The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-07-18
THE MALEFACT0R'S VIOLIN.
FROM THE FRENCH OF ERCKMANN CHA
TRAN.

TRAN.
Carl Haiti had spent six years in
working at thorough-bass he had
studied Haydn, Gluck, Beethoven,
Rossini; he was in full enjoyment OF
robust health and ola modest fortune
which allowed him to pursue his ar
tistic vocation. In a word, he had
all the requisites for composing grand
and beautiful music, except the one
little indispensable thing inspiration.
Every day, filled with noble ardor,
hewOuld take to his master very long
and harmonically very good scores
every phrase OF which, unfortunately,
went to the account of Peter, or
James or Christopher.
Master Albertus, seated in his great
armchair, smoking his pipe, with his
feet on the andirons and his elbow on
the table, would set to work to strike
out his pupil original discoveries, one
after the other. Carl would cry with
veXation, get angry, argue-but the
old master would placidly open one
OF his innumerable music-boOks, and
with his finger on the passage, say:
Look there, my boy !"
Then Carl would hang his head and
despair of the future
But one fine morning when he had
handed in to Master Albertus, under
his own name, Il fantasia of BaCcheri-
nj, with scraps from Niotti, the old
gcntleman's ccmposure gave way.
"CarlH' cried he, edo you take me
for an ass DO you think | don't no
tice your wretched stealings? Really,
this is too bad :"
Then, seeing him in CONSERVATION at
this address:
See here, said he; 81 think it is very
likely you are cheated by your own
memory, and take your "reminiscences
for invention; bat, decidedly, you are
getting too lat; you drink too good
WINE, and, what Is more, you are too
loose IN counting your glasses. That
Is what clogs the channels of your
intelligence. You must get leann'
Lean
Yes or give up music. 1t is not
science you lack, but ideas. The thing
i very simple. Ii you passed your
life IN coating thestrings Ofyour violin
WIN u tliiNk isi y Il 81 grease, now COUitt
they ever yibrate?'
These words of Master Albertus
were a geam of sudden illumination
for Hahtz.
III | have to wear myself to a skele-
ton, cried he, Il shall shrink from no
sacrifice. Since it is matter which
clogs my soul, | will grow leanr'
By the next day Carl Haiti. with
wallet and staff, left the hotel of the
Three Pigeons" and the brewery OF
KING Gambrlnus' for Il long Journey
He set ont for Switzerland.
jnlucklly, by the END OF six months
though his plumpness was consider.
ably reduced, his inspiration was none
the better for it.
Could there he an unluckier fellow
than |, y thought he ''Fastingor good
living water, wine, heer-nothing can
screw upmy soul to suhlimIty pitch.
Thus mediJating, he was ploddinl
along the road from Bruck to Bri
bourg. Night was falling: he began tc
Ing, and was ready to drop with wea
rlnesS.
At this moment he perceived, by tn,
moonlight, an old shmty, squatted 8
little back from the road, with steer
root and ram-shackle door. shattered
window paues, and chimney in ruins.
At the same moment, Carl deserted
through the gloom the pine brancl
dangling over the door
Come, said he, 1.-THE inn Is not fan
to look att Is even a bit uninviting
hut we must not Judge 10y the out
side
so, without hesitation. he rappe,
ON the door with u stick.
Who's there? What do yot
want 7" cried a grutf voice from the in
side
shelter and food"
All. ha very well-verv weUI'
The door opened suddenly. and Car
ound himself face to face with stout
elbow, with Square-cut features an,
gray eyes. clothed i'm an old sack-coat
out at elbows, and holding in his hanC
a Ratchet.
Behind him tanned the fire on tn,
hearth, lighting mp theentry to a shed
the steps OF a wooden staircase. tn,
erumbing walls. and crouching clos,
- the hre. girl, pale emaciated. anl
dressed IN apoOrgoHn OF browncahco
spotted with white. She looked to
ward the door witt - sort OF fright
IN her black eyes was an indetinabl,
expression OF Wild sadness.
Carl saw al this with Il glance. anC
nstnctlvely frightened his grasp of hi.
stick
.'Well-come in-why don't you,'
sand the man. This isn't weather Il
keep peopleo out in ="
Thinking then that 1t would he IN
Judged 20 look scared. he walked bold
" into the shanty and sat down o.
stool before the fireplace.
Give me your wallet and stick,
stld the man
This time Master Albertus' pupi
shvered TO hrs very marrow; but. be
tore he could get over his dismav. tn,
wallet was unstrapped, the stick lean
lng ~ the corner, and the host quietly
seated again in the chimney corner.
This circumstance somewhat r.
stored his cOmpOsure.
Herr Wirth," said he. smiling. u
shouldn't object to some supper
What would you have?3 said he
other. Grossly.