Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-11-03
Gales and Sketel,es.
JOHANN STRAUSS AND HIS DEATH
WALTZ.

A young man about twenty-six year:
of age, walked to and fro, deeply agita
ted, III a chamber, not large but comiorta-
bly, and tasteiuly furnished. His figure
was of medium height, 1.-THE and elegant
while the pleasing and expressive feature;
OF his rather thin face were Illuminated by
pair OF fiery eyes, full Of soul and enthu
aasm. His dress consisted of black
frock coat, breecheS OF the same color
silk stockings, and neatly polished shoes
with silver buckles. A white lace neck
cloth and embroidered wristbands and
trill, completed the elegant costume that
showed the graceful figure of the young
man to the best advantage.
One saw at glace that the room was
the abode Of an artist, who worshiped at
the shrine of the goddess of music, for on
one side stood Il spinnet, near which a
bass vol leaned against the wall, while
on chair that stood before desk lay a
violin, which the Young man seemed to
have Just been using, for he still held the
bow III his hand. On table near win
dow, there was pile of sheet music,
together with sundry pieces of paper on
which were written legions of those little
black-headed characters that to the initial
ted speak a language Of sweet sounds.
| The delicate features of the young mar
were. at this moment, sutfused with Grim
SON. he ran his fingers repeatedly through
his curly, carefully dressed locks, regard
less OF the havoc he played with his arts
tic t0upet, and then he would flourish the
bow in his hand, as though it were {
sword with which he would drive away
some phantom that refused to give him i
moments peace.
Finally he stopped in the middle of the
room.
II must, must" he cried, "and that
to-day, too. can endure this suspense
no longer; | must know my fate; but this
uncertainty, this continual WaVering be
tween hope and fear, is a thousand times
more terrible than the certainty that she
does not love me. Love me? Why shoulG
She not? | am young, and more than ont
have told me that | am not i'll favored
| Nv name is already and favorably known
! in Vienna. and | feel that the stuff is il
me to make for myself a reputation tina
| shall extend to other lands. | am an ar
tist. and the barriers do not exist tor me
that surround the privileged classes. She
has read in my eyes that love her, in the
crimson of my cheek when she approach
es me, so beautiful and lovely that my
heart beats only for her; and yet she ha,
done nothing-nothing to repulse me
She seemed embarassed-she too, blusheC
when my trembling hand assisted her il
finding the right string, and at the samc
time ventured gentle pressure upon hel
delicate fingers. What can this mean, i
| it be not that her heart is agitated by feel
| ,pfr L tn 10 thof tb,.ilis ::1n N al
moments? Courage, Johann, courage |
shall not be said that the greatest happi
ness Oh earth was within your grasp an'
you let it pass because you had not thu
courage to reach after it. This very da,
will confess to her my love, and then
A small clock on the mantel interrupted
the young mans soliloquy by striking three
Three o'clock" he cried, drawing hi,
watch from his fob; lit is time | must bt
on my way In an hour shall know wha
impenetrable veil. Sophie, my beloved
| Sophie !"
The last words died in sigh. The young
man laid down the bow, stepped before th'
mirror and arraigned his hair and frills
and then setting his hat on his handsome
head, left the room.
But it is time that the young man WHOM
we have described should be introduced t.
the reader. We have already said that
was evident from the appearance of tn
room that the occupant was musician
and that he was, too, genuine musician
known to-day wherever the arts ars cult
waited. His name was Johann Strauss.
Juhann Strauss was born in 1904 at Vi
emma. His parents who were in indigen
circumstances, apprenticed him to bool
binder named Litchtscheidel, but natur
had not intended the boy for Il simpl
mechanic. The genius of music animated
his entire being, and he was as skilltu
and diligent in learning to play the violll
as he was awkward and indolent in learn
ing trade. As early as in his fifteenth
wear he composed some waltZes and othe
pieces, which discovered Enthusiastically hi
extraordinary talent for dancing music
His calling had long since been his avel
sion; music was everything TO the boy
and to its cultivation he devoted his er
tire energies. Fortunately his muscii
talent was recognized by Lanner, who
at that time, was leader of considerabl
repute, and he took the youth into his ol
chestra, where, as early us 1920 he playe
the second violin.
Under the direction of Launer, the mt
steal talent Of young Strauss was NOR
and more developed, and it was not loni
until he felt capable of welding the bato
himself. AT first in 1924, he undertook
the direction of the ball music in Ga
that time) popular place of amusemen
called the ''Ilotel zum Book" and 500
afterward, having organized an eXcellen
orchestra, he played alternately at Nienn
and the environs of the city, always elicit
ing the enthusiastic appreciation OF tn
pleasure-loving Niennese, with whom h
soon became the decided favorite. Hi
popularity was not confined to any elias
of society, and the enthusiastic admirers {
his compositions rarely called him by othe
cognomen than the waltz king.
Among other instruments, Strauss playe
the harp with the skill of master. 4
that time this now neglected instrumer
was as popular with the American ladit
as the piano or citheron is to-day, and til
reputation Of the youthful artist secure
him an invitation to the house of til
Countess c., where he was solicited I
instruct the eldest daughter, Counte,
Sophie. Strauss acceded to the propos
ton, and the lessons began, but, with ii