[Ethel Smyth writing to her mother in England]

Last night at the Chamber Music (do you remember at Aunt Louisa's that day our discussion about the "Chamber pieces"!) Saint-Saens, the great French composer, who besides that is the greatest player I ever heard, bar Rubinstein (though probably he is not so many-sided if one knew him as well), played - and was called back nine times - and played two encores at the end of all things for the benefit of the Conservatorists, who went utterly wild over him, and (when he was here a month ago) sent him a testimonial!!