CONDON GLOBS, FRIDAY DECEMBER! 16, 1910.
tCopyrtiht, 1I0, ty Amarlcan IVass Aim
dullon J
1.
J BOUT 100 yrr ago titer was ft
J "ory poor ' young ni a wbo
Jfj lodged lit III AttlC Of U Old
dilapidated bolls lu tll run
floenier, lu the city of liuuu, Germany.
II was so fVUHltlV of lil poverty
tbat b would out appear ou Hi street '
la lb dnrtlui. fearing Hint strnugvrs
would acoff lit III soiled Hutu and tat
tered clothe. Tli tii'lgtiliora declared,
and wltb raouabl cause. Unit tb
man wa demented, fur Uii groy ye
glittered Willi Strang light beneath
til pal ftud iiiiimIv forehead. Ill
long tiilr fell lu disordered msim
tbuiit hi uiudatinl cheek. Tli set
Ipreaalou of III t b In lli betokened
to bitterness of liU life, and lu deal
r la n taper wbo lodged la tli
djolulng room asaerted itiat Hi
young dmu passed bl day and nights
furiously playing uiou an old piano
nd covering groat sheets of Willi pa
par with lucomprebenslbl crawls.
Wbnvr ti ventured upoo lb street
tb bousewlve ran to their doorsteps
to v blm pan by, aud tli children
scoffed at blut. No on knew bl
Bam or profntluo, wbeuc b cam
or w bltbtr b Want. II had only ou
friend, wbo called very eveulug at
sunset. Th latter wa a person well
known In tb city of Bono. II wa
tb tall, gaunt drnukard. Joachim
tuecber. organist of tli cathedral
abd kapsll-mpUter for mouselKiieur tb
bishop.
On Christinas v Maater Joachim,
warmly ensconced In bl antiquated
gTeateoat. climbed lb rickety atnlra
and Without knocking entered lb at
tic of bl frtod Juat at lb beginning
of tb winter twilight. II found lb
young man alttlng at tb wludow, gus
tng madly at the faulaitlcally carved
gable, tb turret, and aplre of tb
anclnt city. over which the anow bad
spread a ahroud of uniform and gilt
taring whiteness.
-Ho, bo!" eiclaliiied tb knpell
melater a he lnpid the young man
on the shoulder. "What do I see?
What do you mean? Io you wish to
b forever damned? Conic! No bluck
butterfllra on Christmas re! Uok!
Tb city I clothed In It a wedding gar
mania Ilia rlmn-h bolla ara Dealing
merrily, and already, In anticipation of
midnight, tb atreet nr odoroua with
tli flavor of llaycnco bam and grey
fritter. Very aooa the tavern will
BOl" ROLAIMKD TUI .AIEtA-HKtST.
illutnlnat their window aa an Invita
tion and welcome to the paasersby.
And. abov all, monaelgneur's treos
tirer did not forget to pay mc my sal
ary. Com, comrade: i-ct u go.
Suddenly b ceased speaking, and his
gaunt feature assumed a sympathetic
xnresslon. When he resumed bis
speech It was In a gentle and tender
tone: ,
"Ah, yon are suffering as nlwuys, my
poor grand genius!" ,
. Then tb young man arqg brusquely,
savagely wilted awny n tear Hint wa
coursing down bis cheek nnd exclaim
ed lu a violent manner:
. "Oh. b quiet! I hat the world! Its
pleasure are to me Ilk so many
thrusts'of a kulfo. I bat tho human
race; I bate myself! Genius, did you
say? les, If that Is to be the victim
of venr torture and every orrow- to
see oneself the subject of Insult, sus-
plcloa and public Indifference; fb hear
hunger, thirst end disease knock at
one's door; to feel thnt all tbo sublime
voices, all the vast Inspirations Of one's
heart and brnln, are stifled by tue com-
nea"of death; If It la to be a recluse
and a pariah, then., indeed, nra 1 a
genius. But come! Those walls, the
silent witnesses of my despair, give me
the horrors." ' ' i
Then With unaffected tenderness nna j,0hest but unusually seriouB coun
paternal eollcitude the old organlBj r- lenance. Seated before a table cov
moved bis greatcoat .cud plnced.lt over Med ntt0 pot, nnd brushes nnd
the khbulders of hut friend. But the tt,jer the light of a large lamp, lie was
young man scarcely realised the act' con,,g those -fantastic little animals
of k(ndness, so absorbed was he In his a1(j grotesque dwarfs cut In wood
own meditations1 " . which are the trlamphof the Nurem-
vThej'left,the house and walked slow-- berg" workshops. 7 '
ly, ami ini brm, through tue narrow
atretBf wBiffijnow were: iuwijr .
