Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-04-08
MtsceIlaneolts.
THE FIRST PIANO-FoRTE.
TRANSLATED IRON THE FRENCH.

The two heroes Oh WIS h''
present compile contrast. ihey I
gan. continued and ended their world
" career under nearly opposite cir
cumstances. One, at first rich' oecan'e
suddenly poor through extravaganza
and dissipation; the other, originally
moor. became all at once rich by Inc
force of ingenuity and industry. The
one gloried in his high sounding title;
the other was proud Of being simply
an artifcer. The glittering courtier
revelled in the royal saloons at Versail-
lies; the ,aborious operative passed his
DAYS in Partisan workshop. One fin
ished his life on the public scafiold'
condemned in 1893 by populace drly-
en- to excuses by the tyranny OF their
superiors; the other peacefully expired
amidst the blessings Of his family and
friends, his honest industry rewarded
by affluence, and honored by the favor
OF royalty. Finally, the first called
himself Armand de Gontaut, Duke OF
Lauzun; the second was Sebastian
Erard.
At the epoch when our tale COM
mences, Sebastian Erard was poor
artisan whom reverse OF fortune had
driven from Strasburg, his native town,
10 seek, alone, without money or friends,
his daily bread in Paris. He was well
educated; in his early youth he had
studied drawing, architecture, and had
devoted some time to scientific pursuits.
He had dreamt, with the artless enthu-
siasm Of youth, of one day distinguish
ing himself as an artist, professor, or
an architect. Conceive, then, his dis
appointment, when, at the age of six
teen, he found himself journeyman
maker Of harpschords. Pride and
ambition Increasingly tormented him.
In the obscure workshop where he
pursued his monotonous avocations,
he frequently gave way to certain
degree Of vexation. But, happily, Sc
bastian Erard possessed nobler gifts
than fall to the lot Of most persons in
his humble grade. Even his melan-
choly was no misfortune to him, for il
made him thinker. His intelligence
again turned his thoughts to good &c,
count, and his ambition made him acI
upon them. The presentiment, that
he should some day materially bette,
his condition, never left him; and, in
spired by this hope, he seldom COM
planned aloud, but diligently pursued
his work, for well he did know that an,
advancement he should make must b,
by following the very path along which
he was now travelling. Instaed, there
fore, Of boiling of the course, as ambi
tious but; ihoughtless young men arr
apt to do. Erard reflected deeply OF
the nature Of his art, and whether /
might not be in his power to ciiec
some important improvement up
on it.-With a critical eye and car, hi
at length detected the deficiencies o
the instruments il was his business &c
makc-ill-toned inharmonious spinet'
and harpsichords, with which the ear
Of the court and the town were conten
TO be charmed. He remarked that, from
their imperfect mechanism, il was i'm
possible they could remain long IL
tune, and that even when their into
nation was correct, the sounds produce,
were harsh and wiry. These imper
fections, which constant use Of the in
strumen,s prevented some of the bes
musicians from perceiving. became ap
parent to the inquiring mind and ap
ear of the young ar,izan. But rene
dy for them had yet to be discovered
and for that object did Erard incessant
ly ply his invention. AT length ht
became acquainted with the princip,,
of an improved keyboard introduced
by Siiberman, a German manufacturer
and that engcndered in him a new ant
happy idea, the result of which III,
reader will presently learn.
While Sebastian Erard employed
every spare minute in working out hi
new idea theoretically-for he had no
the means of doing so praetically--,h,
other actor in our musical drama per
formed very different par:. EngageS
in the us eless smploymepts and profit
less pastimes of a man OF fashion, III,
Duke of Lauzun sought TO revive, a
the court of Louis NVI., the dangerous
gallantries and dissipa,ed manners o
the gay and brilliant court of Loui,
XIV, and the regent. Nor was he ill.,
calculated TO effect, by his own exam,
pie, so evil an object: ne was handsome