New-York tribune., 1907-01-27
MOZART FAMILY.
Birthday of Mozart.

soon acquired an amount OF musical knowledge
and a skill in playing the clavier that were
play without learning. and when he was no
more than four composed little pieces which his
father wrote down for him.
As the father of these remarkable children
understood and more how wonderful were
the gifts they possessed their education became
the dearest york of his life, and fortunately, he
of the best Of teachers. When the
children were six and ten years Of age he de-
cided 10 exhibit their accom- pshments outside
the little world OF Salzburg, and from this time
Until Wolfgang was twelve the family spent
most Of the time in travelling. They visited.
besides many places Of less Importance. Vienna
Munich, Paris and London, just as musician
making a concert tour Of the present time would
do BC+ they did not come to America,
many great musicians do now for II would have
been a long and dangerous journey. and If they
had come they might have found every one too
busy with other things TO pay much attention
70 them.
The accounts Of the travels of Nannerl and
Woferl sometimes make think of a fairy
tale for it has probably fallen to the lot of no
other children TO have such experiences as
theirs. They admired and petted by
perors and empresses. kings and queens princes
and princeSSpS. and through long a list
Of royalties and dgntaries you imagine.
They received innumerable costly gifts ana
when they went out there We're many persons
of rank who were glad to send their carriages
for them And yet life was no fairy tale to
them but a very serious business. They had
TO endure the hardships Of travel. which are
trying enough even in these days, but were
doubly so when they had to depend on horses
instead of on steam to take them from place
TO place. When they stayed for any time I'm
place WOfer at least. never idle. for he
was continually composing. besides giving per-
formances on the clavier, violin and organ. At
the same time his careful father never allowed
his education to he neglected. and took tho
greatest pains I'm instructing him. not only in
music, but I'm other subjects chiefly languages
and arithmetic OF arithmetic he fond
that times II even Tivalled music in his affec-
tions Although are not told so much about
Nannerl. there is doubt that she her
brothers companion 10 a great extent in all his
occupations and amusements.
When Wolfgang fourteen he went with
his father 10 italy, leaving Nanner and her
mother in Salzburg. Some of the letters which
ne wrote home while this journey have been
preserved and published along with others that
were written later in life. The early letters. al
though they contain some profound remarks on
musical affairs and occasional references 10 hard
work on some composition full of the same
kind Of nonsense as would be enjoyed by almost
any one of his age who not genius. They
show. too. that he the same affectionate
boy he had always been. ever thoughtful OF 9TH
ers and quite unspoiled by all the admiration he
had received. AS he grew older Mozart met
with many disappointments and difficulties, but
his gentle and generous nature remained Un-
changed 10 the end, and in spite OF the anxieties
that thickened around him toward the close Of
his life he always kept Of his bOyish light
heartedness He died when he only thirty
five but left behind him some Of the most beau
tiful music that has ever been written.