Wed wlUi' shdw. The old organist
aoiwted tho Voiite. keiit n watchful eye
"J i .Y.I. ' ! t .,.1-t.t.. nK
on his companion aud even tried, with
his own eyes full of tenrs, to bring a
"amlle to the-face of Ills young frlena.
'whoso features under the pnlo light ot
. the stars looked uuusually somber mid
'mysterious, as If In harmony with th
0.DU PONTAVICE
DEIIUESSEY
ITrnslald Irani lb French by Cr
Merh.
lli-iu' and aolemnlty of that winter's
night.
At last tbey reached-the height of
the suburb called Coblents, which
overlooks lh aurleut rliy, and wer
pnsalog through on of II most r
tired street when tb young man ud
denly stopped and grasped tb arm of
his companion.
"Hush!" b anld. "I.lntenr ,
Maater Joachim, bending bis bead to
on slJe, aeeuied to lucreos the vast
"BUda I" US SAID. "MSTWl" .
area of bl rubicund ear, and In tb
deep alienee of tb ulght bo beard,
modulated by a broken winded harpsi
chord, some vague mid feebl sounds
that Issued from a neighboring house.
Tb two friends remained silent and
motionless.
Presently tbey recognized tb melo
dy. It wa an auduute, possessing
brendth, sweetness aud melauchoty,
and despite the mediocrity of ber lu
atrumont and the crudeness of ber
method tb Invisible performer Ira
pressed upon the music a lenderuess
of expression that denoted a poetic
soul. , . .
"Ah, by my faith!" exclaimed Master
Joachim. "If I mistake not, that niu-
Blc"-
"I mine," said tb young man,
while two tears glistened In bl eye.
"Listen. Joachim; listen! It is tb
andaute from my first symphony. Ab!
I waa wrong a few moments ago
when I cursed my fute. Qod I good,
and llfo I worth living, alnco ber In
my native city some one knows me,
understand me, love me! Sine my
spirit Is the consoler of another, and a
' woman no doubt. Yea. yes; It la a
woman, for I recognise the soul, the
touch, the feeling of a woman, or,
rather, of an angel that heaven In It
mercy to the poor and despised baa
sent' to earth tills festive night as a
balm of celestial Joy to my poor
wounded heart."
"Hum! , Urou!" growled Joachim,
who bad become critical on bearing
bla favorite Instrument. "I admit that
the performer displays aomo feeling,
but, my good Ludwlg, the left band Is
feeble, and the arpeggios of tb right
hand lock finesse and breadth. The
method of a pupil, my boy."
"Bllence, .blasphemer!" replied the
younger man, whose face was now re
splendent with Joy. "That woman
does not merely play my music do
you understand? She expresses my.
thoughts.... i reel K here!- n saio,
atrlklug his heart. "But. come! 1
must see ber, nnd here Is the bouse.
Kagerly be drew Master Joachim to
ward n humble cottage. A light filter
ed through the badly Jointed shutter
of a lower window, and It was from
that room the music came. But nx
tbey leaned forward npar the window
In an effort to bear the better the In
strument suddenly became silent as It
emitted one Inst plaintive note that
resembled a sob.
IT.
TIE young girl had ceased play
ing suddeuly, In the middle of
phrase; then she temnlnea
motionless and appeared to
bo absorbed in a reverie, while her.
fingers skimmed mechanically over the
keyboard; Dually so uttered a deep
ABu. Bnd a moment later, with a ges-
ture of despair, she closed the old '
harpsichord nnd rested upon ber el-
bows with her face between her
bands. , '
"Llttlo sister, why do you not play?
It docs me good to hear you."
