The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-11

it by the next day. On the way home a
charming polka theme occurred to him.
called up, as he declared, by the rat
Ting of the wagon wheels on the badly
paved street. By the time he reached
his house it was complete in his head.
This polka, to which a very happy text
was written, became the music of one
of the chief numbers of the opera, the
couplet known ais The Dotlet On the
L. that was popular everywhere on its
journey around the world. But Strauss
at that time did not feel quite sure
whether his polka was full substitute
for the omitted love duet, and on the
following day he brought in delicious
waltz. These were the two numbers of
the opera that did most to assure its
success.
Strauss first composition was the
waltz "Sinngedichte," written when he
was II years old 1t did not convince
the father of his sons talent or else
it aroused the elders jealousy; it is
we'll known that he made a determined
opposition to his son becoming a musi-
clan. Perhaps the younger Strauss did
not understand his father till he him.
self had become an old man and had
disinherited a talented nephew because
he wanted to become a composer.
Strauss is described by those who
knew him as a singularly naive soul
and quite ignorant of the more serious
size OF music. IN MS younger udES,
however, he is said TO have studied the
science with teachers Of good standing.
One fruit of this study was a set of
serious and learned church compost
tons. Strauss, however felt the need
of getting immediate pecuniary results
from his studies and communicated mis-
feelings on the subject to his teacher.
The latter answered: 60 and write
Waltzes, then-you wouldn't have need
ed any counterpart for that"
Strauss last composition is a ballet,
the text of which was obtained by
prize contest. 1t is, unfortunately, uot
finished. 1t is fairy tale, "Cinder-
ella" but one Of quite a modern as
poet, dealing with the adventures of 4
poor dressmaker who on carnival night
meets a famous artist and wins him.
Besides this half-tinished composition
Strauss paper show a lot of dances
in various stages of incompletion. 1t
may be hoped that these will not be
utilized, as Suppe's musical remains
were, in piecing together new oper-
ettas of which the composer had no
idea.
In his personal appearance Strauss
was exceedingly fastidious, even to his
last days. He added to his youthful
look. when seen from a distance, by his
habit of wearing his hair dyed. He
wore elegant clothes, even in his hours
of work; negligee costume he never
knew He was outwardly always the
"fescher Wiener" the smart Vienese,
with twirled mustache, curled hair and
patent leather shoes. The summers he
spent in recent years in Ischl, among
the notable gathering Of musicians,
headed by Brahms, who made that
watering place their headquarters.
Strauss will leaves all his real estate
to the Vienna Society of Friends of
Music. 1t consists of six houses in
Vienna and a villa in Ischl. The use
of it. however, Is reserved for his Wild
ow, Mrs. Adele Strauss, his step daugh-
ter, Adele Epstein, and two sisters of
his. The most valuable part of his
property, the copyrights and perform
ing rights of all his compositions. IS 'ef:
without condition to his wild w. Ber-
liner Tageblatt