The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-02-14
ART|ST-STATESMAN
ARRIVES YESTERDAY
PadereWski Declares His Pro-
fessiona| Piano Playing
Career at an End
BY Associated Press

New York, February 1a-The profess
sional piano-playing career of the world
famous Paderewski is at an end
The distinguished Polish musician,
whose artistry at the piano has delighted
the music lovers of two continents for
more than a generation, announced his
retirement from the concert stage, con-
firming recent cable dispatches, upon his
arrival here today on the steamship
France
Piano playing is a closed chapter in
my life. although 1 may do some COM
posing later he declared when asked ir
he would resume his MUSICAL career.
Five years of hard mental labor in the
field of international politics in behalf or
his native Poland have left their inn
print on his physical appearance. Old
age and worry have whitened the long
and bushy hair of his head, which count
less thousands of persons have seen wav-
ing back and forth as he kept time with
the music produced by his magic hands,
while the lines in his face have deepened
and the sparkle in his eyes has dimmed.
The artist-statesman, who is accompa-
MED by his wife, will spend \ few days
at rest here and then visit Pttsburg,
where he wiz address a Polish gathering
on Washngton's birthday, after which
he will go to his ranch in California for
a long rest. He was met here by Stefan
Grocowski, Polish consul geenral of New
York, and Walchew Gorsti, the artist S
stepson.
POLES ARE GRATEFUL
Commenting on the signing of the peace
49,, Hok D~1o tat p,,S-
STA, the former premier declared that
Poland expects to live as loyal neigh
Dor to Russia He also asked neWsna-
per men to convey to the American peo-
pie the sincere gratitude of the Polish
nation for the part America played in
gaining it's independence.
Ignace Jan Paderewski was born in
1860 and for the greater part of the last
quarter of century he has appeared on
the concert stage of the American con-
tinent. Since the war his musical career
and fame as a pianist have been in a
measure overshadowed by his fame as a
patriot and as a government leader he
has travelled from coast to coast in this
country and from capitol to capitol in
European in the interest of Poland's lib
GRAFTON and economic rehabilitation.
After the signing of the armistice he
returned once more to Europe and land
ed at Danaig in January. 1919. on a Brit
ish destroyer. He received a tumuftuous
welcome from his countrymen in this
city and was taken by automobile to the
Polish capital at Warsaw.
His popularity with the masses led to
his selection as Polands first premier
and its principal spokesman at the peace
conference at Versailles and it's first rep
resentative in the League of Nations
His ministry lasted less than year. the
pianist resigning late in 1919 and being
succeeded by his friend and political CO.
worker, Leopold Skulski, who became
head of a coalition government After
his resignation as premier, Paderewski
went to Switzerland for brief period to
regain his health, but later attended n
number of conferences and meetings in
connection with the League of Nations
as Poland's representative.