1 Tim anpnknr traa a vniinB man clth
Y(ju e ,0 uear me piaymy poor
Prlt'.ei'liod the girl, "beeiuse ydu.Nfou, enr&t
have, heard -no one else, buttj despair
and grieve when I think bow far, I am
from my Ideal. Never, no, never, will
T nr0(juee with these feeble nnd awk
w(ir fl,,g(.w the celestial and sublime
melod. tjat aqothed aud chnrmed ma
0Q C,,.tstmas eve a year ago." -
As glj ipoke tun eanwg against
nf1-:viV'-
tb old Instrument, tb young girl re
sembled lb statu of Melancholy. Tb
light of tbo lamp Illumined ber classic
profile and blond balr; ber eye pre
sented a peculiar appearance a If tbey
were covered by a veil; ab seemed to
be blind; In her attltud and feature
there wer tokens of sorrow and resig
nation, but In tb light of ber forehead
faith and bop bon with ray of di
vine purity and sweetness. All tb sur
rounding of tbl young coup) betok
ened poverty, even misery, but a mis
ery brsvriy borne, a lit of toll marked
by decency and pride.
"Yes, I remember,' said tb young
man. "It waa on Christmas eve, on
Just such a night as this, tbst yon bad
that adrenture, an adventure that
would bring a pitiful smll to tb face
of any but a poor person, and yet I
cherish aud bless It because It brought
a ray of sunshine Into tb dark shad
ows of your life. Tell m one more,
dear Alics, tb story of yonr adven
ture. I lor to bear yon In tb deep
silenc of tb night relate tb story la
your slow and gentle voice, which
seem to come from above, wbll your
finger lightly care tb key of yonr
old friend." . -.
Bhe resumed her place be for th In
atrument and dreamily played a-few
chords. '
"Ob, ye," aba said, "that was a di
vine melody. Alaa, I can remember
nothing of It but tbl one air, but that
simple air Is as broad as tb winter
sky sod as deep as the ocean. Every
time I play It the whole scene returns
to my memory. You remember. Frits,
you bsd taken ma t!iat nlgbt to Aunt
Oertrnde, who waa very 111 In ber little
attic In tba rials Boemer,' and as you
bad some work to finish you left m
there for several hours. Sitting at tb
sldo of the Invalid' cot, I could bear
ber breathing, and, although .1 could
aot see her, I Imagined tb appearanco
of her poor face, yellow, wrinkled and
emaciated by age, privation. Illness and
suffering. A profound silenc reigned
around me. My habitual darkness ap
peared to be deeper, heavier and more
cruel than before, and I trembled as
I thought bow ssd and burdensome
this life wa to the poor and unfor
tunate such as I. " . . .
"Suddenly some on began to play a
piano In an adjoining room. The mu
sic commenced With a soft prelude Ilk
tb beating of a bird' wings in tb
distance or the approach of a cohort
of angels, and as the rhythm expanded
and increased I Imagined I saw tb
seraphim, all white and danllng, de
scending from the stars and Illumining
the darkness that surrounded me.
Then I was seised and Inundated fty
an overwhelming harmony which open
ed to ma the gates of paradise. Ah,
how can I express the torrent of in
effable sensations and delicious pleas
urea that submerged' my senses In
those enraptured moments! - Inspired
by the wonderful notes that wer cre
ated by the lingers of that magician, ev
erything around me vibrated and lived.
Radiant visions greeted my new found
sight. Beautiful saints, brilliant with
light and glory, pouted out to me the
heaven whence they came and whither
they returned without me, alas, th
cruel one! Suddeuly all thl world of
dreams faded away and disappeared In'
tbo night; then, vast, profound, reU
gioua, consoling and Inspired, the an
dante that I have retained and learned
arose majestically In the midst of tb
mysterious darkness."
