Books › The Red Book 1907-01: Vol 8 Iss 3, 1907 › scan 32
Scan 32
The Red Book 1907-01: Vol 8 Iss 3, 1907
30 lines. Read by computer on 14 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE RED BOOK MAGAZINE
3Vol. VIII January, 1907
5When Genius Woke
6BY ELLA MIDDLETON TYBOUT
8"Your execution is brilliant, your technique is perfect: I can do no more for you."
9Archer laid his cheek against his violin with a caressing gesture, as if expecting a response.
10"I have worked," he said, slowly.
11"Otherwise," remarked Professor Gastrow, dryly, "you had not been my pupil."
12He ran his fingers through his bushy gray hair with an impatient motion peculiar to himself.
13"I took special pains with you," he continued, fretfully; "had you been my own son I could not have taken more interest or grounded you more thoroughly. I have been critical—"
14"Truly, you have," interrupted the young man with a slight shrug, "most critical."
15"Well, it is over; technically you are my superior."
16Archer laid his violin upon the table and faced his companion.
17"But," he said, tentatively, "but—"
18Professor Gastrow methodically folded his handkerchief and returned it to his pocket.
19"You cannot play," he said, quietly; "your music lacks soul. I am disappointed."
20Archer walked abruptly to the window and stood gazing down the street below, while his companion watched him narrowly, a curious light in his keen blue eyes and his lips pursed thoughtfully as if about to whistle.
21"The agreement was that I should speak the truth," he said, finally. "I shall keep my word."
22"And my career," said Archer, slowly, "what of that?"
23"The store is waiting for its junior partner. 'Archer, Wilson & Archer, dry goods merchants.' There's money in it, my lad."
24With a gesture of disgust Archer flung himself moodily into a chair and thrust his hands into his pockets.
25"'Archer, Wilson & Archer, dry goods merchants,'" he repeated bitterly. "So that's the end of it."
26"You should not have encouraged me," he said, suddenly. "You knew—you must have known whether I had it in me or not."
27"You had decided talent," remarked the professor, judicially. "I thought you had genius, and as I told your uncle, time alone would tell. He agreed to give you wholly to me for five years, and if at the end of that time you proved yourself all I hoped, he would place no more obstacles in your way. On your part, you agreed also to abide by my decision, and if you had not the something within you which ensures success, to drop it all and take up merchandise. It was a square deal, and I have weighed my verdict carefully. You cannot play. You cannot touch an audience and hold it breathless, whether it will or not; you cannot appeal to those who don't know one note from another, as well as to musical critics: and that's what a successful violinist must do; your music, try as you will, does not reach the heart."
28"A counter-jumper," interrupted the young fellow; "and I worked so hard."
29"A junior partner," corrected the pro-
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