The L'Anse sentinel., 1923-07-27

was more than generation ago that
Paderewski made his first appearance
in New York. And times have changed
since then-in the musical world no
less than in the world of affairs.
Paderewski was born in Podolia,
Russian Poland, in 1860. He was a
youthful prodigy and played the piano
in public at twelve. In 1887 he ap-
peared with marked success in Vienna
tours in Germany, France and Eng
land followed In 1891 he made the
first of several successful visits to the
United States.
The young Polish pianist created
furore, indeed The sensation which
followed was epochal in the annals
of music. He was n fascinating figure,
indeed-tall and slender, with Sir Gala
had face and hair that suggested to
the cartoonists huge chrysanthemum
of cleaning gold. 1t may have been his
personal magnetism, his poetic beauty,
graceful poses and extraordinary col
oring; anyway, his audiences were his
before he struck note.
And when his fingers of steel with
tips of velvet" drew from the instru-
ment melody and poetry. harmony and
majesty, he threw his hearers out Of
normal balance. His audiences rose
from their seats In wild disorder to
storm the platform. Something had
gone across the footlights that could
not be resisted. SO it was all over the
country. Crowds gathered wherever
he appeared, eager to carry him in
triumph. In those days though there
were many pianists of note, there was
one Best Pianist and everyone knew
his name.
But now, how things are changed |
Now those who are best qualified to
judge are reluctant to attribute pri-
macy to any artist, however great
They see in each great artist his in
divdual excellencies that make him
great. They see no basis of comparison
between, for Instance, a Paderewski
and Hofmann or between Hofmann,
and Gabrilowitch. All, they say, are
great, but none is the greatest.
Moreover, Paderewski's triumph was
a generation ago. The flapper who
now goes to recitals knows not the
handsome young Pole of the Nineties.
No doubt her mother Is loyal to the
| memories of those fascinating days.
But the musical youth of today have
score of superpianists to follow and
adore.
And yet, in spite Of all this, Paderew-
| ski came back-and in more ways than
one. His triumphant reception by his
friends on his first appearance was a
musical affair. Yet the musical in
terest was Of minor Importance. The
critics tried-and not very success.
fully--to say that Paderewsk had not
entirely recovered his early form but
that he played better than ever. It
was evident that they appreciated the
presence Of a force that lay beyond
and perhaps above art. 1t was there.
Paderewsh Is beyond question one
of the foremost artists of the times.
He is patriot who spent his fortune
and abandoned his art In organizing
the struggle for Polish freedom. He II
an orator Of distinction. He Is a
statesman who has been premier Of a
big nation. And he Is man strong
enough to come back at sixty-two.
The thousands Of Americans who
crowded Paderewski's recitals from
coast to coast and gave back to him
in few short months the fortune
spent for his native land undoubtedly
saw in him more than the musician
The new artistic laurels they thrust
upon the artist were In no small pari
their recognition Of him as man.