Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

SGAMBAT/ 4?
She—beautiful and sympathetic, far above the middle
height, with a form of faultless symmetry ; he—not
devoid of beauty, and with power shown in every line
of his face. On these occasions he nearly always
gave some specimen of his masterly art, and even
played duets, if he happened to meet pupils of his
who did not lite playing solos.
The brother of an intimate friend of ours had often
spoken to us of Sgambati, whom he knew personally,
and had eulogized his playing in the warmest manner.
When circumstances brought us to Italy, and we
were joined there by one of the family who had been
away from us for years, there seenied to be once more
an opening for me to devote myself to music without
neglecting any nearer duties. My mother now re-
gretted that I had not followed my bent ; and she
urged me in the strongest manner to go to Ger-
many, and there try to regain what I had lost
during the years when music had been but one—
and not the most important—element in my daUy
life.
All was nearly arranged for carrying out this plan,
when I suddenly bethought me of Sgambati, and
resolved to try and hear him play before I turned my
back on Italy. I went to his house to find out if it
were possible to get an interview with him ; and, to
my surprise, the servant who opened the door told
me that if I could call at his dinner-hour, or a little
after it, the Maestro would see me at once. (He had