The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1914-07-24
STORIES OF LIST
How the Famous Master Played
TO a Hidden Audience.
A SURPRISE AT THE FINISH.

For o Moment u Filled the Hostess
and Company With Dismay, but
Proved Case OF AIps Well That
Ends WeIl-A snub For a Tactless
Baroness.
List resented people counting on his
playing. When Baroness X. inyeigled
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 List
would play. She pushed the piano
could have possibly failed to see it.
Every one was on the qui vive when
List arrived and breathless with an
ticipation. List, who had had many
surprises Of this sort, | imagine. saw
the situation at glance. After several
people had been presented to him.
List. with his most captivating smile.
said to the hostess:
MADAM, where Is your pianor' and
looked all about for the instrument
though Ii was within an inch of his
nose.
"Oh, monseigneur! Would you, really
2" advancing toward the piano,
triumphantly. "You are too kind.
never should have dared to ask you"
And, waving her hand toward it.
"Here is the pianor' 'sf.~-. s-.,.i
"Ab. yes" said Liszt who dearly
loves joke, 81 wished to put my hat
OMIT" ~~~
VERY crestfallen. but still undaunted,
the tactless baroness cried, But,
monseigneur, you will not refuse, II
only to play scale-merely to touch
the pianor' 4, -" re.
'"..Rsf List, as unkind as she was tact
I&N. answered. coldly; Madam,
.,asyer play my scales In the afternoon"
and turned his back on her and talked
With Madam Helbig,
On another OCCASION List wrote to
me that be would bring some OF his
songs TO try over at s o'clock. in
elose his letter. What chance, thought
foy me to give pleasure to some OF
ny friends who I knew were longing
70 see him. Although he had said entire
nous In his letter. and knew that be
really wanted to look through the songs
alone With me. I could not resist the
tnmpta tion-though It was such rank
disobedience-and said to them:
"Iiszt is coming to me at O'Clock
II you would like to hear him. and
consent to be hidden behind door. !
viii invite you" .v's- s,s.,--'.---
.l.Tbey all accepted with rapture end
we're assembled In the little salon be
fSre the time appointed. The door WIS
isft opep and large screen placed
Se{ore Il ~sssssA, s-,--rss e.
Johan fetched List In our carriage,
- b always does. received him and
tAs book OF "Lleder," which he brought
With him (Only Johan and Nina were
Srssent, he Opened the book at Com.
msht disaient ils?'' one Of his most
thauhful songs, which has an exquisite
bot very difficult accompaniment He
played with fairy fingers. and we went
over Il several times. ! could see the
screen swerving and waving about
but Liszt's back was turned, SO he
Scould not see 1t. &xss4IsAsi''~!s--"'
After we had finished tea was served.
and then be said. "Have you heard my
'RiRolettor"
d ~yes," said. and added. but not
by you"
"Weli." he said. 81 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"
be 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 it. shuddered to think
how the master would take this hor
rible treachery.
He took II better than ! expected
10 fact. he laughed outright The la
dies came forward and We're presented
TO him and were delighted am sure
that List was, too: at any rate. he
laughed so 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 F. l.. in the corner. This
be left behind and kept 1t as SOU
yeDir. - Nine. de Hegermann.I.inden-
crope In Harper's Magazine.
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