Evening star., 1939-05-03
By ALICE EVERSMAN.

BY ALICE EVERSMAN.
If one looks deeper than the essen
tial emotional appeal of his music,
the character Of Peter Tschaikowsky
is perhaps the most difficult to un-
derstand from the ordinary point Of
view. Today he would be classified
as psycopathic case but 1t is not
possible to dismiss him as such when
we stand face to face with his music.
Whatever he was as an individual
his music is the first consideration
and the greatest proof Of his power
is the joy and the rewarding sorrow
that he has brought to so many
through the emotional strength he
was able to express in his writings.
In Tschaikowsky we find again
two personalities, one weak and one
strong. 1t is to the continual tri-
umph of the stronger that the world
owes recognition, a recognition that
is assuming greater proportions as
the enormity of the battle that was
constantly waged in Tschaikowsky is
becoming more apparent. However
lacking in moral fiber was his atti-
tude toward life in general, his atti-
tude toward his creative gift was
irreproachable, and for its develop
ment into the best of which he was
capable he endured and suffered
more than mere physical hardships.
Cursed With Shyness.
The pity of it is that Tschaikow-
sky never realized what charming
and attractive man he was. He was
gentle and kindly in all that he did,
Intensely devoted to those he loved, a
gay companion among friends whom
he understood and trusted and an
unselflsh admirer of those whose art
he respected. But he was cursed
with an inordinate shyness and an
emotional instability that had its
roots in a serious af1iction and
which overwhelmed him at any mo-
ment except when he was compos-
ing.
In his heart he was thoroughly
upright and suffered severely for
his weaknesses so that he had no
real wish to live except for the feel
ing that he had something to say to
the world and dare not think of
death until he had said it. What it
cost him to associate with people, to
attend to the ordinary demands of
living, to teach and conduct simply
in order to support himself is hard
to understand by more normally
balanced individuals.
A sensitive child he early showed
a tendency toward the halluci-
nations and the fear Of something
unexplainable that later took such
toll from his strength. He was de-
voted to his family, taking care Of
his younger twin brothers after his
mothers death. knowing through
out his entire life that he could find
rest and contentment at his sisters
home and spelling his nieces and
nephews with his generous gifts.
Whenever he had money he gave
most of 1t away, being waylaid
even by children in his walks for
the kopeks that he gave SO free
handedly.
Unable to Control Emotions.
But he was helpless before the
problems that assailed him both
outwardly and inwardly. He could
not manage his personal affairs and
he could not control his emotions.
Struggle as he would his black
moods would overcome him only to
find relief in writing music. His
need to compose was imperative
and that strange yet constant fear
of death caused him to say II must
hurry, hurry. am afraid I will die
with all my Music in me-" Home
land, his family and a few friends
represented all Of life to Tschai-
kowsky and although great rest
lessness drove him to visit other
countries and later to seek to make
himself known outside of Russia, he
was Immediately seized with despair
as soon as the frontier was crossed
and he was a stranger in q strange