'"Yes,H anid.Krlts, "and when I re
turned I found you trembling and
weeping, and It seemed to me that the
features of onr poor old aunt wer Im
pressed with an unusual degree of
serenity. In fact. I Imagined that Fa
ther Christinas had paid a visit to both
of you during my absence. But on our
way home you related to ma that
strange adventure. Next day I made
Inquiries and learned tbat Aunt Ger-
'UTTtR BISTKB, WBI DO IOO HOT PLAT?"
trade's neighbor was a young musician,
mysterious nnd ecceutrlc, who was on
Hie verge of belug dispossessed by his
landlord because he was too poor to
pay his rent nnd for the additional rea
son that he disturbed the sleep of his
neighbors by loud nnd untimely up
roars wlullgr to tunrwuicn reguieu
.,Do nbttsay Jjuat,. dear, Fritz, even
in fun. or you will offend me. The
strange musician whom 1 beard thnt
night was one of those angels sent to
earth by God and known to us by the
name of genius." - -
She remained silent for a momept,
-
struggling against ber emotion. Tbes
In an outburst of exaltation sh a
claimed:
"Oh, to beiir blm one more only
'one would b a foretnst of celestial
bliss!"
Instinctively sh softly played .the
theme of ber beloved andant a an ac
companiment to th following prayer:
i "Bright king of tbla holy nlgbt
Christmas, Vat her Christmas, good Fa
ther Christmas, wbo concealetb tby
venerable bead under tb hood of tb
frcat red cloak so full of enchant
ments; thou wbo tbla winter nlgbt,
with tby anowy beard floating In lb
frosty air, doth traverse th world and
stop by preference before tb mor
humbl and sorrowful dwelling to
gratify fb modest wishes of thos
Impl souls wbo bsv faith In tby
power Father Christmas, grant In
this solemn vigil tb wishes of tby
bumbl and devoted servants. Ob,
kind and loving friend of women and
children, grant, I pray, that I may bear
blm one more!"
Frits bad arisen, much affected by
the fervor of tb girl' prayer. D wa.
about to speak when tb door suddenly
opened and two atranger appeared
upon th threshold.
in.
EFORE the young master of
lb humbl cottag bad recov
ered from bla astonishment
the elder of tb two atranger
approached him and said:
"Excuse our informal entrance, my
master. My friend and I are two very
poor but enthusiastic musician. W
wer passing through tb atreet when
w wer attracted by th sound of
your piano and could not resist our
desire to become acquainted with the
artist, the unknown brother or sister,
who Is concealed In tbl remot sub
urb." "Alas, air, replied tb young man,
"we are not artist, but only bumble
working people. Our life Is a very
bard one, but my sister sometimes
brightens It with a fugitive ray of sun
hlue by playing, as she did this even
ing, some melodies tbat aba baa learn
ed." The younger of the two visitors now
approached Alice. She trembled visi
bly when he touched ber lightly on
the shoulder and aald In a gentle
voice:
"You Ilk tbat music, my child V
"Oh, yes!" she murmured. "I lova
lt-I cherish It! It 1 sublime! Only
ana listksid with all bbb soul.
I feel that I can never play It aa It
should be played."
"But," said the musician, wbo was
stirtidiiig now before tb Instrument,
"you have no; the music. Do you play
by ear?"
Upon hearing these words th broth-
- er run to his sister's side and took ber
band, while she replied In a sad voice:
"Look at me. sir you wbo are so
fortunate a to have your sight. . I am
blind."
There was a moment of painful si
lence, "An, my child." aald the musician,
"God afflicts in this life those be wish
es to glorify In the next world. I also
have a heavy crdsa to bear, and some
times I am tempted to curse my, fate,
but 1 always bar at my aide a divine
comforter music! Let It console us
now. What you wer playing a few
moments ago Is not unknown to me.
May I play It now?"
Without woltlng for a reply be seat
ed himself before the old barpslcord.
At the sound of the first few notes
the blind girl trembled with Joy. Had
not -the good Father Christmas grant
ed her prayer?
Under the touch of a master, light
and heavenly ns It wb, under the
stress of that divine Inspiration, the
old lnstrumeut became sonorous and
pathetic. Ah. bow It throbbed, sang,
wept, laughed and sighed by turns!
Yes, yes, it- was the same that she
bad heard a year ago at the bedside
of her dying aunt. As the volume of
music reverberated through the hum
ble room an ecstatic glow lighted the
girl's features. With clasped hands,
with parted lips nnd with her poor
sightless eyes raised toward heaven
she listened with nil her soul as a
saint might listen to the slnglug of
Invisible angels. -
The player also was transfigured.
