The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-10-23
Goethe aid MemdclhOsseu.

M. IL. hehStan, Ue1man writer of con.
siderable reputation, has recently published
in Germany two volumes of his autobiogra
ply, replete with interesting gossip about
distinguished men, He tells the following
tale of the first meeting of the author o.
Faust and the composer of Elijah:
In the evening We assembled in Goethe
room to tea, for he had invited large party
of his Weimar musical acquaintances to
make them acquainted with the boys extra.
ordinary talents. Presently Goethe made
his appearance; he came from his study.
He had a habitat least generally no.
ticed it-of waiting till the guests were as.
sembled ere he showed himself. His "good
evening" was dressed to all, but he walk.
ed up to Zelter first and shook hands COZ
daily. Felix Mendelhossen looked up with
sparkling eyes at the snow-white head OF
the poet. The latter, however, placed bis
HANDS kindly on the boys head and said
"now you shall play us something" Zelter
nodded bis assent
The piano was opened and lights arran gcd
on the desk. Mendelhossen asked Zalter
to whom he displayed thoroughly childish
devotion and confidence, "What shall ]
playg
swell, what you can.' replied the latte,
in his peculiarly sharp voice: whatever i,
not too difficult for youn
A silence of surprise ensued when hs
raised his hands from the Neys after louc
finale.
Zelter was the first to interrupt his silence
in his humorous way, by saying aloud ala
you must have been dreaming of kobold.
and Dragons; why, that went over stick
and stone" At the same time there was a
perfect indifference in his tone, as if there
were nothing remarkable IN the matter
Without doubt, the teacher intended tc
prevent, in this way, the danger of toe
brilliant triumph. The playing, however, as
it could not well be otherwise, aroused the
highest admiration Of all present, and espe.
cially Goethe, was full Of warm delight. lie
encouraged the lad, in whose childish fca
tures joy, pride and confusion were at once
depicted, by taking his head between hi.
hands, patting him kindly, and saying Jest
ingly, "but you will not get off with that. .-
You must play more pieces before we resog
nize your merits
"But what shall play" Felix asked
"Herr Professor was wont to address
Zetter by this titlc-"what shall play this
| timer"
Goethe was great admirer of Bach's fu.
CUES, which musician of Berka, little
town about ten miles from Weimar, came
to play to him repeatedly. Felix was there
fore requested to play fugue to the grand
old master. Zelter selected il from the mu
sic book and the boy played it without pre-
paration, but with perfect certainty.
Goethe's delight grew with the boys ex
trsordinary powers. Among othe, things
he requested him to play ninuet.
"Shall play you the loveliest in the en-
tire worldg" he asked with sparkling eyes.
He played the minuet from .sDon Giovan
nj" e.
Goethe stood by the instrument listening
Joy glistening on his features. He wished
for the overture of the opera after the min
uet; but this the player roundly declined
with the assertion that II could not be play,
ed as it was written, and nobody dared t.
make any alteration in it. He however, of
fered to play the overture to "Figaro." H,
commenced it with ightncss OF touch
such certainty and clearness as never heart
again. At the same time he gave the or
chestral effects SO magnifeently that the ef
feet was extraordinary; and can honestly
state that it afforded ma more qualification
than ever an orchestral performance did
Goethe grew more and more cheerful ant
kind, and even played tricks with the tai
cnted lad.
"Well, come" he said. "you have on,,
PLAYED me pieces, you knaw, hut now ",
viii see whether Won can plav sore,hin,
you do not know. will put Won on ,ria,
Goethe went ont. rerentered The room |,
n few moments, and had roll Of music il
his hand. ~ have fetched something from
my manuscript collection. Nov we will tr,
you. Do you think you can play thisi"
/ He laid . Page, with clear but small notes