, 1861-01-23
:: GOETHE AND mEnpELsS0HN.
Tho F1rAt Meeting HesTaen tho poet
nnd the Composer.

Tho FtfAt Meeting ReRWaen the H0et
and the Composer
IL L. Rellstab, Gernan writer Of consider
able reputation, has recently published in Ger
many two volumes Of his autobiography, re-
pletc with interesting gossip: about diatin.
guished men, H tells The following tale Of
the meeting nf the anthor OF Faust and tho
Ia he sSsaioE. We assemrbbled In Goethe'a
rooms 10 les, fur hc had invited large party
OF b Wciin:Ir musical acquainihnces 10 make
them acquainted with the boy . extraordinary
talents. Presently Gmthe made bis appear.
anec; he came IRON biz stu9y. and had 2 habit
1T icass1 generally notlced it-of waiting ttl
all the guests Fero assembled ere be showed
himself Til that period Ills son aud Gaugh-
terin.law 1il the duties OF host in the nlost
aminble way. 4 certain soleu1nity was visible
among the gaests prior to the enfrnucc Of the
gr.at poet, aud evcnttcsc who sto3d on terms
Of intimacy with him underwent q feeling Of
veneTatfop. His slow, serious walk, ILLS I'M
preseire features, which expressed the strength
rather than weakness Of old aye, the lofty
forehead and white, a5undant hair, lastly. the
deep Voice and slow way Of speaking, all uni
ted TO produce this effect. His "Good even
ing" was addressed to all, but he walked up
to Ze2ter ttrsf, and shook b hand cordially.
Felix Mendclssohn locked mp with sparkling
eyes ut the snow-white head Of til. poet. The
la'ter; howcrrr, placed bis hal'ls kindly on
US something" Zcltcr nodded his assent
Tue Piano was opened and fybtB arranged
on tile de=k. btcndelssohn asked Zeiter, to
whom he displayed tho1ougly childish de-
yotton and confidence, whut hhaal play?"
"Weff, what you can" The latter replied, in
his peculiarly sharp voice, "Whnterer ia not
too difficult fur you.."
FL me who knew what the boy could do, ard
that uo task WAS too difficult tor him, this
seemed an unjust depreciation Of his faculties.
1t was at length arranged tnat he should play
II fantasia, Which he did 10 tho wonder Of all.
But the ounS artist knew when to leave ot,
aaa TINS the effect he produced was all the
greater. 4 silence Of surprise ensued when he
raised his handa from the kcys after long
1lba!c.
Zrltcy xas the nrst to to Interrupt the silence
In bis numerous a wa BY esypg on a3, IA a
aragons; why, that vent over esick md
etuae!" At Tie same time til re was per-
1a,t Indifference In Ills tone, rs II there Has
nothing remarkable in ths matter. Without
doubt lhe ttachcE intended to prcTcnt, IN this
way, the danger Of too brilliant triumph.
The playing, however, Is It could well 9TH
erwise, aroused lie highest admiration Of MI
prtseat, uud Goetha especially Was tIlled with
fhc warlnest delight H encouraged the lad,
it. whosc childish features joy, pride and con-
fusion w'ero at oucc depleted, BY taking his
hc.d between his hands, patting him kindly
y.
with that. Ton must plsy more pieces before
We recognize your merits"
"Bat what rhall ptay,n Felix asked, Herr
Professor:"- was ToDt to address Zslter By
this title" what 1t all I play now!"
cannot say that haye properly retained
The pieces the young rirtuoso now Performed,
for they were numerous. viii, however, neu-
tinn The most Interesting.
Gostte was great adulirer Of Bach sfngues.
which musician OF B-rka, little town about
ten miles trom Wsinar, came TO play to him
rspsa edly. Felix was therefore requested to
play fn;uc from the srlal old master RI.
ter selected it from the nus.c book, and the
boy played it without any preparation, but
with perfect certainty.
