And What We Gain 209 



surely an exception might be made in favor 

 of America. There he had not been attacked 

 or ridiculed by newspaper men, for the very 

 good reason that his name was scarcely known, 

 to say nothing of his music. The interviewer 

 made a bold attack. Mustering up his best 

 German, he began his address, Wagner gazing 

 dreamily at him and not moving a muscle: "I 

 am commissioned by a great newspaper of that 

 great Republic over the seas, where your music 

 is already a household word ( !), to tell you of 

 the deep admiration that exists for you there, 

 and to ask you for some words of greeting in 

 return." Not a word did the great man vouch 

 in reply. Perhaps he failed to catch my mean- 

 ing, thought the young man ; and so he re- 

 peated his little speech. Then Wagner pointed 

 towards the gates of the park, muttering a few 

 German words, a free but fair translation of 

 which might be "Get out! " While this was 

 not the sort of interview which had been hoped 

 for, it did not prevent the interviewer from 

 making a column talk with Wagner, in which 

 the composer was made to bubble over with 



gratitude to America and Americans. Those 

 14 



