National Republican., 1883-08-11
An Interesting Letter from the Home Of the
Late Richard Wagner.
Graphic Description Of the Beauties
Which Surround the Town.
What Led tho Great Composer 10 Take Up His
Residence There.
Tho Performance of Parsifal" and the
Artists Who Participated.
SnccinL Lnfier.

DAhhEUThI BAVARIA, July SO,-hero We
are again at Bayreuth. Having promised
to write you concerning the city and the asso-
Citations which have made it so renowned, 1
shall now endeavor to make good the promise
given. Approaching Bayreuth from the
northeast one is struck with its pretty APP
pearance and still prettier surroundings.
Bayreuth lies in section of Bavaria long
famous for being the residence of the Mark
graves Of the 18th century. Like the knights
who built their castles upon the most piotur-
esque peaks along the Rhine, these Mark
graves seemed to evince the same faculty for
happy selections-for the long fertile valley,
the graceful spurs of the mountains on either
side, and the bold outline of the range itself,
surely serve to give little Bayreuth truly
artistic setting. A short distance from the
town one finds perfect gems of landscape in
which nature and the hand of man have con-
trived to produce such unexpected results
that single visit tends only to create desire
for an early return to these charming re-
sorts.
There is tho "Fantasie," formerly the castle
of Alexander prince Of Wurtenberg. The
adjoining possessions, covering several miles
square, form perfect diorama of hills and
valleys; streams, over which have been
thrown rustic bridges; lakes with graceful
swans in happy possession of peaceful homes,
fawn in playful activity. And. as if in in
tentional contradiction to this modern lire,
we came across the rock hewn catacombs and
sacrifcial retreats Of the historic Huas and
in these low, dark, and damp caves and pas
sages we can still discern their rude attempts
at hieroglyphic representation and ornamen-
tation. In another direction from the town
we proceed along an "allee" Of linden trees
to charming spot known as the " Ermitage"
Within spacious grounds we here find n castle
and surroundings built in imitation, brN on a
smaller scale, of the celebrated palace and
garden of Versailles. There is probably not
another such building, with the exception of
its original, in all Europe; for the entire
structure, with its columns and pilas-
ters, its walls and roof, in early renais-
sance, is covered with fragments of felspar
quartz and mountain crystals of all colors and
of wonderful clearness. Imagine the effect
produced by the sun upon such jewel be-
decked palace. Each of these little gems
seems to outrival its neighbor in brillancy;
and as the sunlight dances and sparkles over
those dazzling facets it brings back to our
mind those wonderful stories of Aladdin's
palace of gold and precious stones
Equally as wonderful are the reproductions
of the fountains and waterworks of the YER
sailles gardens. In graceful basins are
placed groups of water nymphs, heroes and
heroinos of mythology, dragons and monsters
and giants in huge proportions, and SEEM
luBly euuOWeu WIFI INC WducT
forth in miniature cataracts, streams squirting
high in the air and falling in the finest spray,
the sun shining through making beautiful
rainbow effects the glittering reflections from
the CASTLE the background of ancestral oaks
surely this sight outrivals all preconceivcd
ideas of fairyland.
Let me now return to the city and spend
little time in noting its antique buildings.
Here we find the "Schoss," or palace and
gardens This was formerly the residence of
the Markgraves, of Brandenburg, but is now
only occasionally occupied by the king, Lud-
wig ii. Among the other notable buildings is
that which bounds the court, known rs the
MAX platz," "Maximilians place." A long
stone edifice over four stories high, with two
large wings, opens out upon this 'plats." At
one corner of the square still remains an i'm
mense tower, with winding roadway, up
which the Markgraves have driven their
coaches.
And now let us wander to the house, on
which is probably centered as much interest
Ps upon any in all Bayreuth. 1t is this, the
residence of Richard Wagner, to whom Bay
reuth owes its now world wide renown. The
house is q square, two-story double dwelling
of a drab sandstone, with a large hospitable
doorway that seems to bid the visitor welcome.
Above the two main windows on each side of
the doorway are large frescoes represent
ing scenes from Lohengrin. Over the
door is cut the word "Wahnfried," signify
luB EobI' lWO buOTb NGTocb Oh SlLHcT
side of the doorway are in dedication
of this house, wherein Wagner first found
quiet and contentment after the bitter
perience attending his early efforts as q COM
poser. In front of the house are extensive
grounds, with pretty walks and we'll kept
lawns. In the rear is the burial place of the
great master, selected by him and built after
his own direction. There having been con-
siderable variance of opinion as to the reason
for the selection of Bayreuth for the perform
ance of Wagner's operas, the following Is the
one which seems to have most claim to cre-
dence: Ludwig l desired to give to each of
the cities of Bavaria some object of special
interest, some particular source of income, or
some valuable acquisition which would
bring to each q proportonate share of rev.
enue as well rs renown. So to Regensburg
was given the Walhalla, to Nurnburg the
Germanic museum, and to Munich its ma
tional museum and its galleries and colleC-
tions. Ludwig III inherited this same be-
nevolent spirit Of his grandfather, and having
been an early admirer of Wagners and apos-
tie of his music, evidently with great antici-
patton OF its ultimate success induced Wag-
=, ner to come to Bayreuth, promising his assist
a nee toward the production of the masters
y ,, p,3 o., With these assurances Wagner made
Bayretth' his home, and right royalty has
Ludwig kept his promise.
And now about the performances of Par
sifal," Wagner's latest and greatest work. 1t
is 3 o CLOCK IN Ine AFTERNOON, ana slowly we
walk along the long 'allee" of trees outside
of the city limits, and leading to the
theater. We are not alone in our
walk, for far ahead and behind
us there are groups of people
moving on and increasing in numbers. When
we arrive at the foot of the hill upon which
stands the theater we find, on looking back,
that the groups of travellers have mingled
into perfect stream of beings making their
pilgrimage 10 this shrine of art. We arrive
at the theater. 1t is of simple yet imposing
construction, built of brick with cross beams
of wood. At the front or main entrance are
hung placards requesting ladies to remove
their hats before entering. What an excel
, lent hint for our American ladies to follow
As our time is rather limited We make n
hasty circuit of the building, get an idea
of its extent and arrive again at the
front From terrace we overlook
the road which brought us hither, aud
note the arrivals afoot and in carriages
Now the eaupages and vehicles of all kinds
appear and make their way around the right
to the theater. From our station on the ter
race one can scan the faces of the occupants
and we recognize many familiar In the music,
literary, aud dramatic world. The stream of
carriages has grown dense, and the plateau in
front of the theater is filled with people from
ali climes and countries. Old friends find
each other here again, and adeus which at
the conservatory were thought to have been
the last are here turned into happy greetings.
IL. l.. aV9ahW