d come into popularity in Moscow through some of his lighter
comedies, and a farce or two, produced at the Little Theatre.--Of these
three men, not one who did not early appreciate the quality of Ivan's
few productions; and agree enthusiastically--behind Ivan's back--with a
prophecy made by Nicholas Rubinstein, which, had its subject heard it,
would have caused him to retire, stuttering with indignation. Never, in
truth, was young workman more modest than the Gregoriev of that day. But
he had the grace to appreciate his friendships, and to cling to them as
if he understood, even then, from what blackest depths of depression and
melancholy they were, by-and-by, to rescue him!

Looking back upon the early days of his musical life, it was, as a
matter of fact, to the occasion of the formal opening of the
Conservatoire that Ivan pointed, as marking the real beginning of his
prolific career. Yet, for years after that night, he could not recall it
without a twinge of bitterness. For, at the time, he was in the throes
of the first of his long series of disappointments:--the cutting
rejection of his symphony by the temporary director of the Petersburg
orchestra. The manuscript had been returned to him with a communication
which had caused stout Nicholas a penance for profanity; though even he
failed to surmise the part that two men had played in this insult to a
piece of work which, if crude in spots, was still far too magnificently
broad, too thoroughly original, to deserve half the criticism incited by
Ivan's former masters, Zaremba and Anton Rubinstein; to whom the
manuscript had been sent.

When these men came down to Moscow for the celebration of the opening of
their Conservatoire, neither one of them, probably, escaped some slight
twinge of conscience at the frank, deferential greeting given them by
their whilom pupil, whose slight pallor and weariness of expression
alone betrayed his sickening disappointment. But the two were relieved,
also, that no hint of their complicity in unjustice had leaked out; and
they played cheerful parts at the exercises and banquet which were to
mark the completion of their earnest labors for the scheme in hand.

At the dinner, which began at seven o'clock on the night of December 3d,
were the directors and one or two of the largest stockholders of the
enterprise; together with all the professors, and some dozen of Russia's
celebrated musicians and writers. The meal over, Anton Rubinstein,