Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-12-29
Gounod and uendeI.,oba

lCharles Francois Gounod, in january Century.l
Mendelssohn received me admirably. 1
use this word purposely to characterize
the condescension with which a man of
his powers welcomed the child who in his
eyes could be but a schoolboy. During
the four days spent at Leipsic, 1 may
indeed say that Mendelssohn gave me his
whole time. He questioned me about my
studies and my works with the deepest
and most sincere interest He expressed
a desire to hear on the piano my latest
effort, and received from him precious
words of approval and encouragement.
/ shall mention but one, which has made
me too proud ever to forget it. had
just rendered the "Dies Irmr' of my
Vienna requiem. He placed his hand on
a part consisting of five solo voices, with
out accompaniment, saying, mon ami,
that might be signed Cherubini!" Such
words are genuine decorations, coming
from such a master, and are worn with
greater pride than many ribbon.
Mendelssohn was the director of the
Gewandhaus. The orchestra did not
meet at that time, the concert season hsv-
ing expired He had the thoughtfulness
to call it together for me, and allowed me
to hesr his beautiful Scotch symphony in
A minor. He made me a present of the
score, with friendly word of dedication
written with his own hand. Alas! the
untimely death of that noble genius was
soon to transform the souvenir he had
left me into precious relic. His death
was followed, six months later, by that of
the charming sister 20 whom l owed the
honor of this acquaintance.
Mendelssohn did not limit his polite at
tentions TO that conyocation of the Ge
wandhaus orchestra He was an oTganist
of the first order, and wished to make me
acquainted with several of the admirable
compositions written by the great Sebas-
tan Bach for the instrument over which
he reigned supreme. To this end he had
examined and put in order the old St
Thomas organ, on which Bach himself had
played, and for more than two hours he
revealed marvels of which / had never
dreamed; then, to crown all, he presented
me with collection of motets by Bach,
for whom he felt religious veneration, in
whose school he had been educated from
childhood, and whose grand oratorio of
"The Passion According to st. Matthew"
he had directed and accompanied, from
memory at the age of fourteenl
OUCH WAS lLe extraordinary klDOneeS
received from this delightful man, this
great artist, this astonishing musician,
taken away in the flower of his life-at
thirty -eight-fromt the center of admira-
ton which he had won, and from the mas
terpieces which he wonld have written had
his life been prolonged. But strange des-
tiny of genius-even the most attractive!
These exquisite works, now the delight of
those who attend the Conservatory, Ie-
quired the death of the composer to give
them favor in the ears of those who once
rejected them.
After my visit to Mendelssohn, L had but
one thought, and that was TO get back to
Paris as soon as possible. 1 left Leipsic the
18th of May, 1S43 l changed carriages
seventeen times on the way, and out of
six nights spent four travelling, and final
ly, on May 25. l reached Paris, where a
new life WAS about to open to me. Nv
brother met me on the arrival of the dill
gence, and We both b@nt our footsteps at
once in the direction of that dear house
where was to find again, and to which
was to bring back, SO much joy.