The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-05-11

ary Juvenile precocity, At the age OF
Z, his parents managed to get him a
spinnet; and when little Giuseppe one
day got vexed at his own inability to
play this intrument as he wished, and
proceeded to smash 1t to pieces with a
hammer, 1t is on record that he re-
ceived a highly exemplary parental
thwack on the ear. At 10, he was en-
ployed as organist of the village church
at an annual salary of 1920 and per-
quisites. Six years later, having In the
interval studied to the best OF his
limited opportunities, Verdi set out for
Milan, hoping to enter the conserva-
tory there. He was refused admission,
on the ground Of incapacity. but found
a sympathetic instructor In the then
celebrated composer, Lavigna.
An interval of eight years, marked
chiefly by his marriage to the daughter
of his patron, Barezzi, followed, and
was broken by the production. at Milan
Of his first opera, "Oberto," which, be-
ing received with moderate favor, de-
cided him to be a professional COM
poser. The rest is familiar history
The second opera. contracted for by
Merelli, a Mlanese manager Of note,
was to be comic one. While he was
writing it, his two children and his
wife died. When produced, 1t failed
lamentably, as was to be expected
from these doleful circumstances. But
a third opera, "Nabucco, written as
relief from his sadness, was instan-
taneously successful; and from that
time-Verdi was then 20 years old-to
the present operas have flown from his
pen with amazing ease and versatility
The failures have been many and dire;
but the successes have been even more
emphatic. The latter brought wealth,
fame and honors innumerable, against
which the former make apparently no
impression. OF Verdi, the man, we take
leave by copying from Mr.. Woolfs
readable sketch the following descrip-
ton of how the great composer passes
his final years:
"He resides on his handsome estate
near Busseto, except during the winter
months, which he passes in Genoa. He
has a beautiful garden and a large
farm, to whose cultivation he devotes
UlU1SSll WIFI liC 10 NNAS
fond Of his animals, especially his
horses. To young musicians he is es-
pecially kind. His modesty Is excess
sive, and he objects strongly to talk of
himself and his art triumphs. He lives
quietly the life of well-to-do country
gentleman, and Is delighted to see his
friends, If they are not over-prone to
discuss music. fIis disposition Is char
table, and he gives freely but unos-
tentatiously to the needy. Some of the
splendors of his garden, which appear
to be the mere caprices Of a rich man
with taste for the luxuries Of life,
were conceived and carried out for the
purpose of giving to poor working peo-
pie ou. of employment the means of
earning a livelihood. He gave ten
thousand francs toward building a
theater at Busseto, because the inhabi-
tantS desired one. 1t Is small but
handsome and elegant building, on the
front of which is inscribed, in letter of
gold. the name Of the great master who.
years before. when a poor boy, played
the organ in the church of the neigh
boring village Of Roncole for the year.
ly pay of $7.20."
1t is our biographer's Judgment. in
which most persons will cordially
agree. that while Verdi is undoubtedly
one Of the most popular opera COM
posers Of his time, perhaps the most
popular one. 1t Is not at all clear that
in any exacting sense of the word. He
has followed gracefully in the beaten
path, and has been in no sense an in
novator. "Gifted with an inexhaustive
fund of melody. and a strong feeling
for dramatic effect, he has trusted to
these gifts without paying especial heed
to any philosophic principle on which
operas should be composed; and has ap-
pealed to the nerves and the ephemeral
emotions of his public, rather than to
its heart or its intelligence" In short,
he has been the prolific, versatile and
successful tune-maker, to whom ap-
plause is everything and futurity moth
Ing. But all men cannot be giants; and
the mass Of music-lovers, while loyalty
revering the mastadon maes.ros, will
no doubt long continue to be grateful
to Verdi for the simple, sensuous pleas
ure which he has SO lavishly afforded
them. L. s. r.
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS.
Hezekiah Butterworth purposes making
a journey to Spain.
1t has been announced that Mr.. Du Maui
rier's new story Is very long one.
Anthony Hope has written q series of
four storytelling dialogues which he calls
bad Matches" They are said to be par
ticularly witty.
w. ID. Howells has written an introduce
tion to the English version of Tolstois
new story, Master and Man." The APP
pletons are bringing out the book.
Robert Bridges c'Droch" of Life'O is
about to publish another book, entitled
Suppressed Chapters" containing ,criti-
cism and satire upon popular writer's.
"Celibates," George Moore's new novel,
Is to be published here Immediately by
"Dr. Gray's Quest" the late
Francis Underwood's novel, has Just been
brought out in London.
Grant Aliens new novel; "Under Sealed
Orders" deserts the "martyred woman"
as he calls her. This story deals with
''martyred Russia" The Nihilistic plot
Includes the time-honored exped!ent of
compromising papers
The value of the forthcoming Amer
lean Congress-" history of national leg
Islaton and political events, 177i-lS95, by
Joseph West Moore Harper), is enhanced
by the fact that no other student of Amer
lean history has entered and occupied the
field.
Twenty-four persons have united in
novel novel; announced by the Hobart
company (Chicago). Its pecu-