Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-05-19
RICHARD WAGNER.
Sketch of the Great Master" Written
Shortly Before His Death.
HIS SINGULAR MARRIAGE TO THE
DAUGHTER OF LIST.

DAUGHTER OF LIST.
Here is not only the Masters thea
ire, but his home, built for him by
the King of Bavaria. and standing
in 4 pleasant garden almost in the
centre of the town. Here he lives
during the summer months, not, it
will be believed. in the seclusion of
strictly local circles, but constantly
surrounded by host of friends and
disciples, and visited by troops of
curious pilgrims. In the winter he
goes southwark, of late to Sicily or
Venice. But his head quarters are
at Baireuth Munich, the scene of
his first complete success, having
been almost entirely abandoned.
His house is built in the Renaissance
style, square, and with little orna-
ment save large sgrdGto painting
by Robert krausse over the doorway,
surmounted in it's turn by the name
of the villa, Wahnfried This being
freely translated, means peace from
Illusions or alterations, and typi-
fies the rest which Wagner found
when settled at last i'll his own home
near his own theatre, his battles
over and his. dreams are realized.
The painting typifies his art. Every
thing connected with Wagners life
in Baireuth has been made to sug-
gest his work in a degree which
seems odd to the people less naive
than these artistic Germans, more
keenly alive to the ridiculous, and
less blindly wrapped in their enthu-
siasms. His dogs are called Wotan,
Freia and Fricka. His children,
even, are named for his creations, the
youngest being Siegfried. If ever a
man is crushed beneath the weight
of doubly suggestive patronymic,
it may well be young Siegfried Wag
ner when he shall come to mans es
tate! In his garden, which stretches
back of the house to the little public
park, the Master may be seen taking
his morning constitutional i'll velvet
dressinggown and cap, and passing
up and down before the tomb, lettert d
with his own name, which he had al
ready built. We are reminded of
Schliemann's homo in Athens, with
its Homeric frescoes, and the children
named from heroes of the Iliad.
Entering the house one finds a
large hall running up to the roof.
with a painted frieze showing scenes
from the Nibeiungen. Out of this
hall opens great square room con-
tanning the piano and many rows of
book shelves. filled for the greater
part with works of Eastern philoso-
ply, and with volumes relating to the
old German themes that Wagner has
adapted to new purposes. In bay
window near the piano is the table at
which he sits when working. Here
during the summer season live Wag
ner and his strangely constituted
family-his wife, who is the daughter
of the Able List, all her children by
her divorced husband Hans Won
Bulow's, and Wagner's own younger
brood Bulow's children seem to
adore the Master as much as do his
own, and to glory in his fame as
though they had a legal share therein.
His wife 'Cosima," as she is famii
iarly, even affectionately. called on
every hands tall, striking look
ing woman Of italian type with
fine face showing remains of great
youthful beauty. | have rarely seen
a more interesting and impressive
looking woman; and while many who
admire Wagner as an artist dislike
him as man, there seems to be but
a single feeling Of admiration for his
wife. She is not only extremely
clever, extremely well educated, and
extremely artistic, but is endowed
with social charm and business ability
to a degree that has made her Wag
ner's right hand since the day of their
union. Many believe, indeed, that
without her energy and tact the pas
sionate and rather intractable artist
would not so soon have seen the reali-
zation of his dreams. Wagner ex-
cused himself for his elopement. it is
said, by declaring that he could do his
work without her. And the same
reason seems to hold her excused in
the eyes of her acquaintance. List,
who still retains his early enthusiasm
for the artist and affection for the
man, in spite of all domestic vagaries,
is frequent visitor at Wahnfried.
He is still striking and venerable
figure, though his stately gallantry of
manner has got touch OF senile
righteousness with advancing years.
His long silvery hair was conspicu-
Gus in Wagner's ioge the night 1
heard Pdrsiful, and his appearance
was watched for with almost as much
eagerness as that of the man who was
once his protegc, but is now called
Master by List as we'll as others
Harper's.
WHY WE COMMENCE DINNER WITH
SOUP.
The rationale of the initial SOUP
has often been discussed: some re-
gard it as calculated to diminish di-
gestive power. on the theory that so
much fluid taken first dilutes the gas
trio juices. But there app ars to Ee
no foundation for this belief. A cleas
soup disappears almost Immediately
after entering the stomach, and in no
way interferes with the gastric juice,
which is stored in its cells ready for
action. The habit of commencing
dinner with soup has without doubt.