The Fifth String | Page 3

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The Fifth String By John Philip Sousa

I
The coming of Diotti to America had awakened more than usual
interest in the man and his work. His marvelous success as violinist in
the leading capitals of Europe, together with many brilliant
contributions to the literature of his instrument, had long been
favorably commented on by the critics of the old world. Many stories
of his struggles and his triumphs had found their way across the ocean
and had been read and re-read with interest.
Therefore, when Mr. Henry Perkins, the well-known impresario,
announced with an air of conscious pride and pardonable enthusiasm
that he had secured Diotti for a ``limited'' number of concerts, Perkins'
friends assured that wide-awake gentleman that his foresight amounted
to positive genius, and they predicted an unparalleled success for his
star. On account of his wonderful ability as player, Diotti was a favorite
at half the courts of Europe, and the astute Perkins enlarged upon this

fact without regard for the feelings of the courts or the violinist.
On the night preceding Diotti's debut in New York, he was the center of
attraction at a reception given by Mrs. Llewellyn, a social leader, and a
devoted patron of the arts. The violinist made a deep impression on
those fortunate enough to be near him during the even- ing. He won the
respect of the men by his observations on matters of international
interest, and the admiration of the gentler sex by his chivalric estimate
of woman's influence in the world's progress, on which subject he
talked with rarest good humor and delicately implied gallantry.
During one of those sudden and unexplainable lulls that always occur
in general drawing-room conversations, Diotti turned to Mrs. Llewellyn
and whispered: ``Who is the charming young woman just entering?''
``The beauty in white?''
``Yes, the beauty in white,'' softly echoing Mrs. Llewellyn's query. He
leaned forward and with eager eyes gazed in admiration at the
new-comer. He seemed hypnotized by the vision, which moved slowly
from between the blue-tinted portieres and stood for the instant, a
perfect embodiment of radiant womanhood, silhouetted against the
silken drapery.
``That is Miss Wallace, Miss Mildred Wallace, only child of one of
New York's prominent bankers.''
``She is beautiful--a queen by divine right,'' cried he, and then with a
mingling of impetuosity and importunity, entreated his hostess to
present him.
And thus they met.
Mrs. Llewellyn's entertainments were celebrated, and justly so. At her
receptions one always heard the best singers and players of the season,
and Epicurus' soul could rest in peace, for her chef had an international
reputation. Oh, remember, you music-fed ascetic, many, aye, very
many, regard the transition from Tschaikowsky to terrapin, from
Beethoven to burgundy with hearts aflame with anticipatory joy--and
Mrs. Llewellyn's dining-room was crowded.
Miss Wallace and Diotti had wandered into the conservatory.
``A desire for happiness is our common heritage,'' he was saying in his
richly melodious voice.
``But to define what constitutes happiness is very difficult,'' she replied.
``Not necessarily,'' he went on; ``if the motive is clearly within our

grasp, the attainment is possible.''
``For example?'' she asked.
``The miser is happy when he hoards his gold; the philanthropist when
he distributes his. The attainment is identical, but the motives are
antipodal.''
``Then one possessing sufficient motives could be happy without end?''
she suggested doubtingly.
``That is my theory. The Niobe of old had happiness within her power.''
``The gods thought not,'' said she; ``in their very pity they changed her
into stone, and with streaming eyes she ever tells the story of her
sorrow.''
``But are her children weeping?'' he asked. ``I think not. Happiness can
bloom from the seeds of deepest woe,'' and in a tone almost reverential,
he continued: ``I remember