The times., 1899-04-16
a Book of Gossip.

Some men are born gossips, and it IS TO
their proclivities that we often owe the
most interesting glimpses OF the characters
of their friends. This is true only OF the
kindly soul who sees everything through
the benevolent mist of a species OF hero
worship, for when a biography is written
with little sarcastic filings at this and that
and the other of the writer's friends one
instinctively feels that 1t is not altogether
trustworthy. Only a small mind remem-
bers the faults of a dead acquaintance TO
the exclusion of his virtues, unless the
man be really vicious.
Fragments of an Autobiography" by
Felix Moscheies. is a typical book of sos-
sip-rambling personal. plotless, and re-
minding one of a hill in which gold. mica,
garnets, and common earth are ali mixed
up together, or perhaps a small section OF
muddy swamp in which one searches Win
a microscope, sure Of finding something in
teresting and possibly something rare.
The name of Felix Moscheles is not one
of those which are household words here in
America. and ii may be well TO explain
that he is the son of Moscheles the musi-
clan and friend of Mendelssohn, that he
was associated in his childhood with most
OF the fascinating Bohemians of Europe,
and in later life became a painter of note,
the studio comrade of du Maurier and the
friend of Robert Browning. For Browning
he seems TO have had almost veneration,
and their friendship gave rise TO two or
three incidents both interesting and de-
lightful.
The earlier part of the book is full of the
simple German ideas and ways which pre-
vailed in the Moscheles family. The 'front.'
ispiece of the book is a fine portrait OF the
authors mother. taken from picture
which be painted of her when in her
eighty-third year 1t shows us an intellec-
tual. sensitive, and sensible woman, with
thoughtful eyes, sweet mouth, ana an
attractive expression. Her son says OF her
that she was what the Americans call
lovely woman" There were other children,
but he was the only son, and appears TO
have been made much of. and to have
been as sunny-natured as his name would
indicate letter from Mendelsshon, con-
graduating the parents on the birth oil
their heir, is headed with a pen-and-ink
drawing representing all the instruments oil
the orchestra surrounding tiny baby in
cradle and is in part as follows:
Here they are. dear Moscheles. wind instru-
rnents and adde's, for the and heir must not
be kept waiting till come-he must have era
de song. WIN QrUfnt anu IufipciS l-tA-0
snry music; hddles alone are not nearly liyeiy
enough May every happiness and JOY and bless
ing attend the little stranger; may he be pros
porous, may he do well whatever he does, and
NAV il fare well with him IN the world.
Sc be is to be called Felix, ID hes How nice
snd how kind OF you to make him my godehlid'
In formal The first presen; his godfather makes
him is the above entire orchestra; il Is to ac-
company him through life-the trumpets when
be wishes to become famous, the flutes when he
beard; the pianoiorte explains itself, and should
people ever play him false, as will happen TO
The best of US, there stand the kettle-drums and
the big drum in the background.
One Of Moscheles childish memories re-
calls Madame Malibran sitting on the foor
and painting pictures for him and his SIS
ters: and one of the most interesting OF
his "reminiscences is Of his father and
Nendelssohn sitting together at the piano
and improyising He describes the impro-
vtsstion as follows:
A subject started, II was caught up as it
were q shrttlecock one OF the players
would seem to toss il up on high, or TO keep
n balanced In mid-octzve with delicate touch.
then the other would take it in hand, start IT
n classical lines and develop il with profound
JfuAtion, until perhaps the two joining to-
esther In new and brilliant forms, would trt-
pmphantiy cxrry II of to other spheres OF sound
fsur hands there might be, but only one soul.
% Il seemed, Sc they would catch with light
ming speed At each Others ideas, each trying to
subjects from the works Of the other.
It was exciting to watch how the amicable
contest would Wax hot, eliminating occasionally
tn an outbmst Of merriment, when some con-
hicting harrnonies met in terrible collision. /
zee MendeIssohn's air Of triumph when he had
in twisting 4 subject from compost
tion Of his own into Moschcles theme, while
the latter WAS obliged to second him in the bass
But not for long. stop minute" said the
nsxt few chords that my father struck. ''There
have you, you have taken the bait" Soon
thay would be again frsternizing in perfect har-
enonies gradually leading up to the brilliant
male that sounded as If it had been SO written,
ssvised and corrected, and were now being in
tsrprsted from the score by two masters.
Joachim. as boy, was intimate with the
Aoscheles children, and there is an anus
tng aneedote OF a children's party at which
Nendelssohn played for the youngsters to
dance, and Of a party given on Mendels-
sohn.s birthday, the Sd of February. at
which chsrades were given with great sue
cess. In writing Of it. the author says
he feels sure that his mother had
planned 1t all, as she was the family roet
and playwright. This was the charade:
"cepandhaus" the name OF the famous con-
serf hall was the word 10 be illustrated.
For the first syllable, "Ge," Joachim. then
E:xteen years old. appeared in an eccentric wig,
Ind played wild Fantasia la Paganini on the
Cesaite, the string. Then the stirring scene
Irom "A Midsummer Nights Dream" when Py-
ramus and Thisbe make love through the chnk
In the wall stood for WAND" To illustrate
lhe third syllable. ''Hsus," my mother had
written little domestic scene, TO be acted by
herself and her husband When the curtain rose
she was discovered knitting q blue stocking,
and soliloquidng on the foibles Of female au-
n ant he ~
was my father and his bearing this his first
appearance in the part, his female attire, as
well as his realistic gct-up. tickled Mendels-
Dohns fancy that he broke into ft Of Ho-
nerlc laughter; HomeTic, with this reserve. that
that historical outburst was not produced in a
sickerwork chair, and therefore cannot have been
ls effective Mendelssohn's. . Finally
''CewRndhaus," the complete word, repre-
vented by all the juvenile members of the CON-
psny; each Of us had 10 blow or play some in
gtrurnent Of primitive character. Joachim
leo with toy violin, and welded the baton
md did my best to take of the Characteristic
ways Of my llustrious godfather. The
vickerwork once more shook with the sympa.
thetic laughter Of its occupant, and IT reached
! climax when Joachim made some pointed re-
harris In imitation Of The master
After the performance actors and public gath
sred round festive board. In the centre Of
The supper table stood the birthday cake around
which burned thirty-seven candles one for each
scrorulng 70 the good old German fashion.
NY mother had written few words descriptive
n the year each represented-from the cradle 10
the piano and The conductors desk-from his
s1st attempt at competition TO "St Paul. ..Eli-
S.h and the operf 70 cong. In the centre
stooc the Light oi Life,'' That. aiasi was 50
,oen TO iaiL We little dresmpt that it was his
hA on'hday We were celebrating.
Such a simple little festival as this is
peculiarly German in atmosphere. That
race Is never afraid OF showing family lovo
There is sketch of Paris studio which
recalls Tany and Little Billee, and several