The Washington herald., 1914-02-12
HlsToRY DuIDERs
~ TssAsILsvsh Dtseasa + c.

cerh = Anaiea.
twztsm nksss-as = ne wasai.sss. HsssA,
fBy =. }. EDwARDg.
IN mid-spring Of Issl the great mus'c
j han in New York. which h ealIsd
Carnegie Han. was to be dedicated. and
II was the wish OF those prominent In
musical life In New York and elsewhere
csremonies be made especially impressive
through the presence Of some Of the great
mustcians OF the world.
Walter Damrosch was sent to Europe
for tho purpose Of inviting some dis
tinguished musicians. His chief object
when he went was to secure the famous
Russian composer. Tschaikowsky. He
was successful In obtaining Tschafkow-
sky's consent. He promised to conduct
his own piano concerto and was espe-
ctally gratihed to learn that Adele Aus
der Oh would be the soloist who would
play the piano In that great composition.
Tschsikowsky was greeted with long
continued applause when he took mis-
place upon the little platform where tine
conductor Of the orchestra stood. He
was seen TO be . typical Russian In per-
sonal appearance. His beard was scrag-
ely and q pale russet color. as was his
hair. His complexion was very fair. like
that OF Q child. and his eyes wero blue.
sometimes darkening when under excite
ment
1t was observed that during the pauses
he turned toward one Of the boxes and
made q slight nod Of recognition. To
that tribute he received n response by
just waving OF the hand. The owner
Of the hand was concealed behind the
hng . In, " mar ma In
that audience who knew that these COM
munications of friendship and respect
paused between James q. Blaine and
Peter nyitch Tschaikowsky. None real
ised that this was to be the last public
appearance Of Mr.. Blaine at any place
of amusement. He was. In fact. taken
severely Ill at the close of that concert
and never regained his health.
By invitation Of Tschsikowsky called
upon him at his hotel the next morning.
I found him standing beside q piano
whfeh was open. On top Of the piano
was scattered manuscript OF music. and
Il was at once apparent that tho CON-
poser was engaged In composition. He
evidently was q true Russian with q
fondness for the cigarette. OF which he
consumed 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 ohe played the piano part
in my concerto filed my heart with graf.
itude, but there was something greater
than all this for me to remember.
was shonored by the presence OF your
great man. Mr.. Blaine. From my place
at the conductors stand could see thai
he was listening with intense pleasure
to my music. I shall go back to Rus
sia with one recollection which VIII never
be dimmed, and that Is that I have
known one Of the greatest men Of the
world. for SO I esteem Mr.. Blaine. We
had heard OF him in Russia He seemed
to US thee q great man. but he is one
of the men whose true greatness can only
be appreciated or understood by those
who have been brought under his per
sonai influence. When go back to Rus
sia shall tell my friends It was vel
worth my trip ACROSS the seas to meet Mr.
Blaine"
1t il a strange coincidence that bott
Mr.. Blaine and Tschaikowsky died in tho
same year. 1893. only u few weeks apart
Copyright. islD