Trench and camp., 1918-07-14
At NINE MOYER
WAS STAR PIANIST
Story Of How Kaiser Played for
Him Is Related in Hostess
House Meeting.

One hears of the marvellous work In
music that Is being done by men in
the several regiments. but 1t Is at
the Hostess House that. the greater
artists gather in the evening. making
Of 1t q sort OF Little Bohemia"
minus the Broadway lights.
The door opened Wednesday night
and Blonknagel of the 313th Infantry
Band walked in, having with him Aus
tin Conradi OF the same regiment, one
Of the most celebrated young pianists
in America, Martenet. Of headquarters,
313th, a very capable vocalist and
Padolski, OF headquarters, same or
ganization. who plays superbly on the
piano.
Like the Home Circle.
As they entered David E. Meyer.
headquarters, 315th Infantry. was
playing a wonderful thing from Cho-
pin that had the diners hating their
forks IN mid Lair, 1t was so enthrall-
ing. The 313th party took chairs about
the player and Meyer performed as IL
he were sitting in the parlor Of his
own home.
Conversation turned to Meyers his
tory and 1t was shown that he had
started his musical training at the age
Of 8. At Q he was touring this coun-
try as prodigy and at IL he was
studying in Berlin. Although he at
tended the best schools in Europe. his
education cost him nothing, as he won
scholarships everywhere. He was
the only American, at that time, to
study at the Berlin Royal Conserva-
tory without tuition.
1t is interesting to record also that
Meyer has the distinction of having
played for the kaiser in the royal pal
ace in the presence of the kaiserin.
princesses and princes. Meyer was
asked about this unusual experience
and he said:
The Hun Played On.
eyes, 1t Is true, and one Of the most
attractive features Of it was that as
we entered the room the emperor was
playing The Invitation to the Dance"
by Weber, which he did very well,
considering that he was an amateur.
English was spoken by the entire par
ty and the royal persons expressed
much pleasure at the entertainment
afforded them by my friends and my
self"
strument than Conradi took his place,
and everybody in the least musical
came up and shook hands. Conradi
electrified his audience, as usual
with several numbers that he know
very well, and with some that he
was asked to play and for which he
had to improvise considerably. But 1t
was his exceptional authority. his
power of attack, his abandon, at
times, that pleased, and he never
seemed to tire.
AS Conradi finished, Padolski took
the center of the stage, and proved
that he was sufficiently versed in
the finer things of music to occupy q
place with these Meade Immortals."
Meanwhile every one talked in the
freest sort of fashion. just as II
something unusual were not going
on. 1t was this infOrmality. this
playing without regard for audience,
ing.
Held Record as Miller.
Blonknaeel plays the flute so well
that in the best musical circles in
Baltimore he is in constant demand.
While Padolski was playing. the for
mer was persuaded to say something
of his past 1t was developed that he
was a graduate of the University Of
WISCONSIN,, Wnere Lieut. Glenn War0
Deesbach, poet of the Medical Sup
ply at Meade, was also a student sew
eral years back. When Blonkagel
went to school he was an athlete of
no mean ability and held the western
intercollegiate record for his year
(19OS), as a mile runner, making the
best time of any American college
runner that year, 4.2S. He is long
and 1anky, which helps 70 explain his
DroWess on the track.
1t was nearing TAPS" and George
Ryall of the 312th Band, completed
a very delightful evening with sew
eral piano numbers. He is a saxo-
phonist in the band, and was only
recently transferred from one of the
machine gun battalions. Henry
Baker of Richmond was his teacher.
and he was in Washington wheh he
entered the service.
Had Percy Granger and Paderewski
come in, arm and arm, they would
not have felt out of place. and, in-
deed, could scarcely have given
more genuine pleasure 20 thsir hear-
eEm This was only a sample Of
nnmw Hostess House eVemim@m