Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-11
MUSICAL LETTERS.
No. HI. The wartburx and Its Music.
BY T.. A. W.

at the foot of the Thuringian
mountains. 1t has most
remarkable history, that stretches away
like the silver thread of the beautiful
stream back through the valley of
Ainic, centuries looming up OH its pic
turesgue banks and important events
clustering on its shores like romantic
cities and s,mlit villages, winding its
shining thread back further and further
till its sources are lost in the far distant
mountains of antiquity.
There resided, nearly thousand years
ago, the Landgraves of Thuringia.
There was held the great contest OF the
Minnesingers. There ruled Ludwig the
Iron Count. There dwelt at Elizabeth
the royal daughter of Hungary. There
Luther was confined for. year, after
his bold appearance before the imperial
diet of Worms, and there he translated
the New Testament.
| stood once in the halls of that ancient
castle. 1t was on lovely June morn
ing when the woods were adorned with
the splendOr of young summer. L
stood in Martin Luther's room, my
manifestation ,hi> writing table, and my
foot upon his little bench, my eyes
roamed through the wide Gothic win
dow, whose circular panes admitted the
tempered rays of glorious sun.
Fifteen hundred feet below was the
ancient city Of Eisenach. 1t was Just
the time OF the day when, four hundred
wears before, the boy Luther used to go
round in the city with number OF
other choristers singing before the
houses of citizens to earn few pennies 10
help them get an education. imagln-
ed him singing before the house OF rich
old Frau Gotta, who was unchanted
| with his voice, and, how, one winter
morning she took HIM in and gave him
shelter and lodging just on account
of his beautiful voice. Perhaps there
was in her soul also dim idea of the
grand music which he afterwards per-
formed in the great opera of the Ger
man Reformation.
To-day, nv mind is there again i'll
! that same room and look out again
upon the lovely valleys of the Eisenach
and upon the mountain tops OF the
Thuringian forest, and L am thinking
about all the rays of Music and Poetry,
Romance and Reality that seem to CEN
ire i'm that little old castle of the Wart-
burg.
The great contest Ofthe Minnesingers
i'm the twelfth century was held here,
which Wagner has taken as aft subject
for one of his famous operas. Those who
wish TO be introduced into that nebulous
age are referred to that work OF his gem
Jus 1.-The MeisUersingers.'
Some highly romantic eventsfrom the
life of Ludwig the Iron Landgraf have
lately furnished material for an opera,
which is getting quite famous. 1t also
radiates from and centres in the Wart-
/ burgh. is called 1.-THE Smith of Rub
| lan and has been received with great
| enthusiasm. The legand is highly ro-
/ mantle one with beautiful moral and
I is still on the lips of the
| inhabitants Of the valleys of that
region. The Count, or Landgraf Ludwig
/ of Tburingia, who resided at the Wart-
burg, was q young man of pleasure,
spending his days in dissipation, not
minding the welfare of his subjects. In
/ ferior mobiles all around soon took adj
/ vantage of this state of things to OPP
/ press the poor, the humble, and the help
| less. Years passed and things grew
worse all the time. One evening while
( on a chase, the Count lost his way in the
/ intrieacies of the mountain near the
/ Wartburg, and in the hot pursuit of a
| beautiful deer became separated from bis
/ fellows. Though blowing his bugle he did
not receive an answer, and night ca me
on and complete darkness soon prevail
| ed. The sky was overcast and no stars
shOne to guide him. He CROPPED his
way along a trickling stream, thinking
it would lead him gradually to a larger
valley, which he could pass. After long
effort, he suddenly saw light away in
the distance and also heard the familiar
sound of hammers. He knew he was
near the FORCES of Ruhla. He redOubled
his effort and his faithful greyhOunds
snuffed relief from afar. He finally ar
rived where the fire ola smith was
glowing and made his appearance at
the forge door. The smith, "a mighty
man. viewed him with dark face and
answered his inquiry gruffly. The
Count was in pitiable condition,
and bleeding. Without making himself
known he asked for some water and
bread, and for q nights shelter. The
.cyclOp before him laughed derisively.
''Some water? There is plenty of it in the
brook; here is a vessel, just get II
yourself, my fine man. Some bread?
the miniOds of the Count took the last
loaf and there is no enter
tainment for such as you;
a few hard crusts you can have,
and they are fit to crack q
nobleman's teeth. And lodging? No
bed here, my friend, the tax collector OF
the count has carried away my misera-
/ hlA fnrNtfpra l,ttk nliF,ol N
up this ladder and you will find some
straw. God night to you, must be at
my work all night to make few far
things to pay the balance of my taxes
Good night.h
The count was amazed, but never
spoke word. He did as he was told
and climbed up the ladder. For long
time no sleep came to his weary eyelids
The smith continued to hammer and
every stroke done was accompanied by
his powerful voice, monotonously sing
ing out, "GrotU hard, grO,V hard, Oh
LdRdqTof, grOW thou hdrdn' When the
commits eyes closed at last in fitful aeeI
he dreamed of the smith and his never
ending refrain. The morning found
him refreshed, however, and coming
down he was presented with some GOOD
bread, some eggs, some kraut, and frest
water from the mountain stream. AuC
now began a close questioning as to tn,
meaning of the words sung during thu
night. The smith, very relunctantly re
vealed at last the state of the country
told him Of the terrible oppression
of the officials and petty nc
bles, adding it was owing to the misera
bic, ignoble life Of dissipation of tn
Landgraf, and nothing better could be
expected unless be would grow hard
hard. Alter listeningsilently, with pal
and troubled features to the tale ofhis er
rors and misdeeds, the Landgraf sudden
lyspraDg TO his feet, grasped the smith
bands, held them fast and vowed tina
Allah shculd be changed, frosn tn
very eaym He did not re zeal hi