The Washington times., 1937-03-30
Because of Monkey

Because OF Monkey
I had asked for a violin at the
age of seven. No one knows why I
asked for one-I don't myself! No
one in my family played violin nor
can I call to mind any bit of drama
such as hero worship of some great
violinist whom, by chance, might
have heard.
No! The likelier impulse came
from a wandering street fiddler
with a monkey. 1t thrilled me to
think that perhaps with arduous
work I might get to be as pro-
ficient and perhaps, too. have a
monkey. -.
Anyway, there it was, dangling
on the Xmas tree that year, a lit
tie half-sized violin that cost the
princely sum of 81.
Did I like to practice? Emphatic
ally no! 1 can distinctly recall
shamming the practice of scales
while reading a book of adventure
preferably bloodyD secretly
propped upon the piano screened
by pages of music. Such prepara-
ton did not augur well for the mar
velous, amazing lessons of tradi-
ton, and more often than not I
would count on a lucky facility and
a sense of daring to pull me
through a Highland sometimes
painful-Situation.
NV teacher had a most unpleas-
ant habit of cracking down his bow
on the knuckleS of my left hand
when the fingers thereof had just
penetrated some outrageous I'M
provisation. Was 1 talented? Well,
really, now, you'll hardly expect
me to say mol" I was talented
SO we're, and are, loads of children.
It is natural for child to have
talent. Anything less is sub
normality. 1t is also natural, I
think, for a child not to like prac-
ticing.
It was nine years later, when I
was 16, that I made my debut in
Paris. MOI Not as a prodigy! I
was wearing a pair of perfectly
authentic long pants. 1 had bet
ter success than I deserved, al
though it was not bad as debutS
90 and shortly afterward, having
had for the time most front page
publicity, Edouard Colonne asked
me to appear at a large benefit con-
cert organized by Coquelin at the
Chatelet for the Dramatic Artists
fund.
For this concert the aged and
famous Adelina Patti had con-
sented to emerge from retirement
for a final farewell. Needless to
say, all services were given, but 1
regarded the invitation as a signal
honor, and so it was.
Ihad never seen Patti, much less
heard her sing. And it certainly
would not be fair to risk an eSti-
mate of her capacities as singer
from the performance of that day.
The gold in the voice had worn
thin as a spade guinea, but it was
true and clear and her phrasing
had a kind of natural grace that
had not entirely stiffened with age.
She sang first Cherubino'S air from
the Marriage of Figaro" which,
lying in the medium part OF her
voice, represented her best effort.
Good Prestidigitation
She rashly followed this achieve
ment with florid waltz song by
Arditi. called THE Kiss" piece
Of bravura singing bristling with
high notes and runs. 1t had doubt
less won her many battles in her
heyday, but this time it was cruel
exposure. However, Patti was a
great old campaigner. When she
would approach high note she
couldn't make, and which she
knew she wasn't going to make,
she would employ trick that any
prestidigitator might envy. Max
ing use of the fan she was carry
ing, up in the air went the hand,
the fan unfolding itself with a
click.
My personal encounter with her
was not without interest. For some
reason or other my accompanist,
with whom I had carefully re-
hearsed for this important occa-
sion, never showed up at the hall.
! was distraught, Colonne was dis
traught, the management was dis
traught. 1t came to PATHS ears.
She called me to her dressing
room and generously offered me
the services of her accompanist.
"Can you play without re-
hearsing?" she asked.
Old Colonel Mapleson, who
had formerly been PATHS man
ager, was in the audience. He
heard the story and. thinking it q