The age-herald., 1902-02-02

young wife, he was in despair, and for several months threatened to do away with himself. His jailer, finally fearing the man would become insane listened to his pleading and secured for him violin.
 But realizing the prisoners mental state and fearing lest he might use the strings of the violin as a cord with which to hang himself only one string was put on the instrument given to him. On this one-stringed violin Paganini now practic- ed all day long until two years of his i'm prisonment had passed. Then his keep CT, seeing he entertained no thoughts ot suicide, gave him a second string. and 8 few months later the other two. and thus from dawn till dark the imprisoned mas ter practiced and played, pouring out in his music all his longing for his wife and all the despair he felt at not know ing where she was.
 The four years had nearly passed. when one day a nobleman of high rank visit ed the prison, and hearing this wondrous music asked whence 1t came. He was told of the strange prisoner and com manded him brought before him. Hag- gard and emaciated, it seemed more a ghost than man that was led into the room And his playing seemed even more supernatural. It so overpowered the noble that he wept, and swore such mu- sic should be heard by the world. The next day Paganini was set free. He has tened to his home, only to find his sweet young wife had killed herself in despair soon after his Imprisonment.
 Then 1t was he began his playing in public, and wherever he went all who heard him were melted to tears by the pathos, the grief, and the longing his violin voiced. Historians have tried to prove all this is legend rather than fact, and bring forward dates to prove their claim, but in Vienna today the story is told as above, and be 1t fact or f1c- tion explains Paganinis disappearance from the world some four years preced- ing his sudden rise to fame, accounts for his equally sudden acquisition of mar velous techinc, and In his love and sor- row for his wife gives the secret of his magic power to move all who heard him.
 Johanna Sebastian Bach, the father of modern music" married twice. His first wife was his cousin, Maria Barbara Bach. History tells little of her, except that at the time he married her Bach was a struggling young organist of 22, drawing a salary of $35 a year two klag- sters of wood, three maltes of grain, and six schock of firewood to be brought to the door," and that she managed house. hold that came ultimately to consist of the parents and five children on such an income.
 The second wife was musical however
 She was the daughter of a trumpeter at the court of the Duke of Weisenfels, and not only talented singer but so inter- ested in the piano and the theory of mu- sic that she and the children had regu- lar instruction from Bach in these branches. He wrote for her not only the rules governing thorough bass and a col lection of "easy pieces for the piano" but volume of music containing forty SIX preludes minuets, polonaises and oth- CT pieces. and finally seven songs, follow ca by a wedding poem. which are not only among the most beautiful of his creations but enjoy the distinction of be- Ing the only short songs not sacred in character that he composed.
 Another noted instance of some mu- sic's most precious treasures owing their origin to love that was of rare purity and beauty is found in the works of Schumann. ~lara Wieck, the daughter of Frederick Wieck, the celebrated Leip- zig teacher was a recognized pianist of exceptional powers when the young Rob- ert Schumann first met her. He became pupil of her father, but laming his hand was compelled to turn from plano playing to composing and literary labors. In 1883 he wrote "Impromptus" on a roman ga by Ser. two years later, a sonata ded- icated to her appeared, and year later he was ears over head in love with her.