The New York herald., 1875-06-07
THE FRENCH LITERARY WORLD.
D'HaussonvIe on the Penitentiay Sys-
tenn of France.
STARTLING STATISTICS.
French Progress in Art-Theat-
rical Publications.
RICHARD WAGNER.

nothing cOulu De moro HpTOpOB tnAH INC puuH"
ration at this time OF the "ArE, Life and
Tneoriesn OF Richard Wagner by Henry Holt
Co. Mr.. Edward L. Burlingame Is
the translator OF the book, which con-
-tains the autobiography and q selection from the
essays or Herr Wagner. These essays comprise: -
..lhe Love veton the pilgrimage to Beethoven"
"An End In Paris" "Der Freiscnutz In Paris"
s.The Music OF the Future" an account OF the
production OF Tannnauser in Paris, "The Pur-
pose OF Opera.n "Musical Criticlsm,o "The Legend
OF the Nibelungenn ana "Tne opera House at
Beyreuth.n Nine large volumes contain Wagner's
writings In German, and from these Mr. Bur-
Iingame mas selected what he has considered the
most characteristics. The task OF rendering Wag-
neris German into English is no easy one, as the
translator saTs ir is about like trying TO render
Oariylc's English into French. Mr.. BurlinRame
has however. succeeded admirably in preserving
the spirit Of the original.
One gets better idea OF the great composer
from studying mis- writings than from hearing his
music. be writes very much like he cemposes,
though we miss the diminished chords that are
no effective in his music Language nows readily
from his pen and he does not waste any time In
picking his words, good Is good and bad Is bad In
his lexicon. He rather suggests Heine In hts out
spokenness and general style ne is just as bright
and quiet as impudent. He has two idols, Beet
hoven and wagner. His sell-apprecation is too
annoying, and we can forgive it, seeing how great
the proyocalion. Unfortunately the autobiography
ends lust about wnen It's authors prosperity
begins but OF mis- after life we are more familiar.
He does not aliude directly 10 his poverty and
struggles in his life, but we giean some idea or the
miseries he passed through In the sketches he
wrote for the Gazette Musicale. supposed 10 be
Notions
He does not beat about the bush any, but begins
Afw Wal-
helm Richard wagner, ana Mas born In LeIpsig
IN the 22d day OF May, 1918. Ny
lather, who was a police actuary, died six
months after my birtn.n His steplather
Ludwig Geyer. was an ACTOR, dramatic author and
painter. He wanted very mucn 10 make painter
out Of the little Richard, but ne had no talent Tor
drawing Wagner played a little on the piano
when he was seven years old, but was not looked
upon as a prodigy. "Aiy private tutor, VINO taught
nc 70 construe Cornelius Nepos, nad to give me
piano lessons as well. nac hardly finished the
SrsI exercises Ia lingering when began secretly
10 study the overture 10 the Freiscnutz,' AZ first
wtn9u' notes Ny 5eacaST asG once nScDouDcna Sysr
mat l would come 20 nothing he was
10 piay the piano. "rnIs whole connection WITH
musc,v ne continues, ''was entirely tning OF
aid ancient history made up my CHIEF employ
ment. made verses LOO. Az one time
began 10 learn English, solely that might know
Shakespeare thoroughly. even made metrical
translation Of Romeo's moEologue. My English,
soon sroPpea out snaSsspesre ns sn re re-
time In writing a tragedy on the most stupendous
scale. After hearing beethoven he SAYS tnat me
Emusic in Egmontn so excited me tnat deter
mined that my now completed tragedy should not
proceed step farther without being pIovloed
with lust sucn accOmpnnImenLn Al this time ne
ueeIue0 tU De a musician ne was then IN his six
tecntn year. Dunng the revolution OF July, 1880
began an overture oeallng eith political
theme. HIS university career was Iract
