The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-07-11

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Haydn, the German maestro!" "
Joseph Haydn, quite overcome, bis eye
flIed with tears, leaned bis bead against th'
back of bis rhair. A mortal pallor over
spread bis cheeks. and bis hands trembled a
though he bad the fever.
" Maestro, dear, dear Maestro p" said tb'
Princess E.terbazy, bending over him ten
derly. ARE you uuwsli You tremble, and
are so palel Are you unwelia"
"Ob, no, no." said Haydn. with gentl'
smile, "my soul is 10 ecstacies at this hour
which is precious reward for long life O
arduous tolls. Ny soul 10 in ecstacies, but i
lives 10 such weak and wretched she'll ane
because the soul is all ablaze with the fires o
rapturous delight, the whole warmth has en-
tered it, and The poor mortal shell s cold and
trembling"
The Princess Esterhazy took impetuousIv y
from her shoulders the costly Turkish shaw
in which ber form was enveloped ; she spread
it out before Haydn and wrapped it carefully
around bis feet. Her example was followed
Immediately by the Princess Lich.eustein
and K'nsky, and the Countesses Kauni'z and
Spielmann. They dotted their beautiful er.
mine furs and their Turkish and Persian
sbawls, and wrapped them around the old
composer, and transformed them into cush.
ions which they placed under his head and
his arms, and blankets with which they GOV.
cred him.
Haydn allowed them smiIn ely to do SO,
and thanked, with glances Of joyful emotion,
the beautiful ladies who manifested SO much
tender soci,ude for bin.
"Why can not die nowl" be said to him
self, 10 a low voice. Why does not Death
kiss my lips at this glorious hour OF my tr.
umphg Oh, come. Death watt me b|issful.
y into the other world, for in this world |
am useless bsnceforth !; my strength is gone,
and my head has no more ideas. | live only
in and on the past
"And yet you live for all time TO come"
said the Princes Es.erhazy, enthusiastically,
'and while German art and German music
are loved and bonored, Joseph Haydn will
never die and never bs forgotten"
Husbed now was every sound Salier
had taken his seat as conductor Of The con.
cert, and signed now to the orchestra.
The audience listened 10 brealhles silence
to the tumul,uous notes depicting 10 SO mas
terIy manner the struggle of light and
da, kness, the chaos of the elements. The
struggle Of the elements becomes more and
more furious, and the music depicts it in
sombre, violent notes, when suddenly the
horizon brigbtens, the clouds are rent, the
dissonant sounds pass into a sublime har'
mony, and in glorious notes Of the most
bisstul exultation resound through The strug'
Cling universe the grand, redeemipg words,
- Let there be light" And all join 10 the
rapturous chorus, and repeat 10 blissful con.
cord, Let there be light"
! Haydn took no notice Of it, he heard only
bis music; bis soul was entirely absorbed n
it and lifting both bis eyes to heaven, he
said devouly and humbly, I" 1t comes from
abovel" ="
The audience had heard these loud and en-
thusiaslic words; it app'auded no longer,
but looked in rsserent silence toward the
aged composer, who, in the midst OF his most
glorious triumph rendered honor to God
alone, and bowed pious|y and modesly to
the work Of his own genius.
| The performance. But Joseph Haydn
barely beard much Of the music. His head
leaned against the back Of the chair his
face, lii up by blissfu smile, was deathly
pale bis eyes cast fervent gances Of graft
tude toward heaven, anG seemed, in their
ecstatic gaze, TO see the whole heavens
opened.
Maestro said the Princess Esterbazy,
when the first part Of the performance was
ended, "you must no longer remain here,
but return to your quiet home."
"Yes, shall return to the quiet home
which awaits US ALL" said Haydn, mildly,
"aud feel sensbIy that shall remain no
longer among men. A sweet dream seems
TO steal over me. Let the performers COM
.nence the second part; and my soul will be
waited TO heaven on the wings OF my music. )"
But the Princess Esterbazy beckoned to
bis friends. Take him away" she said {;
",bs excitement will kill him, if be stays
any longer"
They approached bis chair, and begged
permission 10 escort bin home. Haydn nod.
ded bis assent silently and smilingly, and bis
eyes glanced dreamily round the ball.
Suddenly be gave start as il 10 great ter.
ror, and rose so impetuousy that the furs
and Turkish shawls, which had been wrap.
ped round him, fell to the floor. His face
crimsoned as if in the light Of the setting
sun his eyes looked up with radiant ex.
preston to the box yonder-to his emperor,
whom be bad loved so long and ardent|y,
for whom be had wept in the days Of bis ad
vsrsiiy, for whom be had prayed and sung
at al! times. Now he saw him who, ia bis
eyes, represented fatheraud. home. and hu.
man justice he felt that it was the last time
bis eyes would behold him, and be wished TO
bid farewell at this hour to the world, bis
fatherand and bis emperor.
With vigorous hand he pushed back the
friends who would have held him and re-.
placed him in his chair. Now be was no
longer weak and decrepit old man ; he felt
strong and active, and he hasteoed forward
with rapid step through the orchestra to-
ward the conductors seat and the piano 10
front OF it. He laid bis hands, which trem-
bled no longer, on the keys, and struck a