Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-10-10


him the operation would not take more
than IL minutes. and. os she spoke. her
voice and her face were 80 full OF
sympathy that be- could not help Yield
ing. As lac took a closer look at her
he saw the trace OF weeping In her
eyes.
They found a bright fire In the par
lor stove. a warm twilight filed the
room. Herr Wagner's face was all
agiow. He sat In his shirt sleeves.
while Fraulein was plying her needle
on his unfortunate Prince Albert.
Excuse my coat sleeves" he said
every little while.
"Ach! You know It's Leo's fault,
not yours" she answered. carefully
avoiding to look at him. NO, Leo isn't
TO blame either. He was 50 down
hearted he didn't know what to do.
poor creaturev'
The dinner to which Herr Wagner
had been invited was out OF the Ques-
ton; 1t was nearly g o'clock. SO II
seemed something far away. something
seen In n dream.
Frau Binde offered him n cup OF cof-
fee and a piece OF cake be tried 70
decline. but the room was so warm and
comfortable. Frau Binde insisted 40
sincerely and he was so hungry that he
accepted. with thanks and apologies
The old woman went back 10 her work
Fraulein Bnde sighed again and again.
so did Herr Wagner. between sips aud
bites. .At L. S!r said:
-LcO's master was one Of cur board
ers.''
"Was her
Annchen's story was not slow in
coming.
Herr Wagner was Interested did
you cryT' he asked. She nodded sew
eral times. There was u sob In her
throat; she could not speak. Presently
she said: "He is gone, gone. gone. and
all that remains OF him Is Leo-dear
Leo. I'll never part with him. When
look at him. | think OF Herr ZimmeI.
feel both sad and happy" She burst
into tears once more.
Don't cry" Herr Wagner said ten
derly. He'll come back 10 you. mark
my word"
He began pacing the 6oOr. and then.
suddenly stopping IN front OF her. he
said. with great agitation:
'Its something like my own case.
fraulein. l am In love, frauloin. Yes.
I'm In love. Every fiber is aiame In
me-" Annchen looked up from her
sewing. completely absorbed. ut was
20 play my declaration 10 her that
was going to her fathers house. She
would have understood me. l know
she would. Every note would have ad-
dressed itself TO her heart 1t is based
on my theory. Richard Wagner is all
the rage nowadays. Even the French.
who hate us because we are better
than they. even they play him. And
Jet, and yet-the last word has not yet
been uttered. Verdi is naive. Bis
melodies express-whAt do they ex-
pressf Nothing! Absolutely nothingl
They convey neither the character nor
the sentiment OF the persons It's
candy music. But Wagner fell into
the opposite exteeme. His music is
expressive. It's art. But it's heavy,
dull. indigestible. SO / say. let US
combine the two. let us produce operas
OF expressive melody. OF melody which
should speak for itself. unaided-nay,
untrammeled, by words. What would
you think OF a painter who should
mark his every figure, This is a man
and be is sad.' This Is a dog, and II is
running after a fox II music can't
tell its own tale, let US write poems.
Verdfs music is like q fower-odorous
sweet. beautiful. delightful. but with
oot meaning. On the other hand, Wag-
ner. In his revolt against the old school
committed another blunder. why can't
We have sweet tunes full OF meaningf
/ am going TO show humanity that Il
can be done. l am working on an
opera without a nbretto. and II It sue
ceeds 1 have ideas for more, all OF
which are bound 20 produce a real rev.
olution In the world OF music Is IL not
significant coincidence that my name
should be Wagner
Annchen said Yea" She did not
know what be was talking about, yet
she laid down his coat for a minute
and running down TO her mother, she
said:
That gentleman talks 80 nicely.
mother! It's all about operas and
flowers and wise things. He is q
music teacher. and he's awfully
smart" And without giving the old
woman time to put In q word she
hurried back to the parlor. A few min
utes after she said:
The song you were going to sing to
your sweetheart must be awfully
pretty"
Herr Wagner sat down to the old
plano and hammered out his decla-
ration.
''Wunder schoenl Wunder schoen!"
she exclaimed. lifting her eyes TO the
ceiling.
"Well. l owe II all to myself" he
said. my father was a poor school
teacher. l had to stArve fcE II. l
couldn't AFFORD to engage a teacher. to
go to a conservatory. l was my own
conservatory. l have shown some OF
my music to publishers. They send IL
back. Some musicians envy my genius.
because they are afraid OF me. Others
say It's pretty good, but they are lot
or liars. They only want to get rid OF
me. Only one man was honest Look
here. young man. be said. there is
some good stuff in you. but you need
training and systematic study. l see
snatches OF melody In your compo-
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