The Press., 1914-10-14
STORIES OF LISzT
How the Famous Master Played
 to a Hidden Audience.
A SURPRISE AT THE FINISH.

For a Moment It Filled the HOstess
 and Company With D'smay. but
 Proved a Case of AI's We'll That
 Ends WeIl-A Snub For a TactIess
 Baroness.
 Liszt resented people counting on his playing When Baroness lnveigled him into promising to take tea with her, because he knew her father. she. on ais accepting. invited d lot of friends, holding out hopes chat 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 LsZt arrived and breathless with an tdclpation. 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 ptanoT' and looked all about for the instrument though 1t was within an inch of his nose.
 "Oh, monseigneurI 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 pfano!''
 "Ah. yes." said Liszt. who dearly loves a joke. ''I wished to put my hat on it."
 Very crestfallen. but still undaunted. the tactless baroness cried. But. monseigneur. you will not refuse. if only to play a scale-merely to touch the pianOP'
 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 5 o'clock. In close his letter. What a chance. thought I. for me to give pleasure to some of my friends who knew were longing to see him. Although he had said entre nous in his letter. and 1 knew that be really wanted to look through the songs alone with me, l could not resist the emptat1on-thOugh it was such rank disobedience-and said to them:
 "Liszt is coming to me at o'clock If you would like to hear him. and consent to be hidden behind a 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 1t.
 Johan fetched Liszt 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 He opened the book at Com. ment disaient ilsT' 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 Liszt's back was turned. so he could not see it.
 After we had finished tea was served and then he said. ''Have you heard my 'RigOlettoT
 ''Yes," I said. and added 'but not by you"
 "Well." he said. 'I will play 1t for you Your piano is much better than the one l have. It 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 dled behind 1t. 1 shuddered to think how the master would take this nor rible treachery.
 He took 1t better than ! expected In fact. he laughed outright The Ia dies came forward and were presented to him and were delighted I am sure that Liszt 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 l his pocket handkerchief. which had an | F. l.. in the corner. This ! he left behind and kept 1t as a son | venir. - Mime de Hegermann- Linden | crone in Harper'S Magazine.