Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-12-30
ERA OF .RAGIIME" ENDS
AMBITION OF HARTUhG
Master Of Piano and Science Of Has.
monies Commits
Suicide.

| St. Louis. Dec. 3O.-The era of
''ragtime" music ended the ambition
of Prof. Louis Hartung, graduate of
German Conservatives, master OF the
piano and the science of piano har-
monies. The final result was his sui
eide by inhaling chloroform.
| When the craze for "ragtime" be-
gan To develop. now nearly Is years
ago. the professor, as he was always
called, was prosperous. Children OF
wealthy parents were his pupils. His
fees were sufficient His tastes were
moderate. His passions were two
love for the fine-toned old piano which
was his, and love for the music of
Wagner.
'Ragtime' invaded the ambitions of
his pupils. He fought the invasion.
He argued against it-vehemently.
nervously, angrily. His pupils wanted
to learn how to play it.
Il do not know SUCH" he protested.
1T is not music. 1t is an adherence.
1t is villainy. / do not teach it,
The pupils went to others who would
teach "ragtime." They left the profess
sor alone with his upright piano and
his love for the music of Wagner.
| The money he had saved during his
long years as teacher grew less as he
drew upon it for his daily food, for the
flowers he had as companions in his
room. for his daily stein of beer. for the
premium on the $500 insurance policy
which he carried on his piano.
Finally he was found dead in his
room. A paper cap, inside of which
were six handkerchiefs saturated with
/ chloroform, was over his face.
The flowers. carefully tended to the
last. stood in the window. The chair
in which the professor sat faced the
fine old piano. shrouded with its cover
and the music of Wagner piled methodi-
cally upon it.
In the dead mans pocket was Is
cents. The professor, born in Len
net Germany, came TO America in the
years when so many other educated,
patriotic Germans sought this country
as haven-in the SOS of the last cen
fury.
He was fiery. energetic. ambitious.
STEPPED in music and the love of mu-
sic. and stirred by high ideas. He
had diplomas from great German con-
servatories: his masters were of the
great in the world of music. The
lthunderous harmonies of Wagner were
his passion.
He sought and found friends and
patrons in st. Louis. He became famed
among local music lovers. And always
he studied and worshiped the music of
Wagner.
For years he found companionship
| hic ,iy,t
lovingly over the ivory keys, his
small. fat body swaying with the rythm
and energy of the music. His audience
was his soul; the world. listening en-
raptured or wandering in the street or
the neighborhood houses, might catch
the echoes as they filtered through the
walls and windows: but the music was
of the players soul.
Then one day he closed the piano.
He played no more upon it.
Each day, in afternoon or morning.
he went forth for a long and lonely
walk through the streets. His walk
had no destination; il was a ramble,
with brick and concrete pavements as
paths, Sometimes these walks lasted
for three hours; sometimes for six
hours.
Each evening he went to a bar
room in the neighborhood, sat alone
at a table. ordered a stein of beer, and
for an hour or more sat slipping the
beer and reading the newspapers.
1t was seldom during these walks or
these hours in the saloon that he spoke
or was spoken TO. He was buried in
himself. and save for a nod which car
ried little of recognition, he let the
world pass him by.
There were few exceptions Twelve
years ago DR.. George W. Book. whose
which were the old music teachers
rooms. spoke to him as he passed on
his walk, and from that casual greet
ing grew the closest friendship OF his
last years. Each day he stopped for a
moment to talk.
They had called him the professor in
South st. Louis-few knew him by any
other name
Hd did not complain of poverty:
But one day he was asked how he was
getting along.
oh" he replied. 1T is all right
When my money runs out know what
shall do"
And he laughed.
Many times afterward he said this
.again. A few weeks ago Dr. Book ask.
led him what he thought of the worlds
fair
All, said he Il have not seen it."
He thrust his hand into his pocket.
brought 1t out empty, laughed and
went away.
Last Wednesday the professor took
his accustomed walk. Wednesday night
he sought his accustomed place at the
saloon table and drank his accustomed
stein of beer. When he he left he sur
prised the inmates of the place by
tcalling hearty goodbye" and even