New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-09

not only made a careful study Of everything that
has been written the subject Of Da Ponte, but
he has also made careful original research and put
at rest a number of troublesome questions con-
corning the lie history of his hero. In this he has
made copious use of the discoveries of The Trib-
une's writer on musical topics, who spent the
rner Of 1887 in investigation of the American life
of the old poet and found that all the published
Biographies peppered with errors. and that
even the official records of the city wrong on
the subject of the date Of his death. The Tribune
writer's conclusions on all points accepted by
Professor Marchesan with generous acknowledg
ments
OF especial local interest, moreover, is the publ
cation of number of poems written by Da Ponte
in the album of a New-York woman-his pupil.
This woman was Miss Fanny Leght afterward
Mrs Cottenet and the mother of Mrs. William c.
Schermerhorn who now owns the album and
placed It at the disposition of Professor Marchesan
through his friend. Professor Speranza. of Column
bia University. There are about a dozen poems in
ALL improvisations, odes, sonnets, etc, and all
written in the last decade Of the old poets life.
Da Ponies expression of his admiration for the
character and talents of his pupil was not con-
fined, however, to the lines written in her album,
but found record also in his biography in these
words:
l returned 70 New-York in the first part of Sep
tember-a month that full of happy events for
me. Among number Of pupils who came
was and is without doubt the brightest gem in my
Tuscan crown, ! shall always call my New York
perienced in teaching her because of her beautl-
tul accent, the rapidly of her progress and the
ardor of her love for our authors had also the
happiness of being chosen to place among her
dearest friends-a place from which neither msfort-
evil reports, neither the hypocrisy nor the
envy of hundreds and hundreds of enemies could or
daughter of adorable parents. loving sister,
dtons We lee ana ten1eP mGtner5 all these con-
affections for him who initiated her into the Ian
acquainted and while affections generally cool
seem to grow day by day, 1t is Impossible for
Ubiob h h @ an tn f many ana Various ways
her affectionate courtesy. She consoled me in af-
defended me against my evil wshers praised me
to her friends; and all that write or say seems
flowers. In bestowing her frequent gifts she has
u to ae ea9 Sr which m ha6 makes b G
or the grace with which 1t is presented Thus do I
F. L. L. Fanny LeighO New-Yo rk- needs not to
hear the in order TO recognize her. The dear
happens that she shall some day see Italy all good
people will do her the honor which she deserves
which our literature has in the illustrious
city OK America Let them know that her example
is worth more to me means of extending the
glory OF Italian letters than all the arguments
| dents
It is related of Da Ponte that. dying of old age
Che nearly ninety when he dieO he
yet addressed a sonnet TO his physician. Dr. ]. w
Francis the day before his death. He certainly
had marvellous flow of those lifting rhyming
words which fall together easily, naturally and
muscally in Italian One of the poems TO his
pupil can be put in evidence. Miss Leight had
evidently sent him a New Years gift of sweet
meats. which, it is safe to assume, were only the
cover of something better adapted to the octo-
genarian poets needs and he made his acknowl-
edgments in verse to this effect:
IL VECCHIO GIOVANE
ALA qua Angelica AMIGA
II tue dono o Franceschina
| Val pi0 assai d'ogni tesoro,
| Al milo petto medicinal
| Al milo sprito ristoro:
| Torno giovine a guardarlo;
Che sara mel masttcaro?
Sal che IL tempo Fall tarpa
= AID Vecchio ottanto glunto
| Ma giacche mi mandi I'M arpa
No' che STA giunta In buon punto
Voglio faru de versetti
| In rincambio di confetti.
Voglio dir che del MIC core
Sc il pin dolce caro- oggetto.
Che per tie mi parla amore,
Che te perso con diletto;
Che la prima fosu, sci.
Mel gardin de fort mie
vogo dir ma che dir deggio
Che STA par a quel che sento?
Iutto nulla; 10 ben 10 veggio,
y ia ! sal, per milo contento
To 10 sal. bel Gesomino.
Primo nor del milo giardino
Pi2va ognora in sui tue steo.
FloVa ognor lie tue foglle
1yuhnte dar puo grazie, ii cielo,
Quante goie II monde accogle,
Siuestl Vou tie fanno
| lie NILE Muse al capo d'Anno
Gennaio, 1929