New-York tribune., 1875-08-21

takes his coffee about g, then takes little walk in
his garden, at 10 o'clock makes his toilet and re-
ceves the attentions Of his barber. Beyond this
time the BARRIERS knowledge was indefinite.
The smallest boy in Bayreuth knows where Wag-
ner hives. In fact might almost find his house
with his eyes shut. It's plain symmetrical struc-
ture of unobtrusive architecture but nevertheless
an innovation on the prevailing gablc-roofed mo-
nctony 0f the place, and is further distinguished by
few acres of garden incosed by high fence, which
is no bar however TO the public gaze. The garden Is
laid ont with simplicity. well stocked with young
trees and contains also a small colsery atory. Over
the portal Of the composers door, under large
caustic picture. there inscribed in conspicuous
capitals the baptslnal of this house and home
w &hnfried Two lines IN gold letters distributed
on each side of the doorway explain this curious des
ignaton:
"Hier wo metn wahnen Frieden fand
Sci dieses HaUs Won mir benannt'
Perhaps this would be an equally good designation
for the theater which stands upon the hill. No
doubt it has cost Wagner not little sum to give
freedom and peace to these Fancies, only one of
which this house represents. The exterior, indeed,
does not impress one with its magniHcence, but the
interior is fitted up and furnished with prncey ele
gance. The valet who answered my petition at the
bell led me into a broad, spacious hall, in which
stood large grand piano The parlor or library, a
functions, opened off this hail. and into this I was
conducted. Here another grand piano, and
from the porch as I entered tie house l heard
still another, so that the composer has
taken care that he shall have sufficient
opportunity to air his musical fancies
The library is furnished in the most sumptuous man
ner tie chairs and sofas richly upholstered in sain
the tables Of polished ebony, magnificent chan
deler pendent from the ceiling and three sides
Of the room costly cases filed with books elegantly
bound in red and gold to match the furniture.
could not help thinking, while viewing this royal
apartment, of Wagners own story OF the fate OF the
poor Paris musician, and wondered if he ever
dreamed when he wrote it that he woud have such
a comfortable and elegant place to die in. No of
Wagners enemies, | believe, would accuse him of
using music merely as q gold NINE No one ever
loved art OF music more passionately for its own
sake and ! have no doubt that he considers this
accumulation of wealth as one of the least OF his
recompensos. so l thought when the door opened
and Wagner entered
No one that sees him for the first time can fail to
be struck by his appearance Ii hs lace itself were
not striking, his dress would be. You see at once
that ne is eccentric man-thOugh goof deal
more. Here is a broad, eapacioHs brow, which
might belong TO a poet or Philosopher, and Nature
seems to have placed the double dcvry on ore pair
agine is not easy to determine and yet the breadth
and funess over the temples here coincide with the
locality on tine chronological bust and what is
known as Ideality is strongly Indicated. The
features are marked. The Is straight and large
the eyes are somewhat PROMINENT, the chm broad
and strong giving peculiar severity to the express
sion. The face and chin shaved clean. with
the exception of fringe Of hair which drops
down from each ear and meets under the threat
The gray frosted HAIR is com5ed ba from the fore
heod and falls behind the ears. Wagners Ii
strong sharp, intellectual refined but not mellow
face There is certain poetic light about the
countenance, which sOftens somewhat its otherwise
DCrc strength, but there is no sign of levity or
weakness about the man. His smile bright,
and the face Teaxes its severity for the times but
the critical incsvencss is quite lost, and You
feel that he coud be satrical If he wanted to be.
Perhaps 5 feet in hight, he wOud be still more
commanding If he were taller. believe he is about
90 years of age He was dressed in a loose sack OF
black velvet with a vest of the same material but
tonng rather high, his cravat cOnccaling entirely
the shirt bosom. His breeches of ample width ex-
tended only to the knees below tire knees were
close-ftting legeings, with shoes. In his hand he
carried don't care" sort Of avelyet hat,
what like Scotch cap.
Apologizing for slightdelay in receiving me-for
HAD called once before IN the mOrnipg-he bade me
be seated and we launched at once into converse
tion which we conducted in German, Wagner re-
marking that though he was perfectly at home in
the French, he was somewhat lame In the English
tongue. "Your determination to take the train tlis
afternoon" said he, puts a knife 10 my throat:
wish We might have had more time together
He expressed acknow wledgment and thanks for the
interest which was felt in him in America, and was
glad that the average musical taste there had been
delivered from the pains Of barbaTlsn, and that we
had sonnet hing now 10 build upon. Theodore
rlemas" said he, has done a great deal for your
countrymen." Having heard some of the best
orchestras in Europe ! had hesita-
tion in finding an illustration of the way
Theodore Thomas is serving up music in America,
and Thought had grounds for assuring him that
the American people had begun to appreciate his
sue cess happened 10 have III my pocket copy OF
The TR1SVKK seRtsnaisg ysW critics admirable
letters from the Cincinnati festival, and the inter-
esting article on the changes in Thomas's rendering
of the Ninth Symphony. Wagner took them,
hummed over some Of the airs and, begging that he
might keep them, reserved his opinion till after
careful reading. Then the conversation changed to
his plan for the presentation at Bayreuth OF Eis last
great work, "The Ring Of the Nblune." 1t was
evident thai this subject with Wagner could never
grow stale. lie spoke it with unconeealed zeal
and interest. He was particular in emphasizing the
fact that the plan had no speculative or money
making character whatever; it is effort he said
purely in the interest of musical art. From his own
unaided means he not able to carry out the
plan he had, therefore, appealed TO his friends in
Germany and had met with responses from all parts
of Europe and indeed from England and America.
He had calculated the expense at 100000 thaers
which his friends proposed 10 divide among 1000
patrons at 800 thalers each. generous and favor