Weekly hawk-eye and telegraph. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1855-1857, 1856-04-02

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some months ago ! Was a Bonn, The birth,
p1aca d BeetAUvsn met fhefs "a old x,s
sacians who had knnwn this iilusasioss con roses
intimately; and from him reecsyed the follow,
Ing speedosss
-Yoa kno~,s aaid BE-, s.thAs Beethoven was
born IN HOUSE II she Rscin Gasse, tRhine
STREET y but Is The time became acquainted
WIN nm, be lodged oser an humble little ssop
In the Roemss.psatx. he sas then serv Ixs,,
$50 poor that he only vent Qua 10 walk al night
because Of dilspidatsd ssa.e Of his clothing
Nescrthcicss, be had piano, pens. paper, ink,
aud books; and Notwithstanding his prisaiions,
he IasSeo some happy moments there. He ~as
Hot yet aeaf and could al least enjoy the hsymo.
~ o. nus own compositions IN later years,
even tltis consolation was denied him
One winter evening called upon him hop.
tng 70 pnrsazdc him 70 take walk, and return
With me 70 sspper, found him sitting At the
window, BY the moonlight without IRE or can.
die, bis fssc eoacealedh y his hands and I'll his
whole frsme shiyeri & with cold, for II was
freezing bard. BY SLOW degrees | drew him
from bis leshargg, persuaded him 70 accompany
me, and eSborscd him 10 shake of bis sadness
He came out with me, but was dark and dcs.
pairing on that evening. and refused all conso-
ton.
II bate the world ssid he, with passion
hate myself 40 one understands me or cares
aboat me; have genius, and ] am treated like
psriah have a heart, and no ono teloye
am completely miserable
y made no reply Il was useless TO dispute
with Beethoven and let him continue in the
sa,ne strain. He did not cease till we re-enter.
ed the city, and then he relapsed into sad 81
ieDce. We crossed dark narrow street near
The gate Of coblcntz. All at once be stopped
= Lush said ne; what is that noisey'
u listened, and heard the faint tones o.
old piano isssping from some honsc at "a. !. ah
distance. II was plaintivc meled~ n'.,e
time, aud notwithstanding the r, N .rip'e
INSTRUMENT, the performer ga- overly =, a W.
great tenderness of expressi .e 10 TINS Pieee
"Bcetboyen looked .on.
eyes. 1T was taker at me WITH sparsiint
said he; here il from my symphony IN r.
1t il piayedf .nc house. Listen how vel
ssTbe hc -
light p. use was small and humble, and 1
ters .,nnimcred through the ciinks Of the shut
. . He stopped 10 listen. In the middle o
the finale there was a sudden interruption
silence for a moment, then stified voice wa,
heard.
II cannot go on" said female voice. II cal
20 no farther this evening Frederick.
'sWhy sister ~
II scarcely know, unless 1t is because thu
composition is so beautiful that j feel iDcapa
Bile Of doing justice to il. am SO fond OF mus
ic. OH what would not give to hear tina
piece played BY some one who could do II jus
tice!u
"Ahs dear sister, said Frederick, signing
one must be rich to procure that enjoyment
What Is the uae OF regretting when there Is ne
help for itg We can scarcely pay our rent
why think of things beyond our reach p
''You are right, Frederick; and yet, for /
moment, when am playing, long once in m,
life to hear good music well executed. But !
Is useless! IL is uselessp
"There was something singularly touching il
the tone aud repetition Of the last words Bee
thoyen looked at me. "Let US enter, said he
abruptly.
"Entcrln saidI; "why should We enter"
81 will play to her" replied he with yiyacity
''he has feeling, genius, intelligence will pla,
9 TO her and she will appreciate me- And beior'
could prevent him, his hand was on the door
1t was not locked and opened Immediately.
followed him across dark corridor, towards
half open door to the right. He pushed it ane
we found ourselves in poor destitute room
with little stove at one end, and some coars'
furniture. pale young man was seated ut thu
table working at shoe. Near him, bending II
melancholy manner over an old piano, was
young girl Both were clearly, but very poorl
dressed. They rose and turned towards US n
we entered.
Pardon me-" said Beethoven, somewhat EN-
barrasscd, pardon me; bnt heard music an'
was tempted TO enter am a musician
'The girl blashed and the young man assum
cd grave, almost severe manner
"a heard also some of your words" continue,
my friend. You wish to hear--that is, yo,
would like--in short, would you like me to pa,
to you'll"
'.rherc was something SO strange, so abrupt
SO comeal in the whole affair, and something Sc
agreeable and eccentric in the manners OF hin
who had spoken, that the ice was broken in al
instant, and all involuntarily smiled.
9Th nix you" said the young shoemaker
but our piano is bad, and then we have no mu
sic"
mo music!" repeated my friend; how ther
did Madamoisee---. Hestopped and eolored
for the young girl had just turned towards him
aud by her sad, yelled eyes, he saw that she wa'
blind
IL entreat you pardon me- stammered he
"but i did not remark at first. You play, then
from memory"
Entirely
And where haze you heard this music be
fore?"
Al heard lady, who was our naighbor al
Bruhl two years ago During the summer even
ings, her window was always open, and walked
before her house to hear herr
And you have never heard any other mu
sicg"
"Ncver--cxccpting the music In the streets.
''Shc seemed frightened; SO Beethoven di,
not add another word, but quietly seated himsei
at the instrument and commenced to play. ii,
had not touched many notes when | guessed
what would follow, and how sublime he woult
be that evening, and l was not deceived. New
err never during the many years that knew
him, did hear him play as on this day for til,
young blind girl and her brother. Never did
hear such energy, such passionate tenderness
such gradations of melody and meditation
From the moment his fingers commenced /,
move over the piano, the tones of the instru
ment seemed to soften and become more equal
'We remained sitting, listening to him breath
lessly. The brother and sister were dumb witt
astonishment, as il paraiyzed. The former hat
laid aside his work; the latter, her head slighti
inclined, had approached the instrument, AM
her two hands claspcd upon her breast us If sh
feared the beating other heart might INTERRUPT
those accents of magic sweetness. 1t seemed a
ii il were the subjects of a strange DREAM an,
our only fear was to wake too soon.
"Suddenly the flame of the candle tlickered
the wick, consumed to the end, fell, and was ex
tinguished. Beethoven stopped. Iopened TIL
shutters to let in the rays OF the moon. II be
came almost as light as before in the room, an,
the radiance fell more strongly on the musician
and the instrument"
.Bu, this incident seemed to have broken tn
chain of Becthoycn's ideas. His head droppe,
on his breast, his hands rested on his knees, h.
appeared in a profound meditation.
"tic remained so for some time. AT last, tn
young shoemaker rpse, approached him, an,
said, in u low, respectful voice--,wonderful maj
who are You, sheny'
"3eethopcn raised his head, aud looked at hin
aestractedly, MS 1.-The had not comprehended th,
meaning OF his words
"rhe young man repeated this question:.