mn 10 All Kinds or students excuses. He soon
came to mis- senses, however, ana set 70 work in
earnest. lie studied with Weinllg, and then
began TO compose. lie heard Devrient, wnom he
greatly admired, sing IN Belnal's ''Rvmeo and
JuIiet.n and SAYS, Il was amazed 70 hear sucn
cemarKaplo performance OF sucn utterly lnsIRnin-
cant music | was driven to despair at the means
tnat could lead. 10 so great success. was lar
from attrioutng any great merit to Bellini; yet
the material OF which MS music was made seemed
TO me, nevertheless, better calculated 10 difuse
lie and warmth Than the careful and anxious
.ronscIeut0usnes Win which We Germans gens-
rally brought about only tortured sembsance Of
reality. Tne feeble tamencss OF the modern ltal-
ians and the trfnng irlyoiities OF the French
seemed 20 challenge Tue earnest CONSCIENTIOUS
Germans 10 make themselves masters OF TIE pet
CHOSEN ana elaborate material OF their rivals,
In order TO vastly improve upon them BY nsng It
for real works OF ART" ROW thoroughly German
tnat last sentencei
While m tue most wretchcd circumstances
wagner married, In the year 1885, lie passed
miserable aud unhappy time In Paris, wnere ne
snjoyed nothing put the orchestral concerts at the
QrImage 10 Beethoven, written for the Gazette
Musicale shows the humorous SIDE OF wagner's
cnaracter. lie In reduces snobbish Engnsnman,
n musical amateur, In this story. anu places nlni
IN tue most ridicuIous hgnt contrasting his lion
hunting mania win the ardor Oi the true plsgrim.
Tne sketcn, An End 10 Paris, rs said 70 oe drawn
from his own lie. Tue two articles on DER
Fretschutz In PArls'' give good idea OF the CON-
poscr's art lie IN that city. Perhaps the most I'M
portant article m TINS volume Is the one OIL THE
nusic OF .he future,r written IN the form 81 a
Ietter to a French friend. lie goes over the
whole ground taken against hm toy MS enemies
aud answers cnafge by charge. whether ne
a.ree entirely with all his ideas or not we cannot
out ADMIT tnat they appeal 10 the intellect and
are original, ii not always practicable. ~ melody
ne sayS ~ find In the ireQuenia and snrl demands
" or superficial musical dIiettdnu for Melody,
melody Y i confirmation OF the belet that they
derive their idea Uf melody nom musical works
In which, ucsIdcs the melody, complete lack Of
melody occurs, winch makes wnat tney think me-
lOdOus appear 50 precious. : IN truth, What
rom singular narrowsess ~ looked upon as rich
ness must needs api ear TO the more cultured
mInd very porerty.u lie says Of the "Iann-
hauser,n 'sAy object mas been " hrst encnaln me
attention of the audience by The dramatic action,
% the lact tnat u IS never compelled lOr
moment 70 lose sight OF thls but that on the con-
irary the musical dress AT hrst seems ohy
method used Tor the better display Of II. Ana II
was tnls doing away with All concession W Tue
matter " the SUBJECT which mace It possible iOr
ue ~ Also 10 away with NJ III ne muslcai eNccu-
tUni and IN these thugs, taken tONetner, yOu
VIII perhaps ma the hest example OF what my
'inOValOn' really consists IN; you certainly VIII
NOT nnu ~ ~ pufey musical ancy which many
nave th0uRht themselves justified IN fotsting upon
me as STRIVING alter music q the
iutureW IL Is very evident that Wagner attaches
more importance 70 ms HOrcttt tnan most COM
puscts lie does not neeve IN having a stage
iuli oi people singing ana shouting about nothing.
WaRner's description Of his opera house at Bay
reutn, and tie circumstances leading to It's tncep-
ttOn and 20 the formation Oi the Mncucr-yerelne
not the least interesting part ot the book Tnis
article ~ illustrated WITH three views OF the Opera
House. Appended TO TINS volume Is carefully