Evening journal., 1914-02-12
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
When TSChoikOwSky Direct
ed his Concerts In America
81 Holland.

In mid-sDring of 1891 the great
music hall in New York, which is
called Carnegie Hall. was to be dedi-
Gated. and it was the wish of those
prominent in musical life in New
York and elsewhere in the United
States that the dedication ceremo-
nies be made especially impressive
through the presence Of some of the
great musicians of the world.
Walter Damrosch was sent to Eu-
rope for the purpose of inviting some
distinguished musicians. His chief
object when he went was to secure
the famous Russian composer,
Tschaikowsky He was successful
in obtaining Tschaikowsky consent.
He promised to conduct his own
piano concerto and was especially
gratiied to learn that Adele Aus der
Ohe would be the sOloist who would
play the piano part in that great
composition.
Tschaikowsky was greeted with
long-continued applause when he
took his place upon the little plat
form where the conductor Of the or
chestra stood. He was seen TO be a
typical Russian in personal appear
ance His beard was scraggly aud
a pale russet color as was his hair
His complexion was very fair, like
that of a child, and his eyes were
blue, sometimes darkening when un-
der excitement.
II was observed that during the
pauses he turned toward one of the
boxes and made a slight nod Of
recognition. To that tribute he re-
ceiyed a response by just waving
of the hand. The owner of the
hand was concealed behind the box
curtain. Yet there were many in
that audience who knew that these
communications of friendship and re-
spect passed between James G. Blaine
and Peter Ilyitch Tschaikowsky. None
realized that this was to be the last
public appearance of Mr. Blaine at
any place CT amusement He was, in
fact. taken severely i'll at the close
of that concert and never regained
his health.
BY invitation of Tschaikowsky
called upon him at his hotel the next
morning. ] found him standing be-
side a piano which was open. On top
of the piano was scattered manu-
script OF music, and It was at once
apparent that the composer was en-
gagged in composition. He evidently
was a true Russian with fondness
for the cigarette. of which he con-
sumed many during my call.
He said to me among other things:
THAT great hall. that audience whose
enthusiasm and friendliness inspired
me, the splendid orchestra which
conducted and which played my
music so well and the wonderfully
brilliant manner in which Aus der
Oho played the piano part in my con-
certO filled my heart with gratitude.
but there was something greater than
all this for me to remember. was
hOnored by the presence of your great
man, Mr.. Blaine. From my place at
the conductors stand, I could see
that he was listening with intense
pleasure to my music shall 20
back TO Russia with one recollection
which will never be dimmod, and that
Is that ! have known one Of the
greatest men of the world. for so ]
esteem Mr.. Blaine. We had heard of
him IN Russia. He seemed to Us
there a great man, but he is one OF
tho men whose true greatness can
only be appreciated or understood by
those who have been brought under
his personal influence. When go
back TO Russia shall tell my
friends it was we'll worth my trip
across the seas TO meet Mr. Blaine. -
IT is a strange coincidence that
both Mr.. Blaine and Tschaikowsky
died in the same year, 1898, only a
few weeks apart
Copyright, 1914, by e. j. Edwards.
All rights reseTved.)
Tomorrow NJ. Edwards will tell of
Tweed's Hostile Reception in a
Spanish Port"