, 1880-05-03
Last Days of Haydn.

HAYDN completed his last great work.
the oratorio of the Four Seasons, and i,
exhausted, fell back in his arm chair
"Joseph, have DONE" he said, in a
weak, thin voice.
- am thankful for that, master, -
was the reply of his faithful servant.
The Seasons are completed: spring,
summer, autumn and winter. Joseph,
spring can never return to me-"
"Oh, say not SO, sir! You are still
hale and vigorous, although you have
of late greatly overtasked yourself; but
be guided by me, and lay aside your
pen for few days, and We shall soon
have our beloved master moving about
us in renewed strength"
1t is idle, my good Joseph, to talk
thus. You remember my beloved
friend and pupil, Mozart?"
Zone of his country can never forget
iaim."
"You know the fatal presentiment
which fingered over his last work?
Even SO in regard to mine. I do not
think that shall be called from these
scenes Immediately, but know my end
is drawing near"
My master must not let these
gloomy fancies possess him."
"Cimarosa and Mozart both have
gone, and why should l remain, when
can be of no further use to the world ?
Joseph, formerly my ideas outstripped
my pen; but now it fingers, while am
obliged to seek them by q painful ef-
fort"
The old man placed his withered
ho, dc L lol 90
that moment a vertigo seized him, and
he would have fallen from his chair
had not his faithful servant caught him
in his arms.
After this, these attacks we're more
frequent, although he persisted in writ
ing few short quartettes, and arrang-
ing some ancient Scotch airs, in spite of
the remonstrance of his friends. But
day after day his fecbleness increased.
His mind also became unsettled, and
though comparatively rich, he was con-
tinually oppressed with the fear that he
should lack the necessaries of life.
Occasionally the visits of his friends
would arouse him, and then the old
spirit would shine forth with something
of its former brilliancy. At one time
the papers of Paris actually announced
his death, and his friends in the French
capital caused mass to be celebrated
in his honor. The news reached Haydn
in one of his lucid moments, and he
affected to be greatly amused at the
idea.
'' If these French gentlemen" said
he, chucklipg with q show of his for
mer humor, did not act SO hastily.
they might have sent for me, and |
would have conducted the mass with
the greatest pleasure. But, after all,
am not much gratified with their kind
Intentions"
During this period of his decay-it
could hardly be defined illness-he had
remained secluded at his snug retreat
at Gumpendorff but the public of vi
emma, aware of the Joss they were about
to experience, made efforts to bring
where they could bid adieu to this Won
derful musician. The Austrian prince,
Lobkowitz, took upon himself the man
agement of the affair, and arranged to
have the oTatoriy of "The Creation -
performed at his palace, and for this
purpose engaged one hundred and sixty
musicians under the direction OF
Salieri, an old friend of Hay dn's The
old man. notwithstanding his weakness,
was delighted with this new mark of
honor, and desirous of seeing once more
the kind public which had SO well ap-
preciated his labors. Under the excite
ment of this idea, he rallied immense
1y. His ride to the palace was more
like triumphal procession than sim
pie Escort of poor, decrepit and worn
out German musician.
The apartmant at an early hour was
filed with invited guests to the number
of fifteen hundred. A grand flourish
of orchestral trumpets announced his
arrival, and the Princess Esterhazy and
the then celebrated Madame de Kurz-
beck went to meet him. He was then
brought into the presence of the prince
in an easy chair and placed on plat
form, which was richly decorated for
the occasion. Salieri, as the director,
came to Haydn to receive his orders
concerning the performance; but the
old man was too affected to speak, and