The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1864-06-24
Emile Prudent.

Prudent, died few months ago. His
father was poor piano tuner. As young
Emile was Graded in u piano; and spent
all his childhood surrounded. by pianos,
aud as the lads father was too poor to give
him any other than the paternal profess
stop, he was sent, as soon as he could be
sent anywhere, to the Conservatory, and
in his sixteenth year be carried off the
first prize. This homer leads to nothing !;
and the boy, having no money in his purse
or at home, took to the piano for liv-
ing:
Zoo young to give lessons, he hired
himself out during the winter to play at
danesag parties. He earned fifteen francs
II night He might have remained in this
obscure position all his life, as numbers
do, had he not, one evening, heard List
play at a party where he was engaged to
play dances. The great performers skill
and fame fired his ambition. lie deter
mined to be great pianist. He did not
sleep that night or the next. for thinking
Of the best way to execute his ambitions
schemes.
"The third day he went to pleyers the
eminent piano makers, to see if he could
buy long piano, an instrument which
was absolutely necessary to him, if he reck-
oned upon becoming famous pianist
He priced them. "Ill let you have this
one for two thousand francs,' said Pleyel
81 have no money but if you will have
confidence in me will pay you,' replied
the young fellow. 81 agree to your terms,
but you must give me note for the
amount" Young Prudent signed the
note and obtained the piano. lie set out
that very day to seek pupils, found them,
and in twelve months time lie managed to
pay Pleyel for the piano. The piano be-
ing his property, Prudent determined to
quit Paris for his native place, Angoul-
eme, where living was every way cheaper
than in the metropolis. He knew he could
find pupils there-all he wanted, for he
only wanted enough to enable him 10 live,
while eighteen out of every four-and TWEEN
ty hours he spent over his piano. One
day Tbalberg passed through the town.
The Project invited him to dinner, and, in
the evening, sent for Prudent, and presen-
ted him to Thalberg, The latter played.
Prudent had heard List and Chopin play
he had never heard Thalbcrg. He had
sought and discovered what constituted
the originality of the first two performers,
and he imagined TLalberg. After he bad
heard Thalberg he was at first charmed
and then disappointed by the greatest
pianist, because the real differed from the
ideal artist he himself had dreamed.
"Tbis disappointment did not last long;
it led him to ask himself: why not be
yourself that ideal Thalberg SO different
from the reality?' He applied himself
to attain this ideal, and, after some years
OF persevering labor he did attain it. He
made some impression Gu Thalberg, who
was SO much surprised to hear an obscure
provincial artist express lofty aud yet
practical ideas upon art that he said to
him Il am sorry to leave town without
hearing you; but | am persuaded shall
hear of you at Paris some day. Adieu !;
good luck to you'll!
Prudent laborcd for six years in obscu-
rlty at Angouleme and then he came to
Paris. He soon made himself known, be-
came one of the celebrated pianists and
composers of the capital, aud, for the last
! few years, he has been travelling about
Europe, giving concerts with great sue.
cess in fame and fortune. He some years
ago wrote this description IF the most
eminent pianists: Chopin was au illumi-
natus, a musical Sweaenborg, an elegia-
cal organization; but he too often carried
his revelry to the cemetery, List was
Hoffman's Tyre played by Punchinello.-
His piano was everything except piano.
lie saw in it Catholic cathedrals aud hu-
manitarian armies every key then trans
formed itself into battalion with arms
and noise. Thalberg was Judicial, cold
and even icy, admirable as a draughts-
man in fine, the imperator of ryth,hs.-
He was the first to work on the finger
board the miracle Of the multiplication of
hands
"Emie Prudent had just returned to
Paris from long provincial excursion
He was III excellent health and in buoy
ant spirits. He was suddenly seized with
the most dreadful disease of modern times,
the anglne conneuse, which destroyed poor
Rose Cheri. He took to bed ut twelve
O'Clock; at night be was corpse. He
was only forty-fve years old"
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