The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-02-06
THE MALEFACTORS'S VIOLIN.
FROM THE FRENCH OF ERCKMANE .oHArRA1N.

Gluck, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini; he was
in the full enjoyment of robust health, and of
a modest fortune which allowed him to, pur-
sue his artistic vocation. In a word, he had
all the requisit es for composing grand and
beautiful mdsic-except the one little indis-
pensable thing-inspiration
Every day, filed with noble ardor, he
would take to his master very long and har-
monicaly very good scores-every phrase Of
which, unfortunately, went to the account of
Peter, or James, or Christopher.
Master Albertus, seated in his great arm
chair, smoking his pipe, with his feet on the
andirons and his elbow on the table, would
set to work to strike out his pupils original
discoveries, one after the other. Carl would
cry with vexation, get angry, argue-but the
old master would placidly open one of his
innumerable music-books, and, with his finger
on the passage, say
'Look there, my boy!"
Then Carl would hang his head and despair
of the future.
But one fine morning, when he had handed
in to Master Albertus, under his own name,
a fantasia of Baccherini, with scraps from
Vlotti, the old gentleman's composure gave
way.
ass? Do you think L don't notice your
wretched stealings? Really this is too bad"
Then, seeing him in CONSERVATION at this
address,
''See here, said he, 81 think it very likely
you are cheated by your own memory, and
take your own "reminiscences for invention;
but, decidedly, you are getting too fat; you
drink too good wine, and, what is more, you
are too loose in counting your glasses. That
is what clogs the channels of your intelli-
gence. You must get lean!"
clean !"
'Yes!-or give up music It is not science
you lack, but ideas. The thing is very
simple. If you passed your life in coating
the strings of your violin with a thick layer
Of grease, how could they ever vibrator"
These words of Master Albertus were q
CLEAN of sudden illumination for Hafitz.
eff have to wear myself to skeleton"
cried he, 'I shall shrink from no sacrifice.
Since it is matter which clogs my soul, will
grow 1ean!"
His features, at this moment, spoke such
heroism that Master Albertus was touched;
he embraced his dear pupil and wished him
good luck.
By the next day Carl Hafitz, with wallet and
staff, left the hotel of the ''Three Pigeons
and the brewery of King Gambrinus" for
long journey.
He set out for Switzerland.
Unluckily, by the end of six months,
though mis- plumpness was considerably re-
duced, his inspiration was none the better
for it.
s'Could there be an unluckier fellow than
II" thought he. ''Fasting or good living
water, wine, beer-nothing can screw up my
soul to sublimity pitch. What I.have done to
deserve SO dismal fate? While crowd of
ignoramuses are producing remarkable works,
l, with all my science, all my work, all nay
courage don't come to anything Oh,
Heaven is not just No, it is not just"
Thus meditating, he was plodding along
tha road from Rrucly to FTiburo Niuht wac
falling; he began to lag, and was ready to
drop with weariness.
At this moment he perceived, by the
moonlight, an old shanty, squatted little
back from the road, with steep roof and ram
shackle door, shattered window-panes, and
chimney in ruins. Nettles and briars
grew thick about it, and the little window in
the roof scarcely peeped out over the bramble
bushes of the plain, now swept by o wind
which would have taken the horns off an OK
At the same moment Carl deserted through
the gloom the pine branch dangling over the
door.
''Come," said he, "the inn is not fair to
look att is even a bit uninviting; but we
must not Judge by the outside"
So, without hesitation, he raped on the
door with his stick.
''Who's there? What do you want ?" cried
gruff voice from inside.
''Shelter and food"
"Ah, ha very well-very we'll !"
The door opened suddenly, and Carl
found himself face to face with stout fell
low, with square cut features and gray eyes,
clothed in an old sack coat out at elbows,
and holding in his hand hatchet
Behind him famed the fire on the hearth
lighting up the entry to a shed, the steps of a
wooden staircase, the crumbling walls, and
crouching close to the fire, girl, pale, ema.
ciated, and dressed in poor gown of brown
calico, spotted with white. She looked
towards the door with sort of fright-in
her black eyes was an indefnable expression
Of wild sadness.
Carl saw all this at a glance, and instinct
lively tightened his grasp of his stick.
''Well-come in-why don't your" said
the man. ''This isn't weather to keep people
out in"
Thinking. then, that it would be ill-judged
to look scared, he walked boldly into the
shanty and sat down on a stool before the
fireplace.
''Give me your wallet and stick" said the
man.
This time Master Albertus' pupil shivered
to his very marrow but, before he could get
over his dismay, the wallet was unstrapped,
the stick leaning in a corner, and the host
quietly seated again in the chimney corner.
This circumstance somewhat restored his
composure.
''Herr Wirth, said he, smiling, 81 shouldn't
object to some supper"
''What would you haveH" said the other
grossly.
ga bacon omelet, a jug of wine, aud some
cheese"
''Hey! hey! You've an excellent appetite,
of. A,sk. -