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THE STORY OF A MODERN IMMORTAL BY CHARLES JPJBILLIPS Author of The Neat Poland WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY EDWARD MANDELL HOUSE NEW YORK THE MACMILLAN COMPANY 1934 CepyrigM, 1933, by THE MACMILLAN COMPANY. All rights reserved no part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the pub lisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in magazine or newspaper. To Paderewskis Friend And Mine SIGISMOND STOJOWSKI Musician and Scholar Without Whose Help This Biography Could Not Have Been Written PADEREWSKI Poland . . . and Music . . . There was a silence as of death The nations watched, the righteous mourned, Where on her bier with hushed breath Dear Poland lay, the weft the scorned In all the darkened air no sound Save muffled drum and funeral bell Deef-chorded Ckofins anthem found Refrain but in the tears that fell Until the music of your soul, Great master of the harmonies. Broke on her listening ear, to roll With echoing note across the seas. Across the seas, across the years. With O, what hofe renewed she heard That summoning from night and tears. The voice of your rekindling word. Mother to son she called and son To mother hastening you came Now mark the mighty chords that run To music of her golden name Now mark the hand that strikes the chord And strikes the shackles off hand Of filial love, of flashing sword That lifts and saves with one command What music ever man hath made Is like unto this music now That rings with challenge unafraid Agcnnst the breakers of the vow What music ever heard of men Is sweeter than these chords that wake Within her prisoned heart again, The sound of gyves thatfall and break She rises beautiful renewed She lifts her golden voice. She sings. And in her song sweet plenitude Of love y O son y your bright name rings INTRODUCTION IN WEALTH of detail and in scholarly arrangement of the facts, no life of Ignace Jan Paderewski that has come to my notice equals this one written by Professor Charles Phillips. In writ ing it he has rendered a distinct public service, and Paderewskis many admirers in the English-speaking world will welcome this volume. It is difficult to write of Paderewski without emotion. States man, orator, pianist and composer, he is a superlative man, and his genius transcends that of anyone I have ever known. It has been my privilege to have many opportunities to fathom the man, and to look into the windows of a great soul. I have never found him guilty of an unworthy act. In inter national negotiations affecting the very life of his country and mine, it was enlightening to watch him overcome the opposition of those who tried to check the restoration of Poland. It was here that he appeared to best advantage. Time and again he brought to bear on those who represented the World Powers, the full force of his marvelous personality. After finishing his work at the Peace Conference, Paderewski returned to Warsaw, and, as Prime Minister, welded together the new Poland. When this had been successfully accomplished, he went back to that kingdom of which he had been so long master, and received a welcome which must have touched and gladdened his heart. Absence in another field of endeavor had in no way lessened his musical genius, and his triumph was one of the most remarkable incidents in his career. The statesman, the executive, thediplomat and orator were now merged in the artist, the composer and the poet. Again the magic of his hands stirred the hearts of his audiences to rapture and to tears. Introduction Those of us who love Poland are glad that she can claim him as a son, but let her always remember that Ignace Jan Pader ewski belongs to all mankind. EDWARD M. HOUSE A NOTE ON POLISH PRONUNCIATION Mr. Paderewski once told an amusing story of how he was introduced to a public gathering by a distinguished gentleman who was puzzled as to how to pronounce the artists name...

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