PADEREWSKI ANGRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3040, 19 June 1912, Page 69

PADEREWSKI ANGRY.

CANCELS SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR

PLENTY OF MONEY, BUT NO APPRECIATION OF ART. According to English .newspaper files just to hand M, Paderewski, tho world-re-nowned pianist, has out short his tour in South Africa, and on the eve of sailing for England he roundly condemned the people for their lack of interest in art. He also accused them of openly insulting him in the street and on board srnp, where, on one occasion, while playing the piano toftly, he was told to "stop that noise." In an interview whioh he had with a representative of tho Cape Times, he hit out with unrestrained vigour on the subject of his -tour. "How could I be happy, he said, "in a country where there is no understanding of real art, when I have been insulted. I can forgive many things, but I do demand that some respect be shown to me. I have never anywhere been subjected to insult before." Then he related an experience which he declares befell him in Port Elizabeth. "I don't mind telling you," he said, "that in Port Elizabeth a group of men behaved in a most insulting manner. One. # of them came up to me in the street and took hold of me by the lapel of my coat. He put his face close to mine, and he said, 'You re Paderewski, aren't you?' And he and his friends laughed at me. "The people of South Africa do not really want art. They make plenty of money, but they don't know how to spend it. Look at Johannesburg, lhink ol the wealth there. And then look at the dirty State of its streets." During his tour Paderewski was the subject of an. open letter in the Pretoria News. It followed the publication of the interviews quoted above, % and one of its passages ran:—"You consider the maimer in which you were received amounted to an insult; but, my dear, good sir, who are you to expect mayoral deputations, scarlet carpets, processions, and so forth? What have you done for the world? What dd * you do? You play the piano. I am told that you play "the piano better than any living pianist. I am not prepared to dispute that; but, after all, what is there in playing the piano? A pianola can do the same thing, and do it, so the maker claims, as well as you can"; but even if you are better than" the pianola, what is there to make a fuss about? We had a man here the other day who could play not only the piano but 17 other instruments, including the Jew's harp. Nobody made a fuss about him. It only cost 2s to hear him play all his instruments. He didn't want the Mayor to receive him, nor did he charge a guinea for his front seats." . The open letter defends the South African artistic sense: "It is not fair to say that we have no appreciation of art," and it adds that "the man who makes two blades of grass grow' where one grew before is a greater benefactor to«bumanity than you can ever be, for all your playing of the piano." Nevertheless, in conclusion, it wishes "good luck to you and your piano."