My dear Miss Smyth, - Here followeth some account of Rubinstein's first recital.

We had made special arrangements of our classes at the Academy to admit of our going to this one; so, when pianoforte class was over, Franklin Taylor and I started off together, and I swept him at my usual rapid pace down Regent Street, being anxious not to lose one of the great man's notes. […]

 The great Maestro came on, punctually to his time. […]

 General effect at the first glance, something like a Bear out of the woods. Gave a slight, very slight bend of his head, sat down, and commenced instantly a prelude of Bach's, no music before him, of course, from beginning to end. […]

 He was set down to play a prelude and fugue of Bach's, but he did play two preludes and fugues (I quite forget which they were).  […]

 There was a wondrous power of finger-touch in rapid passages, but that was the only thing at all remarkable about this.