The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-08-21
MUSIC FOR THE EMPEROR.

~ ShdAiEiI@ anu HitHetlc nlE OF MS
tory concerning the Emperor Frederick
William Of Germany, who died in 1883,
was once written by Mr.. r. Won Ha-
gen, and entitled "The First and Last
Adagio.' In substance the story ran as
follows:
In 1874 the future emperor Of Ger
many Was Il lad CT IS. One day as
ieiehafdt, his music master, was about
T. leave him at the close Of a lesson, tie
young prince asked him to wait q mo-
ment.
Eel1 E.eieh4r1J, = said lie, an.g IA
Tiers birthday, the aad Of March, will
soon be lere, and DR.. CErtius thinks it
would u very nice II | were to learn d
new ltece as i surprise for him on that
day. Will yen kindly choose something
that YOU think might do? Only, mind.
IT must be very difficult, 50 that papa
shall see ! have taken great pains, as
that will please him more than any
thing else. What be likes best is ono 81
those soft, slow pieces with a great ueal
ct expression in it
Herr Reichardt turned over his mu-
sic, and by and BY paused a ONE as
if considering whether a certain piece
would answer tie purpose.
Have you found me something's
asked the prince.
7 am afraid your royal highness is
hardly far enough advanced, = replied
Keiehardt, This is SO very difficult. 1t
is the adaglo from Schumann's sonata
III + sharp minor, but ii won't do, /
fear. There is SO little time in which 70
learn it."
"Ah, but Herr Reichardt, = broke in
the prince, Il will work SO hard! Do
please let me have it. It must dot
shall do"
By dlnt Of great trouble and persever-
ance the task was finally accomplished,
and On the ed of March the young
prince played Schumann's grand move
ment quite correctly aud with much
feeling, to his fathers great surprise
and pleasure.
As a reward for his industry Prince
Frederick William received d turning
lathe fitted up with every necessary i'm
plement, and great was his excitement
and delight.
Forty-four years later the beloved
Emperor Frederick lay dying in the cas-
tie Ct Friedrichskron. During the last
few days of his life he was unable to
speak, but his family and those around
him interpreted his signs, so that he was
almost entirely spared the trouble of
writing.
Four days before he died, when the
empress inquired if there were ANYTHING
he wished, he waited a me aud
then, with both hands, initiated the
movement Of a pianist.
will it not be too much for you?o
asked the emDress. The emperor shook
his head and then wrote on his tablet:
II should SO like to hear some music.
Could not Rufer, Victoria's master,
come and play something's
a message was sent, and the composer
OF Merlin" came at once ard seated
himself at the piano in the room next to
the emperor's, the folding doors having
been opened. He played piece after
piece, to the emperor 5 evident pleasure,
TILL at last the empress said to the in
valid gently:
Are you sure this does not tire You?
! am so afraid the excitement may do
you harm"
The emperor smiled and wrote on his
tablet: 'Just M more. I should like
an adagio from q Of the sonatas. That
shall really be the very last
The musician received the message
and again began to play. The sick man
beckoned to the empress and wrote
these words with feverish haste: .tFor-
ty-four years ago ! learned this very
adagio and played it to my father on
his birthday, of course not so well as be
plays it. It is out of the sonata in T
sharp minor. Very beautiful! Please !
thank Rufer. This is the last. Now I
will 60 to sleep"
1t was indeed the last earthly music
to which he ever listened-a tender |
farewell from the art he loved most
dearly--Youth's Companion.
Sny.-- E-,.~--r 4