The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-07-07

Z LONDON. JAY G.-The fascination
OF the love letter written cor other
eyes is akin to the sweetness Of
stolen waters The privacy and the
intimacy OF such documents make for
us latts--da1 v:yi-sectors Of human
emotions their chief charm.
In the letter OF Richard Wagner 10
Mathilde Wesendonk, just published.
side familiar perhaps 10 his intimate
circles, but new 10 many who know
Wagner only as the Titan whose
brain conceived the Gotterdam-
merung. Tannhauser and Lohengrin.
OF Mathilde Wesendong the master
said:
She is and remains my first and
only love. They were the zenith
of my life, those fearful. anxious
beautiful years. which l spent in the
eyer-growing enchartment of her
nearness. They hold all
the sweetness of my life.
Mathilde Wesendonlz's relation to
the master may be very briefly eS-
planned.
Daughter OF a worthy merchant OF
Elberfeld, she married at 20 Otto
Wesendonk. partner in a great New
York silk business. In 1851 the Yves
endonks, with three children. built a
villa at Zurich on the Green hill
In Zurich they met the master at
Marshal Won Biebersteins house. The
acquaintance, founded on mutual mu-
steal enthusiasm, ripened into friend
Ninna. his first wife. came to live in
a little house. the Refuge. close to
the Wesendonli's villa.
In Mathilde. young, delicately beau
tiful-"a white, unwritten leaf she
calls herself Wagner found his spir-
its mate.
At Zurich Wagner lived more on
the Green hill than in the Refuge.
peacefully, the days flowed
by Frau Minna Wagner struck the
first discord.
That she should resent her hus- |
bands love for Mathilde was inevi-
table She had never possessed his |
heart. She was siclIy, fretful and |
in music. a Philistine-
There were scenes, opened letters.
wild reproacnes and passionate re-
He left the Refuge. He might not
be with Mathilde; Minna's compan-
onship was uncomfortable.
He became a wandere1. From Ven
ice, Lucerne. Paris. Vienna he sent
Mathilde letters music leaves from
lis diary.
In one of his letters he says
Who feels it more clearly than l
hat it is this accursed art which eter-
lally gives me up to the torment of
ife and all the contradictions of eS-
stence? But for this strange gift,
his SO strong preponderance OF the
creative fantasy within me, l might
ollow the guidance of the heart-be-
.ome a saint, and~|as saint 1 might
ay to thee, Come leave everything
hat ties thee, burst the bonds Of ma
ure Sawitri,'
On All Hallows eve at Venice I
TODD on the balcony and 1oked into
he canals black food; the storm
Wind ragged. My leap, my fall would
ave been unheard. I should be free
rom torment if I sprang.
,oud with my thoughts on thee
n thy children? Now
now that I am destined to die in
ny arms. Now I know it!
His friendship with Mathilde's hus-
and remained of the warmest.
Many cordial greetings to Otto!
ell him that / love him! Farewell, ,
ny dear, noble child. Live peaceful
y, sincerely. and strengthen me {
hereby.
Till the masters death his best, his
ruest friends remained at Wesen-
onk He married again. Beyreuth
ecame an actually. We never
Kissed the festival in Beyreuth,' said
'rau Wesendonk. How few of the {
lusic pilgrims gathered from Eu-
ope's ends guessed the secret story
;hich now, less than two years after
death is set down in black
nd white for all the world to see.