STORIES OF KUBELIK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 87

STORIES OF KUBELIK.

The immense sums earned by Kuibelik may be gauged from tlhe fact that he was ablo to t>ay £160,000 for the purchase of Prince Hohenlohe's ancient feudal castle and estate at" Kollin, in Silesia. A few years ago he was offered one hundred guineas to pay a.t the reception of a wellknown, nobleman in London, but fae refused, remarking- that just twiice thaib sum should have been given him. And yet his {lather, who waa of gipsy origin, bad to toil as a market gardener, practically killing himself with overwork, in order to provide Ihis son with. a. proper musical education f For his first concert Kubelik received £5\ out of which he spent, £4 10s on a wreath for ibis father's grave. Everybody knows what a fewrourdte the .handsome' violinist is wilhh the ladies. "The ladies ! Ah ! the ladies !" be> says ; "yes, they have always beeu very kind to me. They send- flowers — flowers always — and r'ngs, and pins, and diamonds", and oh ! many presents. And you must play again, and again for the ladies." But thedr attentions have decreased, surely, since his marriage? The violinist laughs merrily. "Oh, no, not at all. Since then they have been- more courageous than ever before." was not always so, however. Ait a very smart London party a- lady gave a start on opening her programme. "Oh ! RttbeJik," she exclaimed. "How delightful ! I have hoard so much of Kubelik. But what is it? Is it a new game? A kind of pang-pong, I suppose?" At another reception a* the Waldorf Astoria, New York, Kubelik rertired to a corner after playing, rarther ill at ease and silent. A young- gri-rl, approaching him, said : "Pardon me, sir, but you>* handkerchief is hanging 1 out of your pocket.". "Thank you." said Kubelik — "thank you for the warning. You know the oom,pfliny Ibahter than I do." But Kubelik' s English, has not always been so good as this ; indeed, he speake Lt brokenly; Btill. When ho. was a guest of Canon Fleming at York, and waa being shown round the canon's house, he shook his luxuriant head of hair in frowfr of tihe canon's parrot. The bird, naturally, expressed considerable surprise. "Ha!" exclaimed the violinist, "he tink I am an ourang-outang !" — P.T.O.