Evening star., 1960-10-09
BY RUTH DEAN
Star Stan Writer

Uncle Peter" was the IA
nous Russian composer,
Peter nich Tchaikovsky.
But as you know a proph-
ct is without honor in his
own land. He was just Uncle
Peter" to us even though we
knew he was famed" re-
called his grandniece.
The wife of a former naval
attache at the Imperial Rus
sian Embassy here who has
made her home in Washing
ton for more than 40 years,
Mrs. Mishtowt recalled those
long ago days as though they
were yesterday.
1t has been more than so
years since the composers
death when Mrs. Mishtowt
was only II years old. But
she clearly remembers Uncle
Peters many visits to their
home in st. Petersburg and
the last time she saw him.
IT remember when he was
staying with my grandpar-
ents after returning from
Europe and how he talked
Of his travels to the United
States. I thought how Won
derful, how extraordinary to
cross the ocean. In those
days, the United States
seemed as far away as the
moon. Now they think moth
ing of crossing the ocean,"
Shy and Nervous
HE was very shy, very
nervous. Although 1 never
saw him conduct, I was told
he had a habit Of always
pulling his coat down in the
back"
Tchaikovsky must have had
a premonition Of his ap-
preaching death, Mrs. Mish-
towt recalled. because before
conducting the concert that
was to be his last. the con-
cert at which he first intro
duced his 9Th Symphony
("the Pathetique") he re-
uuested that all members OF
his family be present includ-
ing the children.
But in Mrs. Mishtowt's
family upbringing was very
strict and children were not
allowed to attend events in
the evening. So little 11-year-
old Irene was not permitted
to 90 to her great-uncle's last
concert. "I think Mother
afterwards regretted it," she
said, but you have to re-
member those were the days
when children we're brought
I'D much more strictly than
they are now. Until I was 16,
I had to be in bed by 8 o'clock
and after that at $3.50 pm.
Not until I was "a, when 1
was engaged to marry, was
/ ever permitted to go out
alone to shop or have lunch
with my friends as girls do
now" .
Mrs. Mishtowt, who first
came to the United States in
1909 as the wife Of an I'm
perial Russian Naval Attache.
recalled other memories OF
her composer great-uncle.
Memories
"I remember when Uncle
Peter was composing the Nut
cracker Suite, he would often
practice parts of it on the
piano when he came to visit
U.S."
Mrs. Mishtowt also recalls
her last sight of the COM
poser and the last week of his
life.
1T was walking with my
governess near the Mariinsky
Ballet Theater when he drove
by in a cab, stopped and got
out and greeted U.S." she said
"It was the last time I ever
saw him. 1t must have beer
shortly before his death"
A few weeks later the COM
poser was invited to dine al
their home. But when hi;
younger twin brothers ar
rived, they said Uncle Petel
couldn't come because NJ
complained Of a stomach
ache. When they returned
home they found him in the
first throes of cholera. Before
his death a few days later
I accompanied my father tt
visit him, but my fathel
wouldn't let me come in thu
house to see him"
Musical scores of the tive
operas Tchaikovsky wrote
eugene Onegin" and "Queer
of Spades" plus some famil!
albums is all Mrs. Mishtow
has to remember the com
poser as she had no idea whel
she came to the United State
that there would be a revolu
ton in her country and tina
she would never again return
to it.
Some of the photos shov
Tchaikovsky's niece who mar
ried the son of Nine. Nadejd;
Won Meek, the composers life
long benefactress. Ironically
Tchaikovsky and Nine. Vol
Meek never met, by agree
ment, but continually CORE
sponded. He never even say
her, land that is certain,
Mrs. Mishtowt affirmed, bu
there is a legend that she say
him, by prearrangement-a
she peeked from behind tn
curtains of her carriage as l
passed a Paris street corne
where he stood.
Another of her mementoe
Mrs. Mishtowt treasures is
large two-inch pin, set wit
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