Goethcs delight grew with The boys extra-
ordinary powers. Among other things he re-
qaested him to play miuuet
"'Shall l play yol The tuvelieet In tho whole
world :" he asked with sparkling eyes.
"Wcl1, aud which il that :"
He played the ninutl from Don Giovanni"
Goethe etood by the instrument, hetenfng,
iay gtia:ening on lis features. He wished fur
tue overture OF the opera after the mlnuet;
assertion that il could not be played a. it WAS
written, and nobody cared 1nakeauy alteration
In it. lie, however, offered to play the over
turo to u F73dro" He commenced with h
li.htuees VI touch, Euch certainty and clear
ness, as I nescr leard again. At the came
=
Gently thu, the effect was extraordiuary; and
cap honestly s1ute thai il afforded me more
qualification than EVER su orchestral perform
unre did. Goethe grew more and more cheer
fiji and Kind, and even played tricks with tbs
talented lad.
"Wc.l, come" he Eaid, ".you have only
played me pieces you know, but now VIC will
Ecc whether yon eAn plny something Jou do
not know. will put Jou on ttisl-"
Goethe went out, r.entcred tho room in a
few moIneuts and hada roll Of music In his
hand Il have 1ct-hed su,ucthing from my
Do you lhlnk you can play this?"
H laid a page, with Gear ont small notes On
the desk. Il was Muzast's handwriting,
Whether Goethe told us 50 or it was written
on the paper forget, md only Hmem-
her That Il liz gluwcd With delight al The name,
partly enthusiasm and Joy, partly a3miratlon
ind expectation. Goe'he, the aged man who
lays manuscript Of Mozart, who tnd bean
buried thit ii years ago. before q lad 80 full Of
promise fur the future, to play at stgbt---ln
| truth such constellation urny be termed g
rltity.
Tie young artist played with the most per.
feet ceftainty, not making The slightest mis-
fcke, though the mnnu4eript was far from e4ay
| rsadiny.; The fask Ras certainly not difficult,
especially tor Mrndelssohn, a. it was only an
| adngio stiil there WIS difficulty IN doing it
a3 fHu I'M AI !FA24&A ~ fAA LAG AaAA
| been pa :using It for yrars.
Goethe adhered to his good humored tone,
| while all the rest applauded. "Tha, IL no
| thing" be said; Others could read that too.
| Cut l viii now give Joy something oyer which
! ron pill stick, 50 take caro-"
| With these wosds he proauced another pa-
| per, which he laid On the do.k. This certainly
iooScd very tsauee. It was difficult to say
| were they notes. or only paper ruled and
splashed With ink and tlots. Felix Mendels-
! suhn, In his surprise, laughed loudly. ''How
| is that wtilttu2 Who caa read it !" he saiG.
| But suddenly he became serious. Tor while
| Goethe was saying, Now, gness who wrote
i. ," Zel,cr, who had walkea up to the piano
aud looked over the boy shonider, exclaimed,
"Wly, Beethoven wrote that! any ono; could
sec It mile of He always vii cs with .
notcs before they are dsy. have plenty OF his
| manuscripts they are rasv to know"
| At the mention Of this name, n Ternaraed,
Mcudelssohn had suddenly grown serious-
even moro than serious. 4 shade Of awe was
yl@,hte on his festu~s. Goethe REGARDED him
| with searching eyes, from which delight
heamed. TIE boy kept bis eyes tmmovsb.y
| rxett on the manuscript, and look OF glad
brilliant thought amid the chaos Of confused,
blurred notes. J.. ~,
| Goethe wished to make severe trial, and give
the performer no ti1ns for preparation. You
| Set" tic exclaimed, ~ told you that you would
stick Now Try IT. show us what you can ID"
Felix began playing immediately; 4 vas :
simple melody; u clearly written ifsaing, I
| mar ear no task, for even 4 moderate pefior.
msr. Bot to follow it through the ectahhlins
| labyrinth required Quickntss and certainty
! Of rye, such % few are able to attain. /
/ cianccd with surprise at the leaf, and tried to