New-York tribune., 1905-12-27
Literary NesOs and Criticism.

ure. and absolute mastery of technical ma
terial"
Mr.. Erb is edifying In the larger part OF
his book, which is devoted to biographical data.
and TO sketch Of Brahms as a man. He has
brought together number of amusing anec-
dotes. Here is little sheaf of them:
,Son One day yiennese m composer; whose opera had
Brahms why he had never composed an opera
simple ] believe that TO be able to write for the
theatre one must possess measure Of stupidity.
feel that lack the requisite amount"
Even after his compositions had begun to be gen
lowed him eyerywhere SO that it a is 1op surprising
that he should have won the reputation in certain
his sharp wit made him feared He was the butt
q o. many Jokes which he often answered in kind
Nletzche, the philosopher said of him, Brahms
ism Is never more TOUCHING @ than when he sings Of his
Brahms ms Is Ike solder who presents himself be
to report. lieutenant that have nothing TO re-
On the other hand Brahms took rather peculiar
revenge on Rubinstein, who never played any OF his
oonversed upon many musical subjects, but never
lead any one - to think that Rubinetein bins % had ever
gwen a. concert After the performance OF Rubin
It to pieces. Brahms listened quietly for while:
en hha6ng ha6 5se his h head gad he chaaGr % OF
stem EN- IT was horrible musif ,s,.,.
composition Which has since Been We'll receiVed
beautiful music paper you use! Pray where do
setting Of schiIiers Lay Of the Bell upon playing
thought fhs oce Of scher one oTf Of the Tea
est est poems eyer written and ! & shall continue to
%a to ff5 be geafed to R e 6ea sa
to Raff? Dear me! Well, you had better be quick
have it ready"
There has Just been published IN Germany a
booklet entitled Johannes Brahms ais Mensch
und Freund" by Rudolf Won der Leyen, at
whose uncle's house the composer often visited.
THE Athenaum'' gives these two stories from
the work:
sohumann was often the subject Of .conversa-
at Endenich, he asked for a Bible but the physl-
ease refused the Tequesf Brahrns added Those
fellows did not know that we North Germans
pass without it Again Brahms was once at
+ RGyeredo and pointing to statp9 @
replied friend; but Brahms mumbled TO be
both is impossible: theologian can never be d
philosopher
The scientific motive does not nowadays get
into imaginative poetry often It gets into
imaginative prose. But occasionally some one
has the courage to build verses the curious
material offered by our modern inventive genius
Miss Harriet Monroe has visited a turbine en-
gine electric station in Chicago. and the ex-
perience has led to the writing of this suggestive
poem, which is printed in the current number OF
The Century:
A POWER-PLANT.
The invisible wheels go softly round and round
Light is the tread of brazen-footed Power
Spirits of air. Gagged in the iron tower,
Sing they labor with a purring SOUND
The abysmal fires. grated and chained ana pouno'
Burn white and still, in swift obedience cover;
While far and wide the myriad lamps, a-hoWer'
Glow like stars gardens and the night confound
This we have done for Thee, almighty Lord
Yea, they who built at Thy COMMAND
The pillared temple, or in marble made
Thine Image, who sang Thy deafness word
We take the weapons Of Thy dread right hand.
And WELD them in Thy service unafra1d