LOST PIANIST FOUND.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIV, Issue 9415, 8 April 1909, Page 3

LOST PIANIST FOUND.

Mme. Ethel Leginska, the pianist, who mysteriously disappear on February sth, was discovered in a Biimingham lodging-house, the inmates of which had recognised her from a press photograph. Mr Emerson Whitborne, her husband, arrived in Birmingham in response to a telegram from the local police. He was taken to a street in a poor quarter of the town, and when he arrived outside an ordinary lodpicghouse he heard a familiar piece of music being played, and recognised his wife’s touch. On entering the house he found the missing lady at a piano which she had hired, and on which, it transpired, she had practised for eleven hours at a stretch. Beyond seeming somewhat dazed, Mme. Leginka appeared in good health, but she was dressed in an old skirt and coat which her husband did not recognise as having formed part of her wardrobe. Mrs Whitborne says that when she left home she took a ’bus to Enst'on station. As she walked in there she saw a train standing at the platform. Being told that it went to Birmingham, she ran back and got a ticket, getting into the train just as it pulled out. It was then that she seemed to realise sbe had done a foolish thing. She went to the guard, and found that the train did not stop until they reabhed Birmingham. Was there any lapse of memory, Mr Whitborne was asked, and he replied, ‘.‘lt was an extreme case • of fnnk and stage fright.” He added that his wife was going into the country, and would not touch a piano or appear again until March Ist. DISGUISED AS A BOY. Mme. Leginska disappeared from her home in Biddulph Mansions, Maida Vale, W., on February sth, telling her husband that she was going to the Delian Hall to practise, b«ing due to give a recital there later in the day. She did not arrive, however, and the, audience that duly gathered to hear her had to disperse as time went on, and she failed to appear, the admission money being returned by the management.

The lady’s non-arrival was a surprise to all concerned. Her husband was at the hall, but could throw no light on tne mystery, an'd after a short wait he went to Marlboroughstreet and enlisted the aid of the police. Mme. Leginska had ‘not been in robust health lately, and, being of a nervous temperament, it was thought that the great strain she had undergone in preparation for her appearance at the recital, necessitating the memorising of much music, may have caused snddeiy mental breakdown. There were no domestic difficulties, and the missing lady was passionately devoted to her baby boy. Mme. Leginska is the daughter of an architect of Hull, Mr Biggins, and adopted her name for the concert platform. The Wilson family early became her patrons in music, and sbe studied in Vienna. She nas met with considerable success, appearing recently with*Mme. Melba, and has several engagements in the immediate future. ‘‘She has always been erratic and. impulsive in her actions,” said Mr Whitborne to an interviewer. “While she was studying in Frankfurt, where she went after winning a scholarship, she happened to hear Paderewski, and the event so fired her she ran away to Vienna disguised as a boy, and having presented herself to Lesobetitzky, implored him to take her as a pupil, with such earnestness that he not only agreed, but paid the fine which the Frankfurt institution imposed upon her for running away. ” Mme. Leg’nska played the piano at three years of age, and at the age of six performed in public.