgIons were marching, swords outs,retched, banners flying, hastpuIng to die Ike heroes for faith and country. singing their love songs galDauUy although the funeral dIrgo was Co follow
 "Whon Rublustclu bad finished hls Cace wus ushcu white, his breath was coming iu gasps, and he wus l0borins under the excitement caused by that mal0dy which aIos. a few years later was Co carry hlm oGl None of us guessed lt then, for, brawny of build, Impatient of sympathy, scorning an bodily weaknesses, be hid his suffer urs from those about him ull too late. He had almost reached bIs 8lZtleth ycar. for arty years subjectng himself