The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-14
SAD END D SONG KIAG
FERDINAND LUST DIES IN pow
ERTY IN a SMALL SOUTHERN
TOWN
HIS LIFE FULL OF ROMANCE
The Last Composition, Which Was
Inspired by a Southern,
Girl, His Funeral
Hymn.

Boston Globe.
Ferdinand Lust, the once famous conf
poser, died recently without friends and
in poverty. The end came at Clarksvilie.
Tenn, where he was left by stranded
opera company. The man who has
charmed thousands by his sweet music
had his last days marked by peculiarly
pathetic romance and sad tragedy, aiid
the story Of My Rosary" his last song,
which is now being sung, everywhere, is
told for the first time.
When Ferdinand Lust's music was at
the height of its popularity not many
years ago ne had all the money and
friends he desired. He held the position
Of organist in Vermont church at a
salary of $500 a year and was instructor
TO MOdjeska 5 son. An opera Of his was
meeting with big success and his royalties
from the famous 'Triiby Waltz" alone
brought in a small fortune. He Travelled
far and wide and visited many parts Of
the earth. He had all that wealth,
health, and fame could give him.
But there came change. When the
years began to creep upon him wealth
and health began to fade away. He
drifted out to San Francisco and taught
for few years, and then went to Colo
RADIO Springs Then he became wand
erer without home or friends
He joined the Marie Bell Opera COM
pany as conductor but things didn go
well, and when GAINESVILLE, Tenn, was
reached the organization disbanded.
Without a cent of money the now feeble
and gray-naired composer was thrown
upon his own resources and tried to earn
a few dollars by teaching. But he was
lonely, in bad health. and had no friend,
brother or sister. His life was so desc
late that even strangers noticed it and
would speak a kind word to the gray
creased by romance of his youth. The
girl he mad loved in the fatherland and
from whom he had been separated By
lovers quarrel had been lost to him, and
ne knew not whether she was dead or
alive.
LUSTS FAVORITE PUPIL.
But there was one who brought cheer
to his last days. She was a beautiful
Southern girl with the fair, soft complex
ion Of the Southern cline. She had seen
but nineteen summers. and was as sweet
and unseIfsh as she was beautiful. She
was his favOrite pupil and she always
tried to throw a few rays of sunshine
into his life Sometimes when the les
sons were over she would pin a rosebud
on his coat or send some little delicacy
to his lonely studio. Often there were
very big punches of Southern roses He
would place them on his piano and play
out his soul to the sWeet-scented beau
ties. Once he pressed a bud in a book
and pinned it to poem.
But the gray hairs were growing thick
er among the thin locks and his health
was failing. One morning in the fall,
that pretty Indian summer of the South,
he went to her home to give a lessen as
usual She saw that he was very weak
and she did not want him to teach that
: day. But he insisted. He needed the
money, and she reluctantly yielded.
That morning she sang sweeter than
usual and there was something especially
tender in his music. But the effort was
too much for him. All of sudden his
head began to reel, his eyes dimmed and
his voice failed. He clutched at chair
and fell to the floor He awoke on the
couch and felt the touch Of a genie
hand upon his brow. He seemed to real
iZe that the end was drawing near and
his eyes filled with tears as he gazed
upon the young girl If a friend like the
one beside him could do so much for an
old man, what would love have been in
his younger days? She had been so kind
TO him and he owed so much to the
tender words and gentle deeds. He
seemed to be thinking of the past as he
looked into her eyes and began to talk.
INSPIRATION FOR HIS SONG.
''Your name is Rosa 1t IS a sweet
name. You are my friend, you-you-are
my Rosa!" Then a sudden light came
into the old mans eyes and he sprang
from the couch. My Rosa" he ex-