The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1869-12-22
SELECTED STORIES,
The Last Night.

Joseph Haydn, the great musician, Ca
pellmeister To Prince Esterhazy, was sitting
before his writing-desk, in his plain but ex.
tremely neat study, absorbed in sorrowful
thought. A letter from the Prince, which,
had just fallen from his hand, lay open be.
fore him. There must have been ill-tidings
in it. for tears were standing in the mans
eyes, and. while deep sadness covered his
mild face, his hands were folded as though
in prayer The letter had come upon him
like blow. 1t read as follows:
my DEAR CAPELLMEIsTER:
'lf ever it was hard for me to take a pen,
in order to announce something unpleasant
to a man, it is the case to-day.
You yourself know how much value.
how thoroughly l appreciate the great ser
vices which you have rendered me these
many years as director of my music. Natural
ly you must have become greatly attached to
the position. and yet 1 find myself obliged
to deprive you of it. Weighty reasons CON
nected with the private relations of nv fam
lily, compel me to shortly give up all nv mu
siclans. Four weeks hence we will have the
last grand concert in my palace 1t is un-
derstood, of course, my dear Haydn, that
your salary goes on unchanged till you have
found another position for yourself, and l
shall always be glad to see you as friend
of the house
You can count upon my influence at all
times in your behalf, and remain,
Yours most truly,
"EsTERHAzY"
Haydn had been for twenty years at the
head ola fine company of musicians who
were supported by the princely muaifcence
OF Esterhazy. He had grown to be part
OF the establishment; he had written so
much OF his best music there; had brought
1t out with such splendid advantages in the
perfection OF the instruments and the talent
OF the performers. The music had been NOT
only the pride OF the Prince himself. but of
all vienna. He had grown into the duties
OF ms position there as firmly as the ivy to
to the wall and now that he must leave it,
the breaking away tugged at his very heart
strings.
The event was not wholly unexpected
The Prince had many times of late talked
with him about such change The "pri-
vale relations of his family" which the lat.
yer naa mentioned as cause, were not. as
Haydn knew perfectly we'll, so very imnor.
tant. For the Prince had doubtless sustain.
ed enormous losses nv the ertravaoanoa nf
some of his relatives yet his nroHsrtN ,. VI
so that it was scarcelv lsssnnoIp h .t was
The truth was, flat Kaiser Goso2h 'i ho5 io =;
stituted such economical reforms in his nau orn
aff,ire oS ,roII ao -. -, ieioiins III MS own
the nigh nobility felt obliged to follow his
example; Prince Esterhazy valued the es,
and. therefore great az wss his n ,idn ina5
"Capelle," and his reverence for the art ' it,
self, he forced himself to decide 40 we boro
seen.
Haydn was deeply affected bv this event.
not because he would need he anxions ahont
his future sustenance, even for a momenIN
this was secured by the generosity of tho
Prince; but it seemed to him thai Tho do
struction of his darling Capelle with ali ito
associations and its prospects was tbe sbatI
tering of his whole fortune 0''
Soon, however was tLe calm meol sr;r;.
of the great musician master of tbe moment'
airy grief His life. rich in tbe asweet usos
of ADVERSELY - hod hoon u:eo
sion to the decroos 81 IIoa.,o A' supniis-
tainIv moct of -. 80 anu Ier
bimseIf nov, III. ot.I.,:, he reminded
tnrnod 49, s %a.u chiiei,he sratituhe-had
h. - 'eSs. why might II not
n, 81 ~ MS present position! Such was
'ne spirlt-thankful for the past, hopeful for
me future which he always faced his |
lie and the same spirit clfaractcrizes his |
Norks.
The expression of cheerfulness. sunny MS |
hat OF child" says Hoffman, "rules eve
ywhere in Haydn's compositions. His
ymphonies lead US into endless green mead.
TVS, thronged with happy human creatures
fouths and maidens float by in the dance.
lughing children, peeping from behind
osebushes cover each other with hlosson,S
t is a life full of love tuIl of on;et an;om
lent, in perpetual voutb There
brill tone of SUFFERING or main only .ya no
orrow of lopoing for the bslonsd s sN.s,
,hich hovers In fbe far off evsn;no, ~ 1olm
omes nearer nor die. ieu, noi
, that form still boyors H. u ~ ~ !on9
,mes not, for itself is tbe atern.I tn onon n'
Il GLOWING on n,o,nt. :ne e.sinai evening
usSnJ,' - On niIul'ain ana meadow.
rIssun SAT lor long time silent and mo {
lac ,rh;oL L a1 oohlns MT the rune a. i
bn;ld;nn M NJ nau peeh score OF years
liars each ;nIcr;ha% , Tue ialien stones and
of himself he .ow t Mns" part OF ms lie
liter disappointments it, p"1e o VIII an It's
$ great plans and small occomnl Ishtrons,
e saw fathomless and unknown future