The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1894-02-05
THE FIRST AND LAST.


The Young Prince Learned u =" RAY on
uis FATHERS Hirihdny Forty -four Wears
AFTER u Soothed the Last Hour of the
Dying Emperor.
It was the year ls44 Prince Frederick
was then in his th irtrcuth year The mu-
sic lesson had Just ended, and the princes
master, Reichnrdt, the composer Of our
beautiful patriotic song, "Was LIST Des
Deutschen Naterlaud. " was about TO de
part, when the young prince detained him
"Nr Rcichardt, " said he, with his sym
pathetic, meludious voice, "papa's birth
day will soon be here-on March 20 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 appropriate hut it must
be something quite difficult, so that papa
will see that have taken great pains, aud
he will be well pleased. Papa prefers the
tender, pathetic melodies ----
"Then, your highuess. one would have
to take some pretty adagio. II IN, HIM,
replied Rechardt, and he searched among
the music portfolio to find something ap-
propriate Finally he held one sheet Of
music in his hand longer than the rest and
examined it.
would that do, Mr.. Reichardt''
"Nour highneSs we have not vet come
to that The thing is too difficult It is
the adagio from Schumaun's + sharp mi
nor sonata It will not do. Besides, the
| time between now and his maiesty's birth
! day IL too short.
ooh. Mr. Reicharlt, " replied the prince
coaxingly, ~ will he very diligent Please,
pleased 1t will dot must do! And, add
aN
20 'adagio' It shall 20 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 % the young prince surprised his
royal father with an execution Of the love
| ly composition. and indeed he played it
| with wonderful firnness and great expires
sion. For this manifestation his eN-
| traordinary zeal his favorite wish was re
| allied. Papa made him the present of n
real, completely furnished carpenter shop
| for, rs is well known, the prince learned
the carpenters trade besides book binding
and typesetting.
Forty-fuur years later.
1t was in the year of mourning, 1883.
The imposing Castle Friedrichskrou, call
| ed so Immediately after Emperor Freder-
ck's accession to the throne, lay there in
the bright sunshine and majestic beauty,
| and man and nature yes, all 80 here
breathed happiness, rapture and life.
ALP
Alas, no! For in one of the apartments
of the lower floor lay with pale face, on n
slightly raised couch, "A man of whom "A
shoTt time before could .till have bsa,
SAID what Chiron said OF Achilles, How
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 most cruel fate, the sufferer
so resigned to his lot. The eyes, formerly
so clear, blue and sunny, created to see
the sun Of beauty and to absorb the radi-
ance thereof as well a. 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
so the royal patients countenance wa
suddenly overcast with sunshine II,
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 We're in attend
ance 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 il
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 muchy"
"No," indicated the emperor, and then
he wrote ON his tablet:
81 desire very much to hear music
Could not Ruefer, Victoria's teacher
Gomez"
~ shall send for him, replied the EN-
press. "He is over Mt the Bornstedtel
church just at present and is giving hei
an organ lesson"
The empress then gave the order, and
toward half past II O'Clock the artist and
composer of the "Merlin" appeared TO au-
swer the honOred call. In the apartments
adjoining that of the emperor stood a
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 melody had died
away, when the empress asked, much wor-
ried, docs it not tire or excite youf"
The emperor replied in the negative, and
again he wrote: "Only one more. An
adagio from sonata. 1t shall be the last ~
The master there in the next room, sore
at heart, complied with his dying emper-
or's wish. Again he seated himself at the
piano and played touching adagio.
The emperor listened. His eyes became
1 brighter. ne DeChOueu 10 lne empress
and wrote down in feverish haste: -Four
ty-four years ago played that adagio for
papa's birthday. OF course not as we'll
1t Is from the sharp minor sonata. Very
pretty. Thank Ruefer heartily Last piece
Then sleep!"
Alas, 1t was really the last melody, this
adagiol They We're the last musical sounds
which reached the ears of the dying mon
arch, the last greetings of the art so loved
by him-her farewell greetings! Adagic
slept the sufferer, who endured endles,.
pain without complaint, over into tn,
kingdom of eternal ana purest harmony
Translated For Chicago News by AnHs
l.. Wagema -------
Exciting Wonder.
l.