The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-02-21
MISCELLANEOUS
The First and Last.

was then in his tn irteenth year. The mu-
sic lesson had just ended, and the princes
master, Reichardt, the composer of our
beautiful patriotic song, "Was Ist Des
Deutschen Vaterland," was about to de-
part, when the young prince detained him.
"Mr. Reichardt" said he, with his sym
pathetic, melodious voice, "papa's birth
day will soon be here-on March 22. DR..
Curtius thought it would be very nice for
me to practice something especially for the
occasion. Would you be kind enough to
select something appropriated But it must
be something quite difficult, so that papa
will see that have taken great palms. and
he will be well pleased. Papa prefers the
tender pathetic melodies"---
"Then, your highness, one would have
to take some pretty adagio. HIM, HIM"
replied Reichardt, and he searched among
the music portfolio to find something APP
propriate. Finally he held one sheet of
music in his hand longer than the rest and
examined it,
"Would that do, Mr.. Reichardt2"
"Your highness, we have not yet come
to that. The thing is too difficult. 1t is
the adagio from Schumann's f sharp mi
nor sonata. 1t will not do. Besides, the
time between now and his majesty's birth
day is too Short
ooh, Mr. Reichardt," replied the prince
coaxingly, 81 will be very diligent Please,
pleased 1t will dot must do! And, - add
ed the little prince merrily, eff it will not
go 'aGagio it shall go forte' Papa always
says that to me-"
Accordingly the difficult adagio was
practiCed, after all, and cost great deal of
diligence, application and patience. On
March 20 the young prince surprised his
royul father with an execution of the love
~ composition, and indeed he played it
with wonderful firmness and great express
sion. For this manifestation of his ex-
traorainUTY zeal his favorite wish was re-
allied. Papa made him the present of
real, completely furnished carpenter shop,
for, as is well known, the prince learned
the carpenters trade besides book binding
and typesetting
Forty four years later.
1t was in the year of mourning, 1888
The imposing Castle Friedrichskron, call
ed so Immediately after Emperor Freder-
lexis accession to the throne, lay there in
the bright sunshine and majestic beauty,
and man and nature - yes, all - here
breathed happiness, rapture and life.
ALP
Alas, moi For in one of the apartments
Of the lower floor lay, with pale face, on a
slightly raised couch, a man of whom a
short time before could still have been
SAID what Chiron said of Achilles, Glow
ever hard sculptors worked on him, he new
er appeared as grand as he was in reality"
1t was the noble Emperor Frederick,
stricken by a most cruel fate, the sufferer
so resigned to his lot. The eyes, formerly
rIT l. Ice
the sun of beauty and to absorb the radi-
ance thereof as well as to give forth all
that is beautiful grand, good and noble
in mans spirit and heart, looked YEARLY
in front of him. Only occasionally, when
they lifted themselves to look through the
open window far into the main drive
which leads through the royal gardens and
terminates here at the castle, more radi-
ance and cheerfulness filled his eyes, and
the gaze into the ocean of verdure in
which marble statues shone here and there
seemed to battle itself in the enchanting
beauty of nature.
The empress entered. She tried to ap-
pear very hopeful and cheerful and seated
herself beside the couch of her dearly be-
loved husband. Just as the fields outside.
30 the royal patients countenance was
suddenly overcast with sunshine. He
smiled at his faithful wife, and by gently
waving his hand toward the window he
seemed to say how glad he felt to see the
beautiful weather. Toward the last the
sufferer, who could no longer speak, pre-
ferred to make himself understood by
means of signs, and the imperial family
as well as the rest who were in attend
snce had acquired such practice in the
Interpretation of these signs that the en-
peror could dispense almost entirely with
the troublesome writing on tablets.
The empress asked her noble husband if
he had any particular wish, and after a
pause he made his fingers move as If he
were playing the piano.
"Who shall play?" asked the empress,
and added anxiously, "And would it not
excite you too much?"
"No," indicated the emperor, and then
he wrote on his tablet:
II desire very much to hear music.
Could not Ruefer, Victoria's teacher,
come?''
II shall send for him." replied the en-
press. "Ee is over at the Bornstedter
church just at present aud is giving her
an organ lesson.'
The empress then gave the order, and
toward half past IL o'clock the artist and
composer of the "Merlin" appeared to an
swer the honored call. In the apartments
adjoining that of the emperor stood
grand piano. at which the artist sat down
as soon as the doors of the adjoining room
were opened. The emperor had asked him
to play several of his favorite melodies and
listened with visible pleasure to the Ian
guage of sounds which both came from
and went to the heart. The pianist, great
ly moved, had already played several Sc
lections of his own and of other compost |
ton, and each time the emperor sent him
his thanks, with the request to play more
Again the last chords of a melody had died |
away, when the empress asked, much wor-
ried, docs it not tire or excite your"
The pmnaror ranliad In 4 an nan,t;ya and