The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-06-30
STORIES OF LIST
How the Famous Master Played
to a Hidden Audience.
A SURPRISE AT THE FINISH.

and Company With Dismay, but
Proved a Case Of AlIs Well That
Ends Well-A snub For Taetless
( Baroness,
Liszt resented people coul ing on his
| playing When Baroness *. invelgled
him into promising to take tea with
her, because he knew her father, she,
ON his accepting. invited a lot of
friends, holding out hopes that Liszt
would play. She pushed the piano
! into the middle of the room-no one
I could have possibly failed to see it
Every one was on the qui vive when
Liszt arrived and breathless with an
ticipatiOn. Liszt, who had had many
surprises of this sort, | imagine, saw
the situation at glance. After several
people had been presented to him.
Liszt, with his most captivating smile,
said to the hostess:
Madam, where is your pianof' and
looked all about for the instrument
though 1t was within an inch of his
nose.
"Oh, monseigneurl Would you, really
2" advancing toward the piano,
triumphantly. You are too kind. 1
never should have dared to ask you"
And, waving her hand toward it.
Here is the pianop
"Ah, yes" said Liszt who dearly
loves joke, II wished to put my hat
ON It,"
Very crestfallen. but still undaunted,
the tactless baroness cried, But,
monseigneur, you will not refuse, II
only to play a scale-merely to touch
the pianor'
But Liszt, as unkind as she was tact
less, answered, coldly: Madam, l
never play my scales in the afternoon"
and turned his back on her and talked
with Madam Helbig.
On another occasion Liszt wrote to
me that he would bring some of his
songs to try over at o'clock. in
close his letter. What chance. thought
l, for me to give pleasure to some of
my friends who knew were longing
to see him. Although he had said entire
nous in his letter, and ] knew that he
really wanted to look through the songs
alone with me. l could not resist the
mptation-though 1t was such rank
disobedience-and said to them:
"Liszt Is coming to me at o'clock.
II you would like to hear him, and
consent to be hidden behind door,
will invite you"
They all accepted with rapture and
were assembled in the little salon be-
fore the time appointed. The door was
left open and large screen placed
before II.
Johan fetched Liszt in our carriage,
as he always does. received him and
the book of "Lleder," which he brought
with him (Only Johan and Nina were
presently He opened the book at Com
ment disaient ils?' one of his most
beautiful songs, which has an exquisite
but very difficult accompaniment He
played with fairy fingers, and we went
over 1t several times. could see the
screen swervIng and waving about.
but LISTS back was turned, so he
could not see 1t,
After we had finished tea was served,
and then he said, "Have you heard my
'Rigolettor"
YES" said. and added, but not
by you"
"Well." he said, II will play It for
you. Your piano is much better than
the one have. 1t is a pleasure to
play on it,
The screen now alive with emotion,
almost tipped over. After "Rigoletto"
he played LES Soirees de vienne,"
and this time the screen actually did
topple over and exposed to view the
group of badly frightened ladies' hud-
died behind 1t. shuddered to think
how the master would take this hOr-
rible treacbery.
He took II better than expected
in fact. he laughed outright. The la
dies came forward and were presented
TO him and were delighted. | am sure
that Lis2t was. too; mt any rate. he
laughed 80 much at my ruse and CON
triton that the tears rolled down his
cheeks He wiped them away with
his pocket handkerchief. which had an
embroidered II. l.. in the corner. This
he left behind and kept ii as SOU
venir - Nine. de Hegermann- Linden.
crOne in Harper's Magazine.