Evening star., 1941-07-01
Puderewski
move.

|
Paderewski died at eighty in New
York. He belonged to a time which is
| gone, a civilization which has been
destroyed. The ma iority of the more
important of his contemporaries
predeceased him. He lived to witness
| the final catastrophe of the epoch
in which he had been leading but
unfortunately a futile actor. That
was his tragedy.
! Half a century ago, however, there
was nothing to suggest that Paderew-
ski was destined to such a disap-
pointment. When first he came to
America in 1891, he literally domi-
mated any environment into which
| he chose to enter. Professional
critics of music were not over
friendly to the passion of his playing,
but the lay public accepted him as
the supreme master of the piano.
Merely to see him in that period of
his life was memorable experience
A glance into his face was sufficient
to convince the average stranger
that he was possessed Of vast re-
sources of personal power. The
lightning in his eyes was prophetic
of the rebirth of his country, "the
Knight among the nations"
What gift of his own Paderewski
brought to music may be a matter OF
opinion. He studied under RaguSki
and LeSchetizky, received from them
all that they would convey to him
before his debut in Vienna in 1887.
But instruction could not make him
the artist he was. 1t probably
nodded his technique to his advan-
tage, yet there is no reason to be-
lieve that it controlled the fire in his
heart. He carried to his instru-
ment a blaze produced in his
soul. No phenomenon comparable
with it has been manifested by any
other virtuoso of his generation. It
will bear repetition that up to the last
he looked the genius that he was.
The same idealism which made
him the worlds greatest pianist
prompted his efforts in behalf of the
resurrection of the Polish state. Ger
manyS defeat and the Bolshevik
revolution in Russia provided the op-
portunlty for the creation of a con-
stltutional republic of the variety
he desired. Never radical, Paderew-
ski considered a Stalwart central
government necessary to the pros
perity of the united national COM
munlty for which he had labored 50
long. His strength, however, really
was that of his popular following in
America. He arrived in Warsaw in
December, 1918, as representative of
The liberal views of President Wood
row Wilson rather than as an
apostle of practical philosophy of
native growth. The role he was re-
qulred to assume was not altogether
natural to him, and the difficulties
which beSet him included those of
adjustment to demands which would
have dismayed a far more astute
politician. His coalition ministry.
formed January II, 1919, was recog-
nized by the Allies, but it soon COL
lapsed. The military group headed
by Marshal Pilsudski joined in effect
with the intractable socialists to
oblige him to resign from his office
as premier.
Washington knew Paderewski we'll
and esteemed him highly. His last
| appearance at Constitution Hall is
not likely to be forgotten by those
music-lovers who were privileged to
attend. The date was March %, 1888:
and the master at the moment was
at the apex of his artistic career.
In acknowledgment of generous ap-
plause, he played six encores; and
then, as though reluctant to depart,
added Schubert's "Impromptu, Opus
142, No. e." The picture was pro-
foundly impressive the audience
stood in grateful silence the while
he wove his final spell of magic
melody
Now his hands are still, but he is
assured of remembrance not so much
for what he did as for what he was.
Paderewski the artist is immortal
The time and the world and the
civilization to which he belonged
likewise may rise from death again.