His face no longer bore tbe bitter nnd
somber expression thnt wo noticed
there before he began to plffy. Tbe
fire of enthusiasm now blazed In his
eyes; a powerful emotion agitated his
lips. Framed In tbe waving torrents
of bis long hair, bla face waa that of
a master of human thought.
He ceased playing upon a final ma
jestic chord; then he bowed bis head,
and his. eyes gaaed vacautly Into space.
, Hlshoughttt were, no longer of this
earth: The Inspiring power of bis own
music had overwhelmed his soul and
marked his pale features with tbe
traits ot genius. Suddenly, in a burst
ot violence, be arose and ran to the
window and opened it wide to the
WlntrjMilr! ' " "
3 The moon upon Us course reigned
J sovereign mistress of tli evening
ky, and the seen which It Illumined
was of extraordinary beauty and re
pose. Kroro that height the view em
braced lb entire city of Bonn, which
climb ci-rxsg along the bills, trav
ersed by Its sparkling river, now bid
den by lis coat of Ice. There wa some
thin; fantsstlc In the vast Immo
bility of tb landscape. In tb striking
contrast of the Immaculat mow
which covered tb city like a shroud
ID J
"orvs m wspiSATioir.''
and traced upoo tbe distant heights
a great white line which formed tbe
horizon and of that deep blue sky now
unruffled by wind or marred by cloud.
"O nlgbt," murmured tbe musician
as be leaned with bis elbows on
th window sill "O mysterious moon,
you are my friend! I understand
everything you say to me. The les
son of resignation yon teach ma this
evening I shall never forget! Give
me Inspiration. Descend upon me
with all tbe train of your majestic and
silent splendors in order tbst' I may
be able to apeak of you nnd disclose
your Immortal beauty to that poor
child who baa never known you."
Tbe two spectators of tbat strange
scene remained mute, awed and fascl-
nated by tbe exaltation of the young
musician. He returned to tbe piano,
near which Alice was sitting, lost In
a deep reverie. He took ber. bond
and said:
' "My child, you do not know the ap
pearance of tbe clear, soft nlgbt,
which draws over tbe heavens its im
perial mantle, dotted with glittering
stars; you do not know what tbe beau
tiful round moon says to ike proud
souls and taciturn hearts tbat love
' solitude and sorrow. Ah, well, I shall -
try to tell you all that!" "
She was almost on ber knees be
fore blm. He resumed bis place at tbe
plauo and played.
What be played no facility of style,
no artifice of language, can ever ex
press. There are certain musical
works which seize upon tbe soul,
soothe it, soften It or agitate It. Each
chord, each note, causes the vibration
within us of some hitherto unknown
sense. Our aentimentnl personality, is .
dellciously or terribly awakened. Final
ly the last note dies away. We re
turn to ourselves, we try to analyze
what we have so vividly experienced,
and we quickly perceive that it Is an
impossible task. So the devotees of
the occult sciences pretend tbat music
hi tbe language of tbe spirit world.
When tbe musician bad finished he
looked around blm. The blind girl,
motionless and transfigured, seemed
to be In heivven. In one corner the
boy. to whom this bumble borne be
longed, was weeping freely, his head
between his hands. Master Joachim
was standing behind bis companion
with bis enormous month opeu in
amazement and bis eyes fixed on the
musician In absolute surprise. The
youug man smiled, softly -closed the
piano, approached tbe blind girl and
kissed ber on the forehead, tben whis
pered to the old organist:
"Come, and do not make a noise."
Silently tbey gained the door and
disappeared. ' "
A moment later the young artisan
"IT WAS AS AKOBL."
raised
his bead and said, "Ah.
how
strange, Alice, they are uot here!"
''It was au angel, my brother. He
hns flown away, but I am sure he will
return."
IV. ... .. ... ..
IIAT night when the poor mu
sician returned to his bumble
attic in tbe Dntz Roemer his
bitterness of spirit bad van
ished. He kindled his meager fire,
lighted his lamp and throughout tho
night covered with his accustomed
scrawl many of those loug white
sheets of paper lined with black which
had aroused so much suspicion in the
minds of the good women of the
neighborhood. When the pule wiuter's
sun again shone upon his window the
composer, overcome by fatigue, was
sleepiug with bis tfcad resting upon
his scattered sheets, but before he fell
wIS!eep he had Hushed .bis work, w.hlch
he called In memory of that eventful
night "The Mooullght Sonata." - .
Today that sounta is considered one
of tbe most sublime creations of hu
mio genius. The young man who en
that Christmas eve played the role of
consoling angel to tbe "blind" girl was'
called I.ndwlg Beethoven.
SANTA CUIUS OF THE WOOD,
NCC a he comca, with cUaWnjr
btll,
Co children that arc wte and goodi
Ox Santa CUtu that trim tb tret
Of Christmas (n th wood i ,
Js'ot (n a ingle night he load
Ch bough with gift and cradl
bm. ;
Hh, no i to trim the fortst trt : y!
fit labors all th rear. j
CR3 lumiMr tarried whlk ht hung
Cb baubk ball of silk and
pore .
Cpon the bosom of the oak . .
Hnd ellvtr ycamorc ' .
Che autumn lingered white tic wov
Che liver fibers and the flos ; !
Of gold and amber in the top , !
Hnd apron of the moss. I
mwmri
A 3 . -..I", i v. f
TBS FLOS OF BOLD AUD AMBKB.;
f
"CI 6 wrought with esp and wind and
I rain )
. dhflc summer suns were rich and
' raw, - i - ) ...
Chen strung hie beads of crimson lire
Hbout the fruited haw. ,
Hnd, tendril tied, he hung th grape
from bough to bough a Mgb tra
pe - '
for circus antics of the squirrel, , 4 :
vn gym nasi or trte trees.
.1 -'i
pi IS Christmas carol to the fcyma '
1 Of winter birds that pipe and
sing, - 'l
F)(a goody-gifts the promised sweet
Of maples (n the spring,
Via little arh a fallen leaf 1
Chat tipples down the crystal etau ,
Of eylvan brooks, bis toy balloon
H snowfiahe In tbe air. I
BLIPPrKO DOWN AX ANCIENT BOIiLOW TBEB
'OR marvel where the chimney place
Co ease his coming chance to
be-- " i
Che rogue behold blm slipping down
Hn ancient hollow tree I
December's gifts and gifts for flty ;
be leaves; tben ere be passe by
He begs a match from night and ifglita
0c candles of the ehy I
Hloysius Coll in Ladies', dorid.
THE MISTLETOE BOUGH.' j
Thoughts of Which It Has Long Baan
Emblematic '
The mistletoe boughs and sprigs
bring again to mind the superstitious
regarding this curious parasite. ;
For many generations after the last
Druid was dust the mistletoe had Its
votaries. The plant bad almost every
medicinal property, according to early
physicians. ... It was believed to be a
remedy for tils, physical, mental and
sentimental. In pagan days It wast
dedicated to Olwen. the Celtic Venus,
and through the ages the plant and
the tender pnsslou were rather Inti
mately iutwined. Kissing beneath it
begau so far back In history that do
one has ever attempted to trace the
custom to its youth. ; .; -
The Druids, In common with almost
all primitive men, had a deep rever
ence ior me wea ot we trinity toe
number three. The white berries of
the mistletoe are often found tx groups
of three, nnd this circumstance as well
as the fact that' the berries ripen .at
the sacred season, although tbey Dow
er with apple blossoms and wild roses,
must have impressed them. ; At till
events, the white boughs were gatber-i
ed near the end of the year and ployedl
un Imiiortant part In the ceremonies'
of December. , ! 4
The Druids did hot regard all tt'stle
toe with reverence, or at least they tiiCL'
not gather It in their ceremonies from
any tree, except the oak, which was
their sacred tree.
Now tbe mistletoe)
almost never grows on oak trees. , lu,
England, the continent of Europe and'
In America the pretty parasitic growth,,
tbe Vlscum album of the botanists, ls
found growing on apple trees, willows,!
larches, sycamores, poplars, elms anitl
many other trees, but very Tarely out
oak trees.
ItiiPl n I
J