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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XX, Issue X, 5 March 1898, Page 288

Some more of Rubenstein’s thoughts and aphorisms:—‘The greatest good that has been given to man is the light of the sun. Oh! the beautiful rays of the sun. I cannot understand how men who live under the blue, sun-lit sky can have the same social and political discontent as those who are obliged to live in the fog or under a grey sky.’ ‘lt is not the same thing to be shot as to be hanged. The latter mode of execution is regarded as more dishonourable. There are, then, two kinds of deaths—one for great lords, the other for moujiks.’ ‘Everything can be replaced except life.’ ‘I find it very strange that the law permits people to marry even to the third time, and not only after the death of one of the parties, but even during the life of him or her in the case of divorce. What astonishes me most ot all is that women make most use of the permission, notwithstanding that they make greater pretensions to constancy and morality.’ ‘Which is the most flattering compliment that a lady can address to an artist? Is it this: "Your playing has made me quite ill;” or is it this other: ‘Your playing has completely cured me”? We often receive these two compliments, and the ladies who make them are equally grateful for having made them ill or having cured them.’ ‘An unexpected visit has always for its object an unexpected demand.’ ‘What is the supreme object of the believer? To fulfil his duty toward his God. And that of the Atheist? To fulfil his duty toward humanity. I find the latter the most idealistic, for the believer is sure of his recompense, while the atheist has nothing to expect.’ A new device has been applied to the clarionet, the invention of M. Prepeschi, an Italian. The peculiar advantage claimed for it is that while it does not require any change of fingering the key arrangement is such that passages which are difficult even for the Boehm system become as simple as the common chord.