Paderewski Insults

"The Governor General presents his compliments. He desires, Mr. Paderewski, that at your concert tomorrow you will stand and remain standing on the platform when His Excellency enters, and until he is seated."

Thus, at Melbourne, Australia, last week, Ignace Jan Paderewski, famed pianist, onetime (1919) Premier and still national hero of Poland, was instructed in British etiquet by a natty emissary of his Excellency Baron Stonehaven of Ury, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth of Australia. For an instant M. Paderewski's keen eyes snapped, then he bowed: "Say to your Governor, Monsieur, that Paderewski will accord him the honor which he deserves."

Soon to the concert of M. Paderewski came the Governor General, but found no Pole upon the platform. Nettled, His Excellency marched to his seat, stood frigidly awaiting some apology or amend from Pianist Paderewski who, just then, walked upon the stage. . . .

For an instant the air was electric. Then Ignace Jan Paderewski sat down at his piano and strummed the golden notes which all the world can but listen to and applaud. Baron Stonehaven, vexed, sat down. Next day His Excellency released to the press a letter to M. Paderewski in which the great Pole was formally rebuked for "insulting His Majesty the King as represented in the person of His Excellency the Governor General. . . ."

To newsgatherers M. Paderewski replied with suave but cutting irony: "His Majesty, the King, was the last person whom I would think of insulting."