Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-07-10
STORIES OF LIST
How the Famous Master Played
to a Hidden Audience.
4 SURPRISE At THE FINISH.


For . Moment Il Filled the Hostess
and Company With Dismay, but
Proved . Case Of AIPs Well That
Ends VOLTA Snub For q Tactics
Baroness.
List resented people counting on his
playing. When Baroness K. inveigled
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
could have possibly failed to see 1t.
Every one was on the Out vive when
Liszt arrived and breathless with an
hcipation. List. who had had many
surprises Of this sort, l imagine. saw
the situation at glance. After several
people had been presented to him.
List, with his most captivating smile,
said to the hostess:
MuOuAs uCAC 40 yOu1 P10AOt oAu
looked all about for the instrument
though 1t was within an inch of his
nose.
"Oh, monseigneur! Would you. really
?" 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 pianov'
"Ah. yes" said Liszt, who dearly
loves a 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 piano!'
But Liszt. as unkind as she was tact
less. answered. coldly: Madam.
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 8 o'clock. in
close his letter. What chance. thought
I, for me to give pleasure to some Of
my friends who I knew were longing
to see him. Although he had said entire
nous in his letter. and l knew that he
really wanted to look through the songs
alone with me. could not resist the
emptation-though it was such rank
disobedience-and said to them:
"Liszt is coming to me at 8 o'clock
If 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 a large screen placed
before it
Johan fetched List in our carriage
as he always does. received him and
the book Of "Lieder," which he brought
with him. (Only Johan and Nina were
presently lie opened the book at Com
ment disaicnt tls?" one Of his most
beautiful songs. which has an exquisite
but very difficult accompaniment He
played with fairy fingers. and we went
over it several times. I could see the
screen swcrving and waving about.
but Lists back was turned. so be
could not see it.
After wa had finished tea was served.
and then h. said. "Have you heard my
'Rigolettoy
"Yes.' said. and added. ''but not
by you"
SWELL" he said, II will play It for
you. Your piano Is much better than
the one | have. It is a pleasure to
play on It."
The screen. now alive with emotion,
almost tipped over. After "Rigoletto"
he played lies Soirees de Vienne."
and this time the screen actually did
topple over and exposed to view the
group of badly frightened ladies bud.
died behind it. l shuddered to think
how the master would take this hor-
rible treachery.
He took It better than l expected
in fact. be laughed outright The Ia
dies came forward and were presented
to him and were delighted. am sure
that List was. too; at any rate, be
laughed 30 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
he left behind and kept it as SOU
venir. - Nine. de Hegermann. Linden.
crOne in Harper's Magazine.