Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1914-10-29
STORIES OF LIST
How the Famous Master Played
to a Hidden Audience.
A SURPRISE AT THE FINISH.
For Moment It Filled the Hostess
and Company With Dismay, but
Proved Case of Alps Well That
Ends WelI-A Snub For a Taotless
Baroness.


Ends WelI-A Snub For a Taotless
Baroness.
i Liszt resented people counting on his
playing When Baroness Z. inveigled
him into promising to take tea with
her, because he knew her father, she,
on bis accepting. invited a lot of
I friends, holding out hopes that List
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 viye when
List arrived and breathless with an
| dcfpation. List, who had had many
surprises of this sort, imagine, saw
the situation at a glance. After several
people had been presented to him.
List, with his most captivating smile.
said to the hostess:
Madam, where. is your pianoY- and
looked all about for the instrument
though it was within an inch of his
nose.
"Oh, monseigneurI 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'
"Ah, yes" said List. who dearly
loves a Joke. 81 wished TO put my hat
on it"
Very crestfallen. but still undauntpd.
the tactless baroness cried. But,
monseigneur. you will not refuse. If
only to play a scale-merely to touch
the pianoP'
But List, as unkind as she was tact
less, answered, coldly: Madam. /
never play my scales in the afternoon
with Madam Helbig.
On another occasion List wrote to ,
me that he would bring some Of his 1
songs to try over at 5 o'clock. | in l.
close his letter. What a chance. thought
I, for me to give pleasure to some of
my friends who / knew were longing
10 see him. Although be had said entire
nous in his letter. and / knew that be
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 O'Clock
II you would like to hear him. and
consent to be hidden behind door. |
will invite you"
They all accepted with rapture and
we're assembled In the little salon be
fore the time appointed The door was
eft open and large screen placed
before it
Johan fetched List in our carriage
Is he always does. received him and
he book of "Lieder,' which he brought L
With him. (Only Johan and Nina were e
presently He opened the book at Com [
nent disaient ils?'' one of lifs most c
,eautiful songs, which has an exquisite c
,ut very difficult accompaniment He n
,layed with fairy fingers. and we went .
ver it several times | could see the !.
Green swervlng and waving about. :
tut LISTS back was turned. SO he
ould not see It
After we had finished tea was served Z
nd then he said. Have you heard ms C
RigolettoY t.
"Yes," 1 said. and added. but not D
y you" v
"Well." he said. II will play it for -
on. Your piano is much better than
be one l have. 1t IL a pleasure to :
lay ON it" u
The screen. now alive with emotion. 81
lmost tipped over. After "Rigoletto" c
e played Les Soirees de vienne."
nd this time the screen actually did b,
,pple over and exposed to view the b,
,ou,, of badly frightened ladies hud-
ed behind it l shuddered to think
DIV the master would take this hor
bic treachery-
He took it better than | expected
fact, he laughed outright The la
les came forward and were presented
him and were delighted | am sure
Iat List was, too; at any rate. he Y
ughed so much at my ruse and con-
ition that the tears rolled down his 4
leeks He wiped them away with b
s pocket handkerchief. which bad an ,
F. L. in the corner This o
, left behind and kept 1t as SOU ,
mir = Nine de Hegermann-Lnden
one In Harper's Magazine.