u passages, the music grew so monotonous and commonplace:
the same little figure repeated and repeated, after listless pauses, in
a way which conveyed no meaning, no sense of musical progress, but only
the appearance of fastidiously critical scale-practicing."

In the series of concerts given by Gottschalk throughout the United
States, the public generally showed great enthusiasm and admiration,
and the young pianist sustained himself very successfully against the
memories of Jaell, Henri Herz, and Leopold de Meyer, as well as the
immediate rivalry of Thalberg, who appealed more potently to a select
few. The hold the American pianist had secured on his public did not
lessen during the five years of concert-giving which succeeded. No
player ever displayed his skill before American audiences who had in so
large degree that peculiar quality of geniality in his style which so
endears him to the public. This characteristic is something apart from
genius or technical skill, and is peculiarly an emanation from the
personality of the man.

In the spring of 1837 Gottschalk found himself in Havana, whither he had
gone to make the beginning of a musical tour through the West Indies.
His first concert was given at the Tacon Theatre, which Mr. Maretzek,
who was giving operatic representations then in Havana, yielded to
him for the occasion. The Cubans gave the pianist a tropical warmth of
welcome, and Gott-schalk's letters from the old Spanish city are full
of admiration for the climate, the life, and the people, with whom there
was something strongly sympathetic in his own nature. The artist had not
designed to protract his musical wanderings in the beautiful island of
the Antilles for any considerable period, but his success was great,
and the new experiences admirably suited his dreaming, sensuous,
pleasure-loving temperament. Everywhere the advent of Gottschalk at
a town was made the occasion of a festival, and life seemed to be one
continued gala-day with him.

V.

In the early months of 1860 the young pianist, Arthur Napoleon, joined
Gottschalk at Havana, and the two gave concerts throughout the West
Indies, which were highly successful. The early summer had been designed
for a tour through Central America and Venezuela, but a severe attack of
illness prostrated Gottschalk, and he was not able to sail before August
for his new field of musical conquest. Our artist did not return to New
York till 1862, after an absence of