Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

DEPPE AND SCHARWENCKA
not, of course, believe that I should be as long in
making way as Mr. Clarke seemed to think. Turn-
ing to Herr Deppe, and assuring him that I had
quite the resolve, quite the patience, quite the self-
renunciation to give up all my present attainments,
in order to attain that which I so much desired, that
which I felt I so much needed, I entreated him to tell
me what was the great want in my playing. He
then replied
:
' Your hand, to begin with, has never been pro-
perly worked—there has been little extension, and
scarcely any muscular exertion ;
you cannot produce
a succession of clear resonant tones. But you force
me to say all this,' he added, 'and I warn you beforehand
not to ask me to help you, and then grow weary
of the slow progress you make, and leave off. If you
do this, you will be unhappy. In one lesson you will
have lost your innocence '
(Herr Deppe's own words)
' for that one lesson will set an intelligent person like
you on a track of thought, and as you will not be
able without help to follow this out, and thus arrive
at final and satisfactory conclusions, you will wish
that you had never seen me, never come to me.
And remember it will not have been my fault.'
At length, however, Herr Deppe was convinced that
I was not only much in earnest, biit that I wouU,
have the courage, the patience to carry through what
I should begin with him. He named an early day
for his first lesson, and I put aside all my programme,
;