Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-08-21
OF LIST
How the Famous Master Played
to a Hidden Audience.
A SURPRISE At THE FINISH.

For Moment u FILLED ths Hostess
and Company With Dismay, but
Proved a Case Of Airs Well That
Ends Well-A snub For Taotless
Baroness. ntUA .l
Liazt resented people counting on his
playing When Baroness K. inveigied
him into promising to take tea with
hef, Because he knew her father, she,
on his accepting. invited 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 IT.
Every one was ON the qui vive when
Lisat 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.
List, with his most captivating smile,
said to the hostess:
''AiadaIn, where is your planoT and
looked all about for the instrument
though 1t was within an inch Of his
nose.
''Oh. nnonseigneuri Would you. really
= =" advancing toward the plano,
triumphantly. "You are too kind. /
never should have dared to ask you"
And, waving her hand toward It,
Here is the pianog'
"Ah, yes" said Llszt who dearly
loves joke. II wished to put my hat
on It,"
veV crestfallen. but still undaunted,
the tactless baroness cried, But,
monseigndur. you will not refuse, if
only to play scale-merely to touch
the pianow
But Liszt as unkind as she was tact
less, answered. coldly: MADAM.
never plqy.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. l In
close his letter. What chance, thought
|, 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. I could not resist the
mptation-though 1t was such rank
disobedience-and said to them:
"Liszt ia coming to me at o'clock.
If you would like to hear him, and
consent to be hidden behind a door,
viii 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 Iiszt I'm our carriage
as he always does. l received him and
the book OF "Lieder," which he brought
with him. (Only Johan and Nina were
presently He opened the book at "Com
mont disaient ilsY' one of his most
beautiful songs, which has an exquisite
but very difficult accompaniment He
played with fairy fingers, and we went
| ONtI IL HGNGItli lllllSn. NOuiO SCG IAAs
screen swerving and waving about
but LISTS back was turned, so hC
could not see it.
After we had finished tea was served
and then he said, "Have you heard my
'RigolettoP"
EYES," 1 said. and added, ''but moi
by you"
'Well," ne said, II will play it fol
you. Your plano Is much better thar
the one have It is a pleasure Il
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 die
topple over and exposed to view the
group of badly frightened ladies' hud
died behind 1t. l shuddered to thinh
how the master would take this hor
rible treachery.
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 Liszt was. too; at any rate. ht
laughed so much at my ruse and con
triton that the tears rolled down his
cheeks. he wiped them away witt
his pocket handkerchief. which had ar
embroidered f. L. in the corner. This
he left behind and / kept 1t as a sou