The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-19

mans fancy. l ought to be as proud as
a young man is, at eighty-two years OF
age. But l perceive that you are a mu-
sician; so we are brothers. If you will
extend your walk to the little village of
Hoth. over the fowery turf, you will
hear the birds singing in the branches,
which is far fuer than Weber's waltz,
and when you reach my home l will
give you fresh eggs and water from the
hills"
Tomorrow will come" said /, press
ing the old man cordially by the hand,
more pleased with the invitation than if
it had been TO one of the grandest cha
teaux.
Ten o'clock on the following day found
me before a detached cottage, clean,
small and pleasantly shaded, beside a
running stream. The old man came to
meet me, and his table was spread with
the best fare he could provide. When l
asked him about his name, he said: "Sir,
the peasants have given me the name Of
the Father, because as you can guess
am still cheerful in old age, but my real
name is Vrangel."
"Vrangell" I cried, 'of Munichw
eyes," he answered simply.
'The teacher of Weber, the chapel
master to the King of BavariaP
"Why not?' f.
"The illustrious Vrangel now changed
to village minstrelY
cay. my own choice, dear sir, which
proves to you that Vrangel is Christian
philosopher. Music has been the passion
of my life; but it has caused me unspeak-
able sorrow and disappointment Twas the
kings professor, and he loaded me with
money and honors. taught the noblest
women in my country, and they paid for
their lessons with gold. / have given my
children and grandchildren love of the
best music, the feeling which makes it
eloquent, the science which gives it cor
rectness. Thus l know my life has not
been useless; I have gained the greatest
prize, which I would not exchange for
anything that earth can Offer"
"And what is this prize?" l asked.
"Come with me-" said the old man,
leading the way to another apartment.
I entered very small, whitewashed
room, where a walnut wood bed con-
cealed by curtains filled up space. He
drew these back, and I saw a golden
crown of laurel in frame. Beneath was
written, "To my friend and excellent
professor, Vrangel-WEBER."
"Sir," said the old man, with trembling
voice, "this is the crown that all the
Bavarian composers sent to Weber after
they had heard Der Frieschutz, the finest
of his works."
"From that time," added he, "every-
thing was against me. lost my wife
and the youngest of my SONS. The
envy of others was the cause of my dis
missal from my post as chapel-master.
A banker in whose hands l had placed
my savings was made a bankrupt, and
my friends deserted me. Life became
a weariness, sadness impossible to
describe seized upon me; the doctors or
dered me to try the country air and
quietness. l engaged house near Spa,
but the hustle of the visitors
Preached me. Walking through the Sc
cluded lanes found this hamlet, where
: there are only forty or fifty honest labor.
ers, and bought cottage. love to see
the young people dance to my music
they do not pay me with money, but
they never forget to show their gratitude
by sending me poultry, eggs, and milk
! I angle in the stream when I fancy fish
for dinner; and can walk four leagues
without WEAKNESS to any Of the seven
villages, when am sent for to play my
violin at marriages, baptisms, and feasts
'But," said to this singular old man
Chow can man of your intellectual
: powers, and accustomed to society for *
long time, deprive bimself of all tht
;; pleasures Of thought, of progress, Of men
l tai advancementW q
"My good FRIEND" he replied, "every
thing in society is changed-men, thing
and ideas. What was once considered
as the enjoyment Of luxury, permitted
only to those who possess large fortunes
, has now become an imperious neces
; sity to every class. The vanity which
: is grated into envy grows so rapidly
in the field of the human heart
: that the good seed is choked. Each fo
himself, that gospel of egotism, is tn
s universal religion. From the workman
J, up to the capitalist, every one practice
! it. Villages which are far from thes
commercial centers have not yet yieldet
:, , to this plague. But it will advance AM
invade them; though I shall have gon
to my rest before that occurs. Gu
peasants love their wives, their children
= and their fields; but they never cove
}. your horse, your house or your servant
> > They have just opinions, sincere friend
y !, ships, true joys and simple feelings.
Il admire their ignorance more than moderl
: philosophy, and I am happier anon
these rustics who love me than shoul
be in drawing-rooms where they woul
. ridicule me-" r..
g Our conversation was carried on for
. long time, and ] promised to come an
% see him the following year. ! dic SO
l. but only to find the door closed. Th
:, pigeons were no longer on the roof; n
y dog barked friendly welcome. An ol
e woman met told me that the musicia
s. had died the previous February, A