Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1901 — MAY RIVAL PADEREWSKI [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAY RIVAL PADEREWSKI

Josef Hofmann, the young pianist who has lately been attracting unusual attention from the musical critles is now in his early twenties and at the critical point in his career. Thirteen years ago, Josef, then a little boy of wonderfully sweet disposition, who r t DOt ! P ? k a Word of English, set the music loving public of America on fire with his marvelous genius for playing on the pianoforte. He was a prodigy with the promise of becoming f. R “J )e “ Bteln - and his tour through the United States was something of a succession of triumphs. Emotional men and women who heard him perform wept with the Joy of it, and great things were predicted for his future. Mr. Hofmann since that time has learned many things beside music He now speaks fluently in half a dozen languages, among them English French, German and Polish. He has developed a rich, deep voice, with a touch of the bass in it. His hobby is mechanical Invention, and not unnaturally his favorite novelist is Jules Verne. President Thwing of Western Reserve University recently asked Professor Goldwln Smith to fill a lectureship in American history In Western Reserve University this year. Professor Smith, in a brief note, replied: “My lecturing days are over.” Minister Conger will soon he the only foreign minister in Pekin who passed through the siege, and will then become the doyen of the diplomatic corps. All the other ministers have been relieved or expect to leave Pekin.

JOSEF HOFMANN.