The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-02-05
HENEELSSOHN

Hamburg Is not only proud of being
one of the worlds greatest commercial
ports, but it is also honored by being the
birth place of one of the greatest minds
in music. How peculiarly appropriate
is a coincidence of this nature. The
people of the great German city, occu-
pied with the turmoil of business and
beholding from day to day the discords
inevitable in the strifes of practical life.
can turn, In their leisure hours, to the
thoughts that their metropolis was the
cradle of that eminent and gentle
master, that comforter of care and
sorrow, whose anniversary was Tuesday.
It Is striking example OF the worlds
eQuipoise, that the inhabitants of Ger
many, whose sturdy and practical enter
prises are world wide, find among their
own race those counterparts of stern bus
mess interests, the master minds whose
gentle and elevating labors and produc-
tons are comforting solaces. offered
through the medium of music. The ma
ture, dealing with the cold facts of life, Is
indeed hard one, If it cannot be touched
with the sweet and pathetic strains from
Mendelssohn, and receive from those
exquisite "songs without words a con-
ISOLATION Tor trials and a renewed energy
for increased and necessary activity.
From his infancy, which began sew
entY-six years ago, Mendelssohn
was reared amid circumstances peculiar
ly adapted to his chosen Network. His
father was a wealthy man Of extensive
learning and refined tastes, and his good
mother, highly cultured lady, and one
of the brightest women in the best socie-
ty. He early manifested great musical
faculties aud love and talent for the
muse, to whom he delight ed to cater.
At 6 he was q skillful piano player; at
8 he read any music at sight and had re-
markable ideas of harmony.
There were attracted to him such
eminent authors as Goethe and such eel
ebrated composers as Cherubini.
Under the encouragement of his sur
roundings, the interest taken by his par
ents and the s1fectionate help Of his sis
ter Fanny, he rapidly advanced, and if is
scarcely to be wondered that during q
life of but thirty eight years he suI
achieved fame and produced works that
ITO ear and tongue will be
theme and hearing ever.'
Ten years before his death he married
and his wife, CecIle, by her devotion,
grace and intelligence, added wonder
fully TO his success and formed the Gen.
ter of his happiness.
His nature was strongly sffsctlonate,
hls intellect keen and his industry and
devotion to his labOrs undaunted. HIS
aim was perfection, and he exacted of
himself that every detail mus: haYe
his best efforts. To-day his works are
regarded as the most polished of compo-
siIions and mis- nocturRes from Mid
summer Nights Dream" his sonatas
and symphonies, and the grand passages
from his Oratorios are all the delight of
musical culture. Ia his songs" he
speaks but not in the language of words.
He was q hard worker a:d spent
the nine years proceeding his end upon
his famous oratorio Elijah" His
laborious activity upon this work, and
Is director of the Leipsic conservatory,
coupled with the intense grief caused by
the death of his beloved sister, were too
much for his sensitive organization and
he died IN his prime, but the good he
did lives after him. His beauty OF char.
acter and his wonderful genius have
rendered his name imperiahable-