The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-10
Beautiful Southern Girl Inspired
Dying Composer to Write
His Tenderest Music.
NOW SHE SINGS THE SONG.
Disappointed Old Man Was En-.
couraged by His Pupils
Tender Sym
pathy.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

1919 % ~ LII
GAINESVILLE, Tenn. March 9.-Ferdinand
Lusk. a once famous composer. died with
out friends and in poverty In this city a
short time ago. where he was left by a
stranded opera company.
The man who has charmed thousands by
his music had his last days marked by one
of the most pathetic romances and saddest
tragedies which ever fell to the lot of any
one, and the story of MY Rosary" his last
song. which is now being sung everywhere.
is as full Of pathos as Is his song. 1t
was written on his death bed. and the
music was inspired by q beautiful Southern
girl.
When Ferdinand Lusk's music was at the
height of fits popularity not many years ago
he had all tho money and friends he de-
sired. He held the position of orsanist in
A Vermont church at a salary OF 5000 a
1 year and was instructor to Modjeska's son.
An opera Of his was meeting with big sue
cess and his royalties from the famous
'"Trilby Waltz alone brought in a small
fortune. He Travelled much and visited
many parts Of the world. He had all that
wn.alth. health and fame could give him.
But there came a change. He did not
know how to save his money, and when the
years began to creep upon him. the wealth.
health and all began to fade away. He
drifted out to San Francisco and taught
for a few years. and then went to Colorado
Springs. linen ne became q WanQerer Will
out home or friends.
Finally he reached the depths and did
not have q cent to hts name. His friends
deserted him and he was in great distress.
The Marie Bell Opera Company needed a
conductor, and as a last resort. though
cepted the offer. Things didn't go well with
the company. The one-night stands were
bad and salaries were not paid. Finally
the prima donna left the company, and
when GAINESVILLE. Tenn. was reached the
organization d%isbanded.
Without a cent Of money the composer
was thrown upon his own resources. and he
tried to earn a few dollars by teaching. He
was given the position as organist at one
OF the churches and the meager salary
helped him to live. But he was lonely. in
bad health and had no friend. brother or
sister. His life was 30 desolate that even
strangers noticed 1t and would speak a
kind word to the gray-haired musician.
But there was one bright spot to cheer
his last days. She was a beautiful South.
ern girl, with the fair. soft complexion Of
teen summers and was as sweet and unsel-
fish as she was beautiful,
she 0s siways e tried "a to us a Jew pI rays Of
sunshine into his life. Sometimes when the
lessons were over she would pin a rosebud
his lonely studio. Often there were big
punches Of Southern roses. He would place
them on his piano and play out his soul to
q bud in a book and pinned 1t to a poem.
But the gray hairs were growing thicker
a a. mons the nnd hin no- Locks "a and 9da MS 1an health cath was was
ty Indian summer of the South, he went to
her homo to give a lesson as usual. She
want him to teach that at day. But he IN
sisted. He needed the money and she re-
luctantly yielded. That morning she sang
sweeter than usual and there was some
thing especially tender in his music.
But the effort was too much for him. All
of a sudden his head began. to reel. his ey esl
clutched at a chair and fell to the floor.
He awoke on the couch and felt the touch
of a tender hand upon his brow. He seemed
and his eyes filled with tears as he gazed
upon the young girl. II a friend like the
Did man. what would love have been in his
younger days? She had been kind to him
and he owed much to the tender words and
Your name is Rosa. It 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
My Rosa" he exclaimed. my Rosaryi
! will write a song ON and it shall be called
faltered a minute. and then added in a pa
thetic voice; land I fear it will be my last"
songs wa" ever 'n Wri.t saa1 ws one born ri 'f He S Was en.
Unused with the inspiration, and, though al
most unable to stand alone, went to his
studio. There. all night long, by the light
Of an oil lamp, he toiled at the piano, put
ting his emotions into music.
By daylight it was finished. He made a
copy and carried it to her to try. A week
later she sang it in a concert and 1t caught
the public ear like a whirlwind.
But the musician never recovered. He
took to his bed, and gradually the eyes
dimmed until last week they closed forever.
During his illness almost every morning
there was a bunch Of roses beside his bed.
that had been gathered by the fair South
arm girl. and often she would drop in for a +:
to cheer him up and bring some :
It was she that sat beside his :
bed and cooled his brow as the last light :
n his eyes died away. +:
The funeral took place at the church :
which he had served as organist. 1t was :
IN unusually solemn occasion. Just as the
finished his discourse, a beautiful :
girl stepped to the chancel and began the :
soft. sweet strains of a melody to the ten :
Ter accompaniment of the great organ. The :
lead composer lay at her feet. The audi :
,nce was as still as death. and many ewes :
we're filled with tears. The song was in- :
shed and the remains We're taken from the :
,hurch. my Rosary had a new meaning e
or those who heard the song that morning :
At the head of the grave the same girlish :
lgure placed a large bunch of roses. and :
m the ribbon was written the opening :
totes to the tender melody which is stirring :
he hearts of thousands by its peculiar :
:
)PEhMI7E Enp lMppoucascMre :