The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-12-17
q ASHINGTON, ID. G..
For the National Era.
FRANZ WERNER: A "REMINISCENCES.
BY EDWARD SPENCER.

most swarthy, in complexion with moist black
hair, that fell in heavy folds, as it were, and half
curls, about large square-shaped skull, and q
broad, heavy brow, that was especially remark
able for the two deep wrinkles that trsversed i,
horizontally; with large, quick, wild, black
i e-e, which was wont to diate and glow under
the least excitement; and thick beard of DARK
hair, soft and silken as an artists, that grew
about but only half concealed the mobility and
nervous susceptibility of his mouth. His lower
face was square and hard in its lines. He was
wellbuilt man, broad-shouldered and firmly
set, capable Of prodigious exertion and displays
OF strength. when it pleased him-as it seldom
dd-to make the effort. He was generally
spoken Of as belonging to that category usually
styled " men of genius" and, as such, was ex.
cused for being singular and eccentric. The
world has such scrupulous faith in the doc
t,ine of compensation" that it cannot be per-
suaded that genius +" and common sense ~
| will ever unite 10 crown one individual.
Franz claimed to be descended from a GER
tain famous Won Werner, who had ruled in a
Rhine eyrie, as robber. knight, in the good old
feudal iimes and he accounted for his own man.
festations of the Berserk spirit by saying, that
some of the fierce old blood was still leavening
in his turbulent veins.
His father, after seeing much of life and SER
vice, and after settling down as small farmer,
aid marrying, had suddenly been reused By the
stirring news from Greece; and, going off, had
fallen gloriously at Missolonghi, leaving bis wife
and son with but small competence. By great
economy, Franz's mother had managed to sup
| port hsrself and educate her son. He had gone
through the proper preparatory studies, and,
when | entered the University, he was in his
second year there.
He was regarded by most persons simply es
wild, turbulent fellow, who if be had any tai.
eut, was either too lazy or too reckless to EN-.
/ pOy it-irreeular, singular, capricious in his
likes aud dislikes, obeying no rule, preserving
nc dec7rum, either in habits, studies, or life.
Was bout OF a revel on the tapis, Franz was
sure to be tie chairman and longest sitter the
principal or second in half the dueIs; an eve.
sore to the g vernment, an adherence to the
Pr ctor. If any out-of the-way ramble was pro.
posed in vacation, Franz, his VIOLIN and his
chess board, always belonged to the party In
resiec Of music aud chess, he possessed a won
derful excellence. His violin, an old, battered,
black affair, that he averred was a genuine
Straduarius, seemed, in his hands, thing of
lfe-such wild, unearthly music did his fanta-
sizes evoke from it. As G. musician, he always
impress d me as the purest example | had ever
met OF that wonderful phenomenon-one who
sHec music, not through instruction and at
geoond hand, but iniuitiyely. One tune or fam
TASTE thai be played pa-ticulary-a wild COM
position, that, without being understood or dis
unctly u,teriUg an individual melody, yet i'm
pressed every one most painfully-was, without
exception, the mos. terrible exempifcaiion of
The power OF music over the soul that | have
ever listened to. Never shall forget the "Teu-
ieish-d,' as II was familiary known among our
fellow students. Franz only played it when
under some extraordinary excitement, aud he
always asserted that he had dreamed it, and
never pllyed nor would play it except when
driven on By an incomprehensibe impulse that
be was unable to resist.
Ia chess, his wonderful powers were fully as
remarkable. Passionately fond of the game,
be had made himself master CT it's history, its
Philosophy, and all its most uninvitng intrica-
cies. No one played with more apparent reck-
essness, yet 10 one could resist the strange,
ceaf crate, ferocious, attack, which he made.
Nhlie al the l diversity, he never met his equal.
Indeed, 1t WIS whispered that he owed his con-
tnGed residence in College TO the desire of sun.
dry enthusiastic Professors to retrieve the nu-
merous de eats they had suffered at his hands,
1t is probable-though | advance this simply
as an hypolhess-that the game had for Franz
meaning beyond its ordinary sccepta,ion a
meaning aud symbolism which derived at
once color and substance from the morbid mys-
ucism that impregua ed his being. He seemed
Oregard the game a puppet show, where,
IN hap and mishap, with dramatic unity of
Increment, tended through sundry FIVE acts to
4 al catastrophe; and, reversing the process
o. lAlma, instead of transforming the living
no cadaverous decay he was able, by the su.
pIeme exercise OF a morbid imagination, to
invest these dry bones with life, and to inform
tntm with human passion and individuality.
dis studies were almost entirely mystical.
floiinus, the apochryphal Hermes, the Cabbal.
ISIS MHandola, Synesius, Van Helmont, Bo
chime, fluid, Henry More, Paracesus, Lullius
ana Swedsnborg, with many more of these
classes, were household words" with him.
he would quote you chapter and verse of Ptol
emy Bodin, Gabalis, Com. Agrippa, &c. he
revived branch of the illuminate that had for
merry hourlshed at the University, and proposed
may returns of the Burschenschaft to quaint
usluonal usage. He claimed to be able tc
cAs' nativities and arrange horoscope, with
Inc twelve houses" "pars .fortune." trines
aspects, coDjunctons, g. c., arr anged as properly
as ever William Lilly or Zadkiel could have
eone; and was accused by The Chemical Pro
lessor OF having seriously attempted to dscove,
ta1 philosophers stone. One of his favorits
.Fohc' was TO 60 about among the country
'oWns telling fortunes. He had somewher,
zone across old book, /" Iniagine's Pal
mestry and Physionomy," and had becom,
quite learned in Chiromancy. Disgusting him
''H as Gypsy, which was easy for one of hi
appearance to do, he would wander from vii
'ase TO vIllsge, examining the hands Of simpl
peasant girls, and instilling into their wonder
.Ilg care sage deductions from the table line
Tue lines of life, fortune, heart, diaphragm, &c.
m4 middle-natural" line, the triangle, tn
quadrangle, the "hills" of the thumb, the mys
"C parallels of the lear finger" the mountain
u Tie palm" which are seven, the onychomar
ue speeks of finger nails, ard other wondrou
SAa Pioaiglous mysteries which are duly se
icr'h and valued in the huge folio of Don Inds
glnus
MY acquaintance with Franz began in
singular manner. l was in the University
1rafy, standing before one of the cases, an
oTepy absorbed in some musty old quart
"nien was holding up before me- when tn
oooK was rudely knocked ont of my hands, anG
IN return, Herr Franz Werner was laid pro,
Tate by vigorous blow from my indignan
fist.
Der Teufel mein Herr of the backvood
sou are heavy-handed,' said he, picking hin
self up, and cycling me in a comical manner q
stood on the defensive. / expected a cha
ienge from 50 famous duellist and "renowner
and was astonished to hear him add
Il would like to shake SO potent a fist
mine own"
1t 10 open to friendship, clenched to insult
oappermentl you are my friend, the