The Washington times., 1920-01-18

delicate child.
In the orchestral rendition Of musical
masterpiece the solicitude OF the leader
is not less than the solicitude Of a mother
for the we'll being Of her infant.
II the composer is himself leading an
orchestra and the first violin by playing
fiat is numbering" the melody his feel
ings at the moment against this delin-
quent would be quite similar to the feel
ings of a mother who observed a nurse
strangling her infant.
Great musical genius bespeaks the
superman-and the ordinary laws Of the
land must not be applied to a superman!
Thus the courts of Italy have just ruled
in the case of the famous musical genius,
Toscanini, who struck at member OF his
orchestra with his baton. broke the mans
violin bow and drove the corner Of the
broken bow into the unfortunate players
eye. And Toscanini was freed of respon-
sibility for his outburst of artistic tenn
permanent because 1t was held that great
musicians are not responsible for what
they do under the exaltation Of their
genius.
The decision was fully supported by
scientific psychological reasons. The lat
ter apply with equal force to the many
acts Of violence and eccentricity, often
verging on insanity, which have been
committed by men Of genius and great
talent in all ages.
This remarkable decision was rendered
during the trial, at Turin, Italy, Of an as
sault charge against Arturo Toscanini, the
world-famous orchestral conductor, who is
so we'll known in the United States. The
maestro was charged with assaulting the
violnist during rehearsal of Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony at local opera house.
Some musical witnesses testified that
the poor violinist was playing off the
pitch, while others said that he was not
keeping perfect time with the other play
ers. These facts would doubtless have
explained the great orchestra leaders
rage very clearly, but they would not, per-
haps, have sufficed to secure his acquittal
but for most singular circumstance.
BY rare piece OF good fortune for Tos-
canini he had invited a professional psy.
chologist, Professor Pastor, to attend the
rehearsal, and this scientist was able to
explain the exact psychological reasons
that justified Toscaninis conduct. Ordin.
arily Toscanini does not permit any out
slider to attend a rehearsal, but he made
an exception In favor Of Professor Pastor
who was preparing a psychological mono
graph on Enthusiasm" and believed he
could gather some points from Toscanini's
behavior. The courtesy was we'll repaid
for Professor Pastor proved to be the
decisive witness for the defense, and de.
livered a convincing scientific argument,
proving the responsibility Of genius In
the throes OF creation or under the stress
Of artistic labor.
In the first place, Professor Pastor said
that he had made a special pathological
study of Toscanini, and had found that on
great occasions this prince OF conductors
becomes so possessed by sublime frenzy
that his normal personality forsakes him.
He becomes transfgured by genius, be.
side, or rather outside OF, himself, so that
the inhibitory nerves are completely par.
alyzed. In paroxysm OF inspiration he
falls tragic prey to the tyranny OF art,
and the faculty OF distinguishing good