Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

SGAMBA TI 65
in their daily evening walks and drives at the Bagni
di Lucca, where they spent the villeggiatura. Learn-
ing thus to know Sgambati in his family relations,
I was inspired with a personal respect and sympathy
for him, which naturally enhanced my appreciation
of him as an artist and musician. The life which he
and his charming wife led was the precise opposite oi
what we English are but too apt to think that of
foreigners in general and of artists in particular must
be. Sgambati spent the whole of the long sultry
summer days in composition, while his wife sat in
the adjoining room with the door open between ;
and,
with just the interruption of the one o'clock dinner
and a short siesta afterwards, she either painted
or did a little needlework, while he was deep in
writing. They were supposed to go out for the even-
ing ramble about five o'clock; but when Sgambati
had not brought his work up to a given point, he
lingered over it, and the wife would look in at him,
and then sit down again, and recommence her work.
More than once, when I have gone in by appointment,
she has motioned me to a seat, and we have either
carried on a conversation in subdued tones, or each
taken a book to beguile the time, and an hour or
more has shpped by, and the shadows of evening
have approached, and I have thought to myself,
'What, a pity to lose the most perfect hour of. the
day!' and just then the musician would come out. of
his sanctum, looking ready for rest and enjoyment.