The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-11

read on rose-colored marble in golden let
tiers the following inscription: "Here
where my illusions found rest; Wahnfried,
such is the name | give to this house"
Passing through little vestibule, I en-
tered the large hail with skylight, orna-
mented with busts Of the king of Bavaria,
Wagner and his wife, marble statues,
numerous presents from the king. frieze
and row of small pictures representing
scenes from the original of the Nibelun-
gen and an organ. A gallery runs
all around at half the height, Or
namented with brilliantly tinted ar
tistic landscapes by Hillebrand and
on which the bedrooms open. The inte-
rior seemed little changed to me since the
masters death, and though many years
had passed by recognized almost every
object as it had been at the time of the
first Bayreuth performances, when hap
pened to be frequent guest at Wahn-
fried. ALI remained untouched except the
gaiety that had fled. The sounds of joyous
laughter. the brilliant notes of an impro-
visation on the piano, the footsteps half
muffied in the thick carpets were no
longer heard.
was ushered into the little salon L 1t,
Nine. Wagner's favorite room, very cosy
and coquettish and crowded with objects
of art and beautiful draperies thrown over
the furniture. Wagner had a regular mania
for silks and satins. His smoking Jackets
of black velvet lined with bright colored
silks, his dressing gowns of rose. light
blue or fiery red satin with ruffied lace
chemise and satin shoes, made by the
famous Vienna dressmaker, Mile Berthe,
of l
apartment in the Palais Vendramin, where
he lived shortly before his death, were COW
cred alternately with rose pale blue and
vert du Nil. Through the open door l
caught glimpse of the large square salon
terminating in a round verandole. This
was the great reception room, lined with
bookshelves, for Wagner was always a
great reader. Everything which is worth
reading, he used to say observed to be
read again" and he was ever ready to read
from Schopenhauer as from the work of
some humorous writer aloud to his guests.
Pictures of Goethe, Schiller and Beetho-
ven ornamented the big entrance door.
Everywhere the genuine magniicence
clearly betrayed the royal patronage of
the enthusiastic youth who had said after
realizing Wagner's genius: II Will take
care that your artistic being which | love
and whose thoughts shall be executed,
care"
Wagner, having often starved during the
first part of his life, tried to expiate his
sufierlng5 by surrounding himself with all
the most refined luxuries of modern life,
and he often misused the generosity of ms
high friend and admirer. Once, having
contracted debt of SO, 900 with his up
holsterer and being treated in an offensive
way IN public by his creditor, who seized
him by the arm, he simply signed an order
Tor the entire amount to the royal treas
ury and aiterward informed the king of it.
sitting there waiting for Nine. Wagner,
who did not appear for some time, vivid
recollectlons of one of Wagner's receptions
came TO my memory. He was known for
MS hospitality, and on that particular
evening about eighty guests were assem-
bied, the reception lasting from 8 until af-
ter midnight, which was quite against his
rule For he bad very regular life; he
rose NJ b, but retired again after taking
bath until 10; at II he sat down to work
for two hours until he took dinner, which
was followed by short rest again, then
walk or ride of two hours ne worked
then for two hours until supper at $, and
the evening was spent with his family and
friendsi at ii all were in bed. The recep-
ton was gwen in honor of one of the
french musical celebrities who had come
TO bayreuth to witness the performances;
a'iiOHs luefA were SAINT SaenS and the
leaders, the old Pasdeloup and Lamou-
reux.
10 mention but few Of the assemblage,
as brlllant as Germany could produce,
there We're the leaders Richter. Levy and
young FISCHER, the portrait painter Leu
pach' herkomer. the English artist, who
was painting Waeners portrait at the
time; Nohl. the biographer of great COM
Posers the baritones Scaria and Betz;
40
Lehman. still! young and slender at the
tine; The nainrer YonknWsky. who oyer