Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

90
MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
joined by numbers of young ladies and gentlemen, who
were coming out in the same direction, and to the
same house as ourselves. When we entered the villa
all the rooms through which we passed were arranged
as if for a/ete, and beautifully decorated with flowers
—a prominent object in the ante-room being a life-
size bust of Liszt crowned with laurel. The two
ladies, on hearing that I was a ' Lisztianerin ' (the
Weimar appellation for Liszt's followers), received me
with great cordiality, showed me to a seat in the room
where Liszt would be most of the time, and introduced
me to all those near me. It was then about a quarter
to four, and all who had access to these reunions were
now assembled and waiting for Liszt, who both at
these and the reunions held at his own house never
appeared till all had arrived. It was, indeed, con-
sidered a great breach of etiquette to come in after he
was in the room, instead of being there to await his
arrival, as at the approach of royalty.
A minute or two after four the hum of voices
suddenly ceased. ' Der Meister kommt !
'
was
whispered from one to the other ; and when Liszt
immediately afterwards entered the room, everyone
stood up, and all the younger people went towards
him and kissed his hand. He looked as if he enjoyed
all this homage, and his face lighted up as he
glanced kindly at the eager faces which, from the
moment he appeared, seemed to have no eyes but for
him. Indeed, from the moment he came in, we were