The Washington times., 1901-09-08

on the organ. and in their blind rage they
| will not allow me to explain the mechan-
| ism of the instrument to them. oh, that
| could find Sebastian Bach, He would
| awaken the soul of music that lies asleep
in my organ and prove to the world that
Beze is ntither mad nor an impostor."
My father took notice of what
| Krebbs had said, and when he joined US
| in the garden he entreated Reze to play
| to him as usual in the open-air. The Man
| in Blue played a-aumbe- of national and
| simple melodies in such pathetic man
ner that several times l saw my fathers
eyes MI with tears. At last, he said, My
| friend, though your organ is failure,
your music Is heavenly. Stay with me,
| pray you, yet awhile
My organ is not a failure: it is the one
| triumph of my life
But no one can play upon i"
| One day someone will, and then
| We'll, we Will say no more about 1t.
Come! supper is ready" and he led the
| way indoors.
Next morning the Man In Blue was
! missing. We were sorry for his disap-
| pearance. but soon forgot all about him.
the festival being at hand. Gluck had
| promised to come and we were anxious
! to know with whom he would stay. Then
| Bach arrived, and soon after Graun,
| whose genius alone inspired his lovely
melodies, and with him came those insep-
arabic friends Furch and Hasse. From
Hamburg came Gassmann and Telemann
| Few OF you. ! dare say. have ever heard
! OF these composers, and yet believe me-
|
! than you imagine. Many of the popular
tunes you now admire | have heard in my
youth fresh from the brain of their oriSi-
| nal composers. and free from the twirls
ana shakes clumsilv added to disguise
their true origin These illustrious per-
sons We're as simple and unostentatious in
manner as II Is possible to be. They as
| sembled in ST. Cecilia's Hail. and / had
| the privilege of assisting at the rehears-
| ais. l often passed hours listening to
| their long discussions on harmonies fu-
CUES scales, and chords. Sometimes one
of them would call for a glass of beer, or
oner his companions bottle of Rhine
| wine.
One night Gluck played for the first
| another Bach enchanted us by perform
ance of his delightful Preludes. Bach,
somehow or another. took fancy to me.
| He had observed the marked attention
with which l listened to the remarks of
the different composers and to their mu-
sic He asked me my name, and who my
| father was, and. growing bold. related
story of my friend in blue.
An organ no one can play upon" ex-
claimed the great composer We'll.
"Why?'
Because 1 am certain that the man
who made the organ Is a great musician
although he cannot play upon it himself,
and thoroughly understood what he was
about when he attempted to mend it. He
"As well as | dor" asked Graun.
hesitated and hung my head. / did not
dare say Yes" and yet 1 could not say
NO
Speak up, my boy, my boy; always tell
the truth"
He plays better than you. think, sir,
but then he always plays out in the
| woods. and music sounds better there
than in room.
'True-so il does"
My masters said at last after some
I u ftAy.
ity try the organ. The village is not far
distant. You will thereby help this poor
man"
Il will go myself answered Bach
to anyone, only to your friend in order
to ensure his presence in the church.
! gladly promised to carry out the Illus
trious composers request.
On leaving thS st. Cecilia Hall that
evening-it was a Friday-to my sur
prise almost the first person / met was
yard of the Hall. he had been listening to
the music, and was in state of nerYous
excitement and enthusiasm which quite
alarmed me. At first / hesitated to tell
him Bachs Intention, but at last did So
lie received the news In manner | little
expected He made no demonstration
but followed me in silence until We were
in lonely part OF the town-a little
or three trees. Here he paused. and. fall
ing on his knees, prayed earnestly. The
moon shone down upon his uplifted face
and II seemed almost beautiful. so great
was the expression IL bore of earnest de-
votion and gratitude. When he had fin
ished his prayer, he embraced me in 81
lence and we parted
Sunday arrived, and at an early hour I
started for the village church. As l cross
ed the little field in front of il, ] saw ad-
vancins from the opposite side several of
By-and-by, as il get noised about that
some OF the celebrities were in the church.
ascended the organ loft. How my heart
beat! Mass began. At the 'Kyrie'' the
hitherto mute instrument for the first
time waited forth such heavenly sweet
ness that the congregation was thrilled
as II by the music of angels. As the
Mass advanced the more marvellous be-
came the harmony. The "Agnus' was so
plaintive that / saw tears in the eyes of
Giuck who stood by me. and the 'Sanctus'
sounded so triumphantly that 1t required
but little Imagination to believe the Cher
ubim and Seraphim were indeed singing
their jubilant song of praise, Holy, Holy
is the Lord God of Sabaoth,'
But where was the Man in Blue? Stand
Ing by the altar. with his face turned to-
ward his organ. His expression was one
OF supreme happiness and peace. His spec
tacles had fallen from his beautiful but
nearly sightless eyes, and tears of joy
We're running down his. sunken checks
His homely features seemed transfigured
When Divine servic was over the CON
sreGation passed round into the porch to
Bach!' Hail. Gluck.' they cried, as they
recognized these popular men. But Bach
held aloOf. Lead me- he cried, Ito that
man of genius who has so wonderfully
improved the king of Instruments"
Master. | cried. he is in the church"
And we re-entered the sacred edifice to-
gether, followed by Graun. / led them TO
the Man in Blue. What change had
come over him! He had collapsed on n
bench, and the pallor of death was on his
brow. When he perceived us he endeav-
ored to rise.
All excuse me. my masters. / receive
you very poorly, but / am not well; the
happiness.
They raised him between them while /
ran for the priest, shutting the church
door as | went out to prevent intrusion.
Master. / am dying-play to me- he
begged. Bach, seeing that mortal aid was
vain, left us and went up the organ loft.
Solemnly he played as he had never done
before. The priest came, and Graun and
| knelt down while the Man in Blue re-
ceived the last Sacrament. When this pi- |
Gus act was accomplished we came nearer |
to him. He took my hand. and Graun |
rested his head upon his own breast. Sol |
emniy the music stole through the silent |
through the stained windows. and the |
Angel of Death stood within the Temple |
Of God |
II am very happy" murmured the dy- |
organ and Graun allows me to rest my |
dying head on his bosom
Turning to me, he said, gently: God |
bless thee, my child; tell them l was |
neither mad nor an impostor. My organ |
had n souir'
Graun bent over and kissed his brow. |
and with an exquisite look of gratitude |
for this act of sympathy and respect he |
way back to Heaven bearing the soul of |
the poor Man in Blue to God